This year marks the 80th anniversary release of Universal Studios' "Son of Frankenstein": the third chapter in the acclaimed Monster saga.
Written by Wyllis "the Phantom Creeps" Cooper and directed/produced by Rowland V. Lee (of Dr. Fu Manchu fame), the January 13, 1939 release features Boris Karloff in his final performance as the Monster, on this occasion garbed in an iconic, sleeveless sweater. (Karloff would later re-don the Monster guise for "Route 66: Lizard's Leg and Owlet's Wing", though he was, in essence, playing an insinuation of himself and not a version of Mary Shelley's creation.)
"Son of..." was to star the great Peter Lorre as Baron Wolf von Frankenstein (son of Colin Clive's Henry), but instead the great Basil Rathbone assumed the titular role.
In a rich, supporting part, legendary Bela Lugosi (the man originally offered the Monster role in '31 and who would later portray a brain-transplanted alternative in "Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman") stars as the crafty, snapped-necked Ygor. (Ygor would become the versatile actor's most celebrated portrayal after his classic Count Dracula.)
As the Baron's wife, Elsa, the gorgeous Josephine Hutchinson was cast, with Donnie Dunagan as the Frankensteins' wee son, Peter, who takes a shining to Karloff's lumbering giant. (Dunagan would later voice Bambi for Disney.) Also on the roster is the great Lionel Atwill as Inspector Krogh, a character who lost his arm to the Monster's fateful yank years earlier (though neither James Whale predecessor depicts the event).
It seems odd that the Monster doesn't speak after his articulation in "Bride of...". Still, Karloff once more invokes impressive expression, in a rainy, musty, noir-esque entry that kicked off what many consider to be Hollywood's best and most prolific year. (As a related tidbit, "Son of..." was intended for Technicolor, but plans faded when test footage of Karloff/Jack Pierce's make-up was deemed unsatisfactory. However, the textured, black-and-white usage {thanks to cinematographer George Robinson's gloomy instincts} sustains a visual continuity with the initial films and those that follow.)
"Son of..." was a worldwide hit and birthed "Ghost of...", where Lugosi reprised Ygor and Lon Chaney Jr became the Monster. Thereafter, Universal's "shared universe" commenced with its Monster/Wolfman crossover. If not for "Son of...'"s success, it's doubtful any extension or overlap among Universal's classic monsters would have materialized.
On special note, of the three Karloff/Frankenstein pictures, "Son of..." had the most impact on Mel Brooks' "Young Frankenstein", with Gene Wilder acting as the in-denial, Rathbone offshoot, Marty Feldman as a kooky Fritz/Ygor variant and Kenneth Mars paying supreme, comedic homage to Atwill's Krogh. "Young Frankenstein'"s plot is lifted straight from "Son of...", to the point that it could be branded a quasi remake.
Few can argue "Son of...'s" place among the all-time influential, blockbuster sequels. Out of respect, revisit "Son of..." today. After all, few films possess such sublime prestige eight decades after their advent.
