The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942)

March 13, 1942 (US) • Horror, Science Fiction • 68m

Overview

Frankenstein's unscrupulous colleague, Dr. Bohmer, plans to transplant Ygor's brain so he can rule the world using the monster's body, but the plan goes sour when he turns malevolent and goes on a rampage.

Director

Erle C. Kenton

Writer

Scott Darling

Top Billed

Cedric Hardwicke

Keywords

sequel black and white brain transplant monster movie family legacy little girl in peril childhood innocence human monster frankenstein

Where to watch

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Top Billed Cast

Cedric Hardwicke

Dr. Ludwig Frankenstein / Dr. Henry Frankenstein (ghostly image)

Ralph Bellamy

Erik Ernst

Lionel Atwill

Dr. Bohmer

Bela Lugosi

Ygor

Evelyn Ankers

Elsa Frankenstein

Lon Chaney Jr.

The Frankenstein Monster

Janet Ann Gallow

Cloestine Hussman

Barton Yarborough

Dr. Kettering

Doris Lloyd

Martha the Housekeeper

Leyland Hodgson

Chief Constable

Olaf Hytten

Adolph Hussman

Holmes Herbert

Magistrate

Richard Alexander

Villager at Council Meeting (uncredited)

Lionel Belmore

Councilman (uncredited)

Chet Brandenburg

Villager (uncredited)

Colin Clive

Dr. Henry Frankenstein (flashback) (uncredited)

Harry Cording

Mob Leader (uncredited)

George Eldredge

Constable (uncredited)

Dwight Frye

Villager at Meeting / Grave Robber (flashback) (uncredited)

Lawrence Grant

Mayor (uncredited)

Otto Hoffman

Villager (uncredited)

Brandon Hurst

Hans, Villager at Council Meeting (uncredited)

Michael Mark

Councilman (uncredited)

Jimmy Phillips

Boy Playing Indian (uncredited)

William Smith

Boy (uncredited)

Ernie Stanton

Constable (uncredited)

Julius Tannen

Sektal (uncredited)

Harry Tenbrook

Villager at Hearing (uncredited)

Glen Walters

Mother of Hungry Children (uncredited)

Janet Warren

Goose-herd (uncredited)

Teddy Infuhr

Boy (uncredited)

Crew

Erle C. Kenton

Director

Scott Darling

Screenplay

George Waggner

Producer

Milton Krasner

Director of Photography

Ted J. Kent

Editor

Russell A. Gausman

Set Decoration

Vera West

Costume Design

Jack Pierce

Makeup Artist

Ellis Burman

Makeup Artist

Elwood Bredell

Director of Photography

Harold H. MacArthur

Art Direction

Jack Otterson

Art Direction

Bernard B. Brown

Sound Director

Eric Taylor

Original Story

Charles S. Gould

Assistant Director

John P. Fulton

Special Effects

Eddie Parker

Stunts

Charles Maxwell

Orchestrator

Charles Previn

Music

Hans J. Salter

Original Music Composer

Mary Shelley

Characters

Charles Carroll

Sound

Collection

Frankenstein (Universal) Collection

Frankenstein

Bride of Frankenstein

Son of Frankenstein

The Ghost of Frankenstein

House of Frankenstein

Reviews

John Chard

⭐ 5/10

October 3, 2015

Your father was Frankenstein. Your mother was lightning.

Of course the problem with the Frankenstein sequels, of the Universal Studios kind, was that they had to follow the genre firework that was "Frankenstein (1931)" and the monolithic titan that followed that one in 1935, "The Bride of Frankenstein". These are tough acts to follow - still are actually!

"Son of Frankenstein (1939)" managed very well, it had Basil Rathbone in it and Bela Lugosi giving great horror oomph as Ygor. Boris Karloff bowed out as the monster after that one, leaving an iconic legacy and an insistence that the monster didn't speak. The result of Karloff's (ahem) request has proved divisive amongst Frankenstein fans, does it need a voice for personality, or is it better off as a lumbering rage machine only?. Point being that in this one, he gets a voice, courtesy of Lon Chaney Junior's stint in the role, and it's not exactly a success.

Ghost of Frankenstein represents the start of the decline of the franchise, a noticeable drop in quality across the board. It's like Universal caught the cash cow disease and decided that quantity and not quality was what mattered. They would eventually team up the bolted necked one with "Abbott and Costello", with fun results, but the horror aspects began to wane here in 1942. Lugosi is on hand for some more Ygor mischief, Cedric Hardwicke and Lionel Atwill as scientists with opposite ideals are reassuring presences, while Evelyn Ankers is sexy and costumed with a great eye for detail.

At just 67 minutes in length the film thankfully doesn't have time to be boring, though action is in short supply, so hooray for castle destruction and fire unbound!. While Woody Bredell and Milton R. Krasner, via their photographic lenses ensure Gothic atmosphere is consistently ripe. Right, it's time for Universal Monster Tag Teams next... 5/10

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Status

Released

Original Language

Budget

$200,000

Revenue

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