Doc Rotten’s Halls of Horror: Seventies Frankenstein Monster

One of the most recognizable movie monsters in horror cinema is the Frankenstein Monster. Beginning with Frankenstein (1910) and, more famously, Frankenstein (1931) from Universal, Mary Shelley’s man-made monster has taken many forms. In 1957, Hammer Films jettisoned the creature into the Technicolor age with Curse of Frankenstein. Throughout the Sixties, Hammer Films would produce a variety of Monsters created by the same Baron Victor Frankenstein (Peter Cushing) and Japan unleashes their own version with Frankenstein Conquers the World (1965). As horror in the Seventies struggles to find its way, the Frankenstein Monster makes its way to the screen in no less than thirteen different forms from Hammer’s Horror of Frankenstein in 1970 to Mel Brook’s Young Frankenstein in 1974.

Horror of Frankenstein (1970) played by David Prowse.
In the UK, Hammer decides to reboot their Frankenstein franchise in 1970, replacing Peter Cushing’s Baron with Ralph Bates and Christopher Lee’s creature with David Prowse in Horror of Frankenstein. While Lee’s makeup was original and frightening in 1957, Prowse’s makeup is sparse, reminiscent of the monster in Jesse James meets Frankenstein’s Daughter (1966). Director Jimmy Sangster relies too heavily on Prowse’s physical presence to elicit fear. While the production values are strong, the script is weak and the monster forgettable.

Assignment Terror (1970) played by Fernando Murolo.
In Spain, Paul Naschy’s Waldermar Daninsky returns in Assignment Terror, a monster mash writen by Naschy and directed by Tulio Demicheli. Michael Rennie, as Dr. Odo Warnoff, is at the center of the fright fest featuring Dracula, the Monster, the Wolfman and the Mummy. Playing like a sci-fi laden spin on the old Universal creature features from the Forties, Assignment Terror’s monster appears very similar to the creature originated by Boris Karloff and makeup man Jack Pierce; however, he has the bushiest eye-brows this side of Frankenstein’s Castle of Freaks (1979). At least Naschy’s werewolf realizes what a snooze he is and trounces him during the finale.

Santo y Blue Demon contra los Monstruos (1970) played by Manuel Leal.
In Mexico, the world famous wrestlers, Santo and the Blue Demon, are around to save the day and, in 1970, they do battle with a variety of movie monsters in Santo y Blue Demon contra los Monstruos. Again the monster mash features Dracula, the Monster, the Wolfman and the Mummy; this time played for laughs and light-hearted fun. The monster resembles the classic Universal look once again except this time he has a splendid, comical goatee. Never too threatening, this silly entry is easily bashed by Santo and the Blue Demon.

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