The Monster Movies of Universal Studios by James L. Neibaur

Author:James L. Neibaur
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub, mobi
Published: 2020-06-17T16:00:00+00:00

Trade ad for The Ghost of Frankenstein .

Promotional ideas for The Ghost of Frankenstein were often quite inspired.

As part of his campaign in selling The Ghost of Frankenstein , a Pennsylvania theater owner constructed a six-foot set piece made out of a three-sheet poster, mounted it on beaver board, and displayed it two weeks in advance. He put a coffin in his lobby with signs all over it stating, “Don’t be afraid to go see The Ghost of Frankenstein , for here lies his body, as dead as a doornail.” He also had a boy leading a donkey around town with a sign on its back that stated, “I’m the only one in town that’s afraid to see The Ghost of Frankenstein and I’m a jackass!”

Bosley Crowther of the New York Times continued to be dismissive of the entire horror genre. In his April 4, 1942, review, he stated,

Don’t look now, gentle reader, but Frankenstein’s monster is loose again. Out of that deadly bed of sulphur into which he was last seen to plunge, Universal has hauled the foul creature and set him to roving once more on the scabrous screen of the Rialto in a film called “The Ghost of Frankenstein.” Gorgons, hydras and chimeras dire! Aren’t there enough monsters loose in this world without that horrendous ruffian mauling and crushing actors? For that, as a matter of fact, is about all he does in this film, except to submit to an operation whereby the sinister Dr. Lionel Atwill removes the brain from Bela Lugosi and pops it into him. To be sure, the replenished monster is being consumed by fire when we see him last, but the thought that he may yet return for further adventures with his body and Lugosi’s sconce fills us with mortal terror. That is the most fearful prospect which the picture manages to convey. 3

However, The Motion Picture Herald was decidedly more appreciative:

The current installment in the continued adventures of Frankenstein maintains a standard of performance, effectiveness, and quality exceeding the average for horror films by a considerable margin. Cedric Harwicke gives his usual polished performance while Lon Chaney as the monster achieves an equivalent distinction in point of terrifying uncouthness. Among the best of its kind. 4

Finally, a theater owner reported in the Motion Picture Herald , “These Frankensteins are all good for my box office. Chaney does a grand job as the monster.” 5

Because of its low budget and the popularity of the characters and the cast, The Ghost of Frankenstein was another big moneymaker for Universale Studios. Along with the massive popularity Abbott and Costello continued to enjoy at the studio, maintaining their status as top box office stars, 1942 was becoming a very profitable year for Universal. Because of this success, the monster series continued. And Lon Chaney Jr. was cast to take a turn as the mummy in The Mummy’s Tomb , which began filming in June 1942. But first, Universal revisited its Invisible Man series.

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