ALL SCI-FI

[Bud Brewster]

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First of all, this is an excellent poster!

The story is a strange mixture of old and new elements.

This is a 1950s American revival of the Frankenstein series from the 1930s and 1940s, even though the story is set in the year 1970 . . . and yet Boris Karloff returns to in starring role, playing the doctor rather than the monster . . . except that he's the original doctor's fourth-generation descendant . . . and yet Karloff gets to make a brief appearance at the end as the monster, too!

But wait, there's more!

The Frankenstein-ancestor which Karloff plays wants to try his hand at the family's traditional experiments, but he's short on cash, so he agrees to let a TV crew come into his castle and shoot a special on the 150th anniversary of his infamous ancestor.

Okay, sure, that sounds reasonable and practical and thoroughly modern . . . but Karloff relaxes in his spare time by playing morose melodies on his Captain Nemo organ, and he pilfers the brain of his servant to build his monster . . . then he sends his hideous creation out to slay the TV crew!

What a movie!

Directed by Howard F. Koch.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Bud Brewster]

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This trailer makes the movie look pretty good, except for the fact that the monster seems to be nothing but a bandaged-wrapped "mummy" with the silliest, over-sized head since The Man Without a Body.





The lab set, however, is reasonably good. And Boris gives a fine performance.




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________________ Frankenstein 1970 - Trailer


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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Rick]

I saw this at my local movie house at a Saturday matinee in 1960. I had seen the trailer a week or two earlier and, as you suggested, it looked pretty neat. But the main focus of the trailer, and definitely the aspect which impressed me was all the KARLOFF stuff!

I had, of course, heard of Boris Karloff, even though I wouldn't see my first issue of FM for about 5 or 6 months, and though I'd never seen any of his movies, I knew he was a big freakin' deal in the monster world.

Watching the movie, though, I found it hard to wrap my head around the notion that this bent, white-haired old man was the great, scary Karloff.

The movie was, of course, not good. And I knew it even then. But, at least, I'd seen the great Karloff.

Nostalgia is a funny and powerful thing. Though I didn't care for this movie in 1960, and though I realize that it's quite poor — still — it makes me smile. It takes me back to being ten years old at the LeRose Theater. So the movie stunk, so what? I was ten years old and had a lifetime of monster movies in front of me.





Nostalgia is a funny and powerful thing. Though I didn't care for this movie in 1960, and though I still realize that it's quite poor — still — it makes me smile. It takes me back to being ten years old at the LeRose Theater. So the movie stunk, so what? I was ten years old and had a lifetime of monster movies in front of me.
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Man need not kneel before the angels,
Nor lie in death forever,
But for the weakness of his feeble will.

[CinemaBill]

I enjoyed this movie mostly because of Boris Karloff. But, it does have some charm on its own. Lots of chewing the scenery in this one but after all it was the 50's and it fit right into the horror/sci-fi mold of the times.

Don Barry was being Don Barry and that one actor, I believe he actually had a radio show, had the goofiest grin throughout the entire film.

And of course, don't forget to look for the Maltese Facon statuette on the bookcase in one scene. After all it was filmed at Warner Bros. studio so why not grab the statuette from the prop room?

I watch this one every time it airs.
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CinemaBill

[Bud Brewster]

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The title of this movie, Frankenstein 1970, suggests a great idea for a spoof.

A mad scientist creates a monster from body parts — all of which came from murdered Disco dancers of the John Travolta type from Saturday Night Fever.

The mad scientist wants to create the ultimate Disco King!







In case you're wondering, this is the photo I modified to create the one above.



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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)