Son of Frankenstein Movie Review

After a reissue double feature of Frankenstein and Dracula in 1938 became a surprise knockout hit, Universal decided to start making horror movies once again. This is the second sequel (after The Bride of Frankenstein) to the 1931 version of the horror classic. The good doctor's skeptical son (Basil Rathbone, in a fine bombastic performance) returns to the family manse and becomes obsessed with his father's work and with reviving the creature, giving us a peek at the Monster's physiology in the process. Full of memorable characters and brooding ambience. Boris Karloff's last appearance as the Monster, but Bela Lugosi's characterization of Ygor, the broken-necked friend of the Monster, steals the show. Originally, Ygor was barely supposed to be in the movie, but director Rowland Lee – who'd thrown out the original script and was making things up as he went along – did Bela a favor by substantially expanding his part.

1939 99m/C Basil Rathbone, Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Lionel Atwill, Josephine Hutchinson, Donnie Dunagan, Emma Dunn, Edgar Norton, Lawrence Grant, Lionel Belmore; D: Rowland V. Lee; W: Willis Cooper; C: George Robinson. VHS, Beta, LV MCA