Basil Rathbone as Baron Wolf von FrankensteinBoris Karloff as the Frankenstein monster
Bela Lugosi as Ygor 
Today, l
et’s talk Classic 1939 Horror Movie-Son of Frankenstein! As the third in the Universal Studios series about the man-made monster, Son of Frankenstein was Boris Karloff’s last portrayal of the creature that had made him an overnight sensation back in 1931. In this film, ho
wever, much of the pathos of the first two films is missing and the monster is no longer a misunderstood, pitiable character for whom the audience can feel sympathy, but a cold-blooded killing machine seeking revenge on the village of “Frankenstein”. It has long been said that Karloff did not want the monster to become a mere creature of violence and decided to bow out of any future sequels when 
he realized the direction the series was headed in Son of Frankenstein.
As the movie begins, the people of “Frankenstein” are up in arms to hear that another despised Frankenstein will soon be arriving from America to take over his late father’s estate. Baron Wolf von Frankenstein (Basil Rathbone), a scientist and college professor, hopes to
make amends for the havoc his father’s creation once brought upon the village, but mysterious deaths have recently been occurring that are oddly similar to those of the past and Inspector Krogh (Lionel Atwill), whose arm was once torn off by the Frankenstein monster, is intent on finding the truth behind those deaths.
With o
nly good intentions, Wolf, his wife, Elsa (Josephine Hutchinson) and small son, Peter (Donnie Dunagan) move into Castle Frankenstein, but find they are unwelcome and could b
e in danger of mob violence. Wolf soon meets Ygor (Bela Lugosi), an amusingly sinister villager whose neck was broken when he was once hanged for grave-robbing. Ygor has a secret to share with the unsuspecting Frankenstein-the monster is still alive, but very sick. Never dreaming that the creature survived the explosion that destroyed his 
father’s laboratory many years before, Wolf becomes obsessed with restoring the monster to health and rectifying his father’s mistake by giving him a “normal” brain. Ygor, the mastermind behind the recent murders, has different plans for the monster once he’s strong again. Having no interest in giving him a new brain and in total 
control of the creature, Ygor sends his “partner in crime” to kill a few more villagers, all former jury members who sentenced Ygor to hang. While the monster is out “hunting”, Ygor sits in the tower window, eerily playing his shepherd’s horn.
All’s well that end’s well, however, when Wolf finally pumps several bullets
into Ygor and then heroically saves his son by pushing the monster into a boiling hot sulfur pit that lies beneath the old laboratory. Not to worry, the monster always survives and comes back stronger in the next sequel. In fact, so does Ygor in Ghost of Frankenstein. Go figure.
Son of Frankenstein is an enjoyable motion picture, but it really doesn’t
showcase Boris Karloff’s monster as well as the two prequels (Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein) do. It is actually Bela Lugosi as Ygor that steals the show from both Karloff and Rathbone. All performances are good, but Lugosi’s is outstanding-probably one of his best. Take a look at this horror classic of 1939 or any of the wonderful horror films produced by Universal Studios. Check our archives for the week of posts on the Universal Studios Classic Monsters. Another Fabulous Film of 1939 will appear in our next post, so read “Let’s Talk Classic Movies” every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
**Trivia Question for Today: Child-actor Donnie Dunagan, who played Peter in Son of Frankenstein, was also the voice of what beloved Disney animated character?
Trivia Answer for Previous Post: Mickey Rooney portrays Lorenz Hart in MGM’s 1948 biopic Words and Music. Actor Tom Drake portrays Richard Rodgers in this star-studded tribute to the songwriting team.
et’s talk Classic 1939 Horror Movie-Son of Frankenstein! As the third in the Universal Studios series about the man-made monster, Son of Frankenstein was Boris Karloff’s last portrayal of the creature that had made him an overnight sensation back in 1931. In this film, ho
wever, much of the pathos of the first two films is missing and the monster is no longer a misunderstood, pitiable character for whom the audience can feel sympathy, but a cold-blooded killing machine seeking revenge on the village of “Frankenstein”. It has long been said that Karloff did not want the monster to become a mere creature of violence and decided to bow out of any future sequels when 
he realized the direction the series was headed in Son of Frankenstein.As the movie begins, the people of “Frankenstein” are up in arms to hear that another despised Frankenstein will soon be arriving from America to take over his late father’s estate. Baron Wolf von Frankenstein (Basil Rathbone), a scientist and college professor, hopes to
make amends for the havoc his father’s creation once brought upon the village, but mysterious deaths have recently been occurring that are oddly similar to those of the past and Inspector Krogh (Lionel Atwill), whose arm was once torn off by the Frankenstein monster, is intent on finding the truth behind those deaths.With o
nly good intentions, Wolf, his wife, Elsa (Josephine Hutchinson) and small son, Peter (Donnie Dunagan) move into Castle Frankenstein, but find they are unwelcome and could b
e in danger of mob violence. Wolf soon meets Ygor (Bela Lugosi), an amusingly sinister villager whose neck was broken when he was once hanged for grave-robbing. Ygor has a secret to share with the unsuspecting Frankenstein-the monster is still alive, but very sick. Never dreaming that the creature survived the explosion that destroyed his 
father’s laboratory many years before, Wolf becomes obsessed with restoring the monster to health and rectifying his father’s mistake by giving him a “normal” brain. Ygor, the mastermind behind the recent murders, has different plans for the monster once he’s strong again. Having no interest in giving him a new brain and in total 
control of the creature, Ygor sends his “partner in crime” to kill a few more villagers, all former jury members who sentenced Ygor to hang. While the monster is out “hunting”, Ygor sits in the tower window, eerily playing his shepherd’s horn.All’s well that end’s well, however, when Wolf finally pumps several bullets
into Ygor and then heroically saves his son by pushing the monster into a boiling hot sulfur pit that lies beneath the old laboratory. Not to worry, the monster always survives and comes back stronger in the next sequel. In fact, so does Ygor in Ghost of Frankenstein. Go figure.Son of Frankenstein is an enjoyable motion picture, but it really doesn’t
showcase Boris Karloff’s monster as well as the two prequels (Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein) do. It is actually Bela Lugosi as Ygor that steals the show from both Karloff and Rathbone. All performances are good, but Lugosi’s is outstanding-probably one of his best. Take a look at this horror classic of 1939 or any of the wonderful horror films produced by Universal Studios. Check our archives for the week of posts on the Universal Studios Classic Monsters. Another Fabulous Film of 1939 will appear in our next post, so read “Let’s Talk Classic Movies” every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
**Trivia Question for Today: Child-actor Donnie Dunagan, who played Peter in Son of Frankenstein, was also the voice of what beloved Disney animated character?
Trivia Answer for Previous Post: Mickey Rooney portrays Lorenz Hart in MGM’s 1948 biopic Words and Music. Actor Tom Drake portrays Richard Rodgers in this star-studded tribute to the songwriting team.
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