Son of Frankenstein
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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| - | '''Universal Studios''' is a famous "[[Hollywood, California|Hollywood]]" [[movie studio]] best-known for [[Universal horror|horror classics]] such as ''[[The Phantom of the Opera]]'', ''[[Dracula (1931 film)|Dracula]]'', ''[[Frankenstein (1931 film)|Frankenstein]]'', ''[[The Bride of Frankenstein]]'', ''[[Son of Frankenstein]]'', ''[[The Wolf Man]]'' and ''[[The Creature from the Black Lagoon]]''. | + | '''''Son of Frankenstein''''' is a 1939 American [[horror film]] that was directed by [[Rowland V. Lee]]. The film is the third in [[Universal Pictures]]' [[Frankenstein (Universal film series)|''Frankenstein'' series]] and is the follow-up to ''[[Bride of Frankenstein]]''. ''Son of Frankenstein'' stars [[Basil Rathbone]] as [[Wolf Frankenstein|Baron Wolf von Frankenstein]] who, with his wife Elsa ([[Josephine Hutchinson]]) and son Peter ([[Donnie Dunagan]]), return to his late father's estate. Near the castle lives Ygor ([[Bela Lugosi]]), a crazed shepherd whose neck was broken in an unsuccessful hanging attempt. Among the castle's remains, Frankenstein discovers the remains of the monster ([[Boris Karloff]]) and decides to try save his family name by resurrecting the creature to prove his father was correct. He finds, however, the monster only responds to Ygor's commands. |
| - | == History == | + | The film was originally announced in August 1938 after a successful theatrical reissue of ''[[Dracula (1931 English-language film)|Dracula]]'' and ''[[Frankenstein (1931 film)|Frankenstein]]''. ''Son of Frankenstein'' was initially announced under the title ''After Frankenstein''. The screenplay written by [[Wyllis Cooper|Willis Cooper]] was initially rejected and early script drafts included only the characters that would be used in the final film. The original budget was set at $250,000 but Lee increased it to $300,000 and had a 27-day shooting schedule. Difficulties in production arose when Lee was unsatisfied with the script. Production was delayed until November 9 due to inclement weather and other problems, and filming was completed on January 5, 1939, with a final cost of $420,000. The film was released on January 13, 1939, and received positive reviews from ''[[The New York Daily News]]'', ''[[The New York Times]]'', ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' and the ''[[Monthly Film Bulletin]]''. A sequel, ''[[The Ghost of Frankenstein]]'', was released in 1942. |
| - | The studio was founded by [[Germany|German]] [[immigrant]] [[Carl Laemmle]] on [[June 8]], [[1912]]. In [[1929]], [[Carl Laemmle Jr.]] took over the helm and tried to lift the reputation of the low-budget company by spending more on production and talent. The [[Universal horror|Universal Horror]] classics like ''[[Frankenstein (1931 film)|Frankenstein]]'', ''[[Dracula (1931 movie)|Dracula]]'', and ''[[The Mummy (1932 movie)|The Mummy]]'' were the result of this move, but they were not financially successful for the company, and they returned to mass-produced dreck for some time thereafter. | + | ==Plot== |
| - | + | Baron Wolf von Frankenstein, son of [[Victor Frankenstein|Henry Frankenstein]], relocates his wife Elsa and their young son Peter to the family castle. Wolf wants to redeem his father's reputation but finds this will be more difficult than he thought after he encounters hostility from the villagers, who resent him for the destruction his father's [[Frankenstein's Monster|monster]] wreaked years ago. Wolf's only other friend is the local police Inspector Krogh, who wears an artificial arm after his real arm was ripped out in a childhood encounter with the monster. While investigating his father's castle, Wolf meets Ygor, a demented blacksmith who survived being hanged for graverobbing and has a deformed neck as a result. Wolf finds the monster's comatose body in the crypt where his grandfather and father were buried; his father's sarcophagus bears the phrase "Heinrich von Frankenstein: Maker of Monsters" written in chalk. He decides to revive the monster to prove his father was correct and to restore honor to his family. Wolf uses a torch to scratch out the word "Monsters" on the casket and write "Men" beneath it. | |
| - | In [[1952]], the studio was acquired by the record company [[Decca]], who then sold it to [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] in [[1962]]. Universal finally began to prosper, with the leadership of [[Lew Wasserman]]. This also marked Universal's entry into the [[television]] programming business; MCA owned [[Revue Studios]], one of the biggest TV studios in Hollywood, which at the time produced such hits as ''[[Leave It to Beaver]]'', ''[[Alfred Hitchcock Presents]]'', and ''[[Wagon Train]]''. The studio was renamed '''Universal Television''', and made its name producing crime dramas and action/adventure series, such as the [[1960s]] ''[[Dragnet]]'' revival, ''[[Adam-12]]'', ''[[Emergency!]]'', ''[[Columbo]]'', ''[[Baretta]]'', ''[[Knight Rider]]'', ''[[Quantum Leap]]'', and ''[[Law & Order]]''. | + | |
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| - | Three decades of steady success, with the occasional blockbusters like ''[[Jaws]]'' and ''[[E.T: The Extra-Terrestrial]]'', seemed to poise the studio for great future potential. However, the era of huge media mergers that began in the [[1980s]] and continued in the [[1990s]] put pressure on the firm. Wasserman sought and shepherded an alliance with [[Matsushita Electric]] (parent of [[Panasonic]] and other brands). The cash infusion was helpful, but the corporate culture of the Japanese firm did not mesh easily with the headstrong old Hollywood veterans. Matsushita tired of the battle and sold a controlling share of the studio to the [[Seagram]] company in [[1995]]. | + | |
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| - | Seagram went on to acquire [[Polygram]] and other entertainment properties in order to build a media empire centered on Universal, but stock prices never took off the way they expected. In [[1998]], Universal's TV studios were spun off to [[USA Networks]], and renamed Studios USA; in [[2002]], Universal bought back USA's cable and studio holdings, thus reinstating the Universal Television name; Universal retained its pre-1998 TV back catalog through all of this period. | + | |
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| - | In June [[2000]], Universal was acquired by the [[France|French]] company [[Vivendi]], now [[Vivendi Universal]]. During this period, the studio was under the leadership of Ron Meyer, Stacey Snider, and [[Barry Diller]]. | + | |
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| - | In October [[2003]], it was announced that Vivendi would be selling the majority of Universal's holdings (including the studio and theme parks) to [[General Electric]], parent of television network (and longtime Universal Television customer) [[NBC]]. The merger cleared regulatory approval in April [[2004]], and closed on [[May 12]], [[2004]]. As of the closing, GE owns 80% of the combined [[NBC Universal]], with the remaining 20% kept by Vivendi; Vivendi will have the option to sell its share starting in 2006. | + | |
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| - | Vivendi will be keeping [[Universal Music|Universal Music Group]], at least for now. | + | |
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| - | ==Universal Studios Theme Parks== | + | |
| - | Universal Studios has long hosted tours of its studios to eager tourists. In [[1964]], the humble tram tour became a full-blown [[theme park]] -- the narrated tram tour still runs through the studio's [[backlot]], showing off the sets and props from a huge variety of Universal [[Cinema|movie]] and [[Television|TV]] productions, but the Universal Studios Hollywood and Florida theme-parks have been added some high-tech rides, stunt shows, and attractions. | + | |
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| - | Universal Studios has been since opened theme parks in [[Hollywood, California]], [[Orlando, Florida]], [[Japan]] ([[Osaka]]), and [[Spain]] (although without the working studio attached). | + | |
| + | The monster is revived but it only responds to Ygor's commands and commits a series of murders, the victims of which were jurors at Ygor's trial. Wolf discovers this and confronts, shoots and apparently kills Ygor. The monster abducts Wolf's son as revenge but cannot bring himself to kill the child. Krogh and Wolf pursue the monster to a nearby laboratory, where a struggle during which the monster tears out Krogh's false arm ensues. Wolf swings on a rope and knocks the monster into a pit of molten [[sulfur]] beneath the laboratory, saving his son. Wolf leaves the keys to Frankenstein's castle to the villagers, who turn out to cheer the Frankenstein family as they leave by train. | ||
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Son of Frankenstein is a 1939 American horror film that was directed by Rowland V. Lee. The film is the third in Universal Pictures' Frankenstein series and is the follow-up to Bride of Frankenstein. Son of Frankenstein stars Basil Rathbone as Baron Wolf von Frankenstein who, with his wife Elsa (Josephine Hutchinson) and son Peter (Donnie Dunagan), return to his late father's estate. Near the castle lives Ygor (Bela Lugosi), a crazed shepherd whose neck was broken in an unsuccessful hanging attempt. Among the castle's remains, Frankenstein discovers the remains of the monster (Boris Karloff) and decides to try save his family name by resurrecting the creature to prove his father was correct. He finds, however, the monster only responds to Ygor's commands.
The film was originally announced in August 1938 after a successful theatrical reissue of Dracula and Frankenstein. Son of Frankenstein was initially announced under the title After Frankenstein. The screenplay written by Willis Cooper was initially rejected and early script drafts included only the characters that would be used in the final film. The original budget was set at $250,000 but Lee increased it to $300,000 and had a 27-day shooting schedule. Difficulties in production arose when Lee was unsatisfied with the script. Production was delayed until November 9 due to inclement weather and other problems, and filming was completed on January 5, 1939, with a final cost of $420,000. The film was released on January 13, 1939, and received positive reviews from The New York Daily News, The New York Times, Variety and the Monthly Film Bulletin. A sequel, The Ghost of Frankenstein, was released in 1942.
Plot
Baron Wolf von Frankenstein, son of Henry Frankenstein, relocates his wife Elsa and their young son Peter to the family castle. Wolf wants to redeem his father's reputation but finds this will be more difficult than he thought after he encounters hostility from the villagers, who resent him for the destruction his father's monster wreaked years ago. Wolf's only other friend is the local police Inspector Krogh, who wears an artificial arm after his real arm was ripped out in a childhood encounter with the monster. While investigating his father's castle, Wolf meets Ygor, a demented blacksmith who survived being hanged for graverobbing and has a deformed neck as a result. Wolf finds the monster's comatose body in the crypt where his grandfather and father were buried; his father's sarcophagus bears the phrase "Heinrich von Frankenstein: Maker of Monsters" written in chalk. He decides to revive the monster to prove his father was correct and to restore honor to his family. Wolf uses a torch to scratch out the word "Monsters" on the casket and write "Men" beneath it.
The monster is revived but it only responds to Ygor's commands and commits a series of murders, the victims of which were jurors at Ygor's trial. Wolf discovers this and confronts, shoots and apparently kills Ygor. The monster abducts Wolf's son as revenge but cannot bring himself to kill the child. Krogh and Wolf pursue the monster to a nearby laboratory, where a struggle during which the monster tears out Krogh's false arm ensues. Wolf swings on a rope and knocks the monster into a pit of molten sulfur beneath the laboratory, saving his son. Wolf leaves the keys to Frankenstein's castle to the villagers, who turn out to cheer the Frankenstein family as they leave by train.
