Review of House of Frankenstein (1944) by Scotty P — 31 Aug 2011

Not as bad as House of Dracula. Boris Karloff as a Dr. Niemann and J. Carrol Naish as a humpback named Daniel are both very good in their roles. They begin as prisoners in a dungeon in adjoining cells. Dr. Niemann wants to carry on Dr. Frankenstein's experiments and get revenge, and he promises to transplant Daniel's brain into a better looking body in exchange for his loyalty, which includes murder. A freak earthquake allows them to escape. A passing carnival show carriage owned by Prof. Lampini allows them transportation and a cover. The Hussmans, young couple Rita (Gwynne) and Karl (Coe) as well as her father the Burgomaster (Ruman), and an Inspecor (Atwill) head to the carnival. Dr. Niemann in disguise as Prof. Lampini has possession of Count Dracula's casket and skeleton. The doctor brings Dracula (Carradine) back to life. To life? Well, Niemann puts flesh back on his bones and inexplicably turns the tables on the Count by forcing him to carrying out part of Niemann's revenge plot against the Burgomaster. Carradine plays a gentlemanly Dracula, or Baron Latos, who seems closer to Stoker's discription. Dracula tries to steal the young Miss Hussman away and a fairly exciting chase ensues. With Count Dracula facing the sun, act one is over and it is as if we move on to a different movie.

Dr. Niemann and Daniel travel on to the town where Frankenstein's castle is located. Gypsies are camping in the area and Daniel, the humpback, falls for his own dancing Esmeralda. In this movie she is named Ilonka (Verdugo). Niemann and Daniel find the Wolf Man/Lawrence Talbot (Chaney Jr.) and the Frankenstein's Monster (first time by Glenn Strange) frozen under the castle ruins. The gypsy girl falls for Talbot instead, but he still wants his life to end so the beast within him will stop being a curse. They all somehow pack up the monster and travel to Niemann's laboratory. The mad doctor makes promises left and right, but plans his own twisted scheme that leaves none of his cohorts happy. Gypsy and Wolf Man fight. Humpback and Mad Scientist fight. Humpback and Frankenstein's Monster fight. Angry Mob and Frankenstein's Monster fight. And finally at the end of burning torches in a quicksand pit Boris Karloff's face as Dr. Niemann is the last one we see disappearing from sight.