Review of Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter (1966) by Robert I — 25 Aug 2012

Mill Creek's 50 Movie Pack: Chilling Classics Reviews.

JESSE JAMES MEETS FRANKENSTEIN'S DAUGHTER [1966]: In 1966 a bizarre double feature appeared in U.S Drive-Ins & B Movie theatres. The double bill was BILLY THE KID VERSES DRACULA and JESSE JAMES MEETS FRANKENSTEIN DAUGHTER. That is right these films actually exist and I'm not joking that some put two of the 19th century's famous fictional Gothic Horror Villains with two famous historical Western Outlaws. Wow, thank god that they don't make them like this anymore.

PLOT: After missing being shot in the back and being killed by Robert Ford, Jesse James is on the run with his pal Hank Tracey. After teaming up with the Wild Bunch (ah sigh) to rob a stagecoach, Hank is shot and Jesse must find help for him. His solution is to take him to Dr Maria Frankenstein (the granddaughter of Baron Victor Frankenstein) with the help of Love interest Marietta. Of course being a Frankenstein, Hank is the perfect specimen for her experiments. In the meantime the law is after Jesse, all the while trying to escape from the Frankenstein's horrors.

THOUGHTS: Despite the illogical idea that it was possible that a descendent of the fictional Victor Frankenstein would meet the infamous Jesse James after being "nearly" shot by Ford; this film is so camp. Playing like a Western for most of the film, the film has the rear honour of having some of the original equipment from the Original FRANKENSTEIN [1931] being filmed in colour. However that is muted by the fact one of the pieces of the lab equipment is just army helmets painted red, yellow and green. And the fact that this film has the most uninspired Frankenstein Monster ever put on film is amazing.

However unlike BILLY THE KID VERSES DRACULA which had none other than Iconic Supporting cast legend & Cult movie Icon John Carradine (THE GRAPES OF WRATH [1940]) as Dracula; this film is a lot less campy without Mr Carradine's onscreen presences. Despite that this film is just weird enough for the fact it feels like one is viewing a B-Grade Western with a Frankenstein story attached in one cheesy bundle. My rating for this schlock is a massive 40% for this film.