Movie crossovers are in a league of their own. Seeing fictional characters meet each other is bound to draw attention, whether such meeting is fitting or just plain out there. Now, we're practically drowning in crossovers (or shared universes if you prefer) with the MCU, DCEU, and MonsterVerse being prime examples. However, this concept goes WAY back. The craze began with the classics Universal Monsters and the film that birthed a thousand crossovers was none other than "Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man". Though set after "The Ghost of Frankenstein", it primarily serves as a direct sequel to "The Wolf Man".
Plot: Four years after his apparent death, Lawrence Talbot returns. Unfortunately, the werewolf curse lingers. Seeking to end his seemingly immortal life of murder and guilt, he learns of the life-and-death experiments of Dr. Frankenstein and travels to Vasaria. There, he runs into the famed scientist's monster, also still alive, in the old castle. Dr. Mannering and Baroness Elsa Frankenstein offer to help end the monster curses, but fate will not be kind to them.
Continuing the role of the Wolf Man is the legendary Lon Chaney Jr., who, like before, brings out the tortured soul of his character convincingly while delivering the ferocity of his inner beast. His transformations are always a pleasure to see. The Frankenstein Monster is played by none other than Bela Lugosi of Dracula fame. He's no Boris Karloff, but he gives a somewhat charming if limited performance. The story manages to make these two work thematically with one seeking death and the other embodying life, both thrust into a world of violence. The rest of the cast do well with understandable motivations like the old woman Maleva and Elsa. Mannering is sort of the exception as he remained consistent throughout until he randomly makes a weird decision that contrives the climax. I like the aesthetic of the film from the graveyards to Frankenstein's ruined castle, complemented by the black-and-white. I also dig Hans J. Salter's score, especially the main monster theme, though the Festival of the New Wine song is charmingly goofy. Then there's the big clash at the end. Despite the aforementioned contrivance and future crossovers having better battles, the scuffle between the Wolf Man and Frankenstein Monster is short but sweet and shows off their contrasting fighting styles. I should point out, though that there are continuity errors, especially where the last Frankenstein movie is concerned, and the Wolf Man suddenly changes clothes whenever he transforms.
"Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man" has some bumps, but is overall entertaining with good performances and a decent way of bringing two legends together. More importantly, without this film, we likely wouldn't have gotten the likes of "King Kong vs Godzilla", "Aliens vs Predator", or even "The Avengers". Not bad for a werewolf and a walking corpse.
Plot: Four years after his apparent death, Lawrence Talbot returns. Unfortunately, the werewolf curse lingers. Seeking to end his seemingly immortal life of murder and guilt, he learns of the life-and-death experiments of Dr. Frankenstein and travels to Vasaria. There, he runs into the famed scientist's monster, also still alive, in the old castle. Dr. Mannering and Baroness Elsa Frankenstein offer to help end the monster curses, but fate will not be kind to them.
Continuing the role of the Wolf Man is the legendary Lon Chaney Jr., who, like before, brings out the tortured soul of his character convincingly while delivering the ferocity of his inner beast. His transformations are always a pleasure to see. The Frankenstein Monster is played by none other than Bela Lugosi of Dracula fame. He's no Boris Karloff, but he gives a somewhat charming if limited performance. The story manages to make these two work thematically with one seeking death and the other embodying life, both thrust into a world of violence. The rest of the cast do well with understandable motivations like the old woman Maleva and Elsa. Mannering is sort of the exception as he remained consistent throughout until he randomly makes a weird decision that contrives the climax. I like the aesthetic of the film from the graveyards to Frankenstein's ruined castle, complemented by the black-and-white. I also dig Hans J. Salter's score, especially the main monster theme, though the Festival of the New Wine song is charmingly goofy. Then there's the big clash at the end. Despite the aforementioned contrivance and future crossovers having better battles, the scuffle between the Wolf Man and Frankenstein Monster is short but sweet and shows off their contrasting fighting styles. I should point out, though that there are continuity errors, especially where the last Frankenstein movie is concerned, and the Wolf Man suddenly changes clothes whenever he transforms.
"Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man" has some bumps, but is overall entertaining with good performances and a decent way of bringing two legends together. More importantly, without this film, we likely wouldn't have gotten the likes of "King Kong vs Godzilla", "Aliens vs Predator", or even "The Avengers". Not bad for a werewolf and a walking corpse.