"Wide World Mystery" Frankenstein: Part 1 (1973)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Glenn Jordan

Writers:

Dan Curtis (writer)
Sam Hall (part 1)

TV Series:

"Wide World Mystery" (1973)

Original Air Date:

16 January 1973 (Season 1, Episode 2)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi

Plot:

A scientist obsessed with creating life steals body parts to put together his "creation." |

Plot Keywords:

Scientist | Frankenstein's Monster | Revenge | Experiment Gone Wrong | Cemetery

Cast

Robert Foxworth	...	Dr. Victor Frankenstein
Susan Strasberg	...	Elizabeth Lavenza
Bo Svenson	...	Monster
Heidi Vaughn	...	Agatha DeLacey
Philip Bourneuf	...	Alphonse Frankenstein
Robert Gentry	...	Henri Clerval
Jon Lormer	...	Charles DeLacey
William Hansen	...	Professor Waldman
John Karlen	...	Otto Roget
George Morgan	...	Hugo
Brian Avery	...	Felix Delacey
Willie Aames	...	William Frankenstein
Rosella Olsen	...	Bride of the Monster
Edgar Daniels	...	Innkeeper
Edgar Justice	...	Mayor

Runtime:

180 min (including commercials)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M

Company:

Dan Curtis Productions

Movie Connections:

Version of Frankenstein (1992) (TV)

very sad tale--much closer to the original story than the Karloff version

While I am a firm believer that there will NEVER be a version of Frankentein that is as good as the book, this is at least a step in the right direction. While I would rate the Karloff version higher simply because of its technical merits and ability to scare you, this made for TV version is superior in many ways. Unlike earlier versions, this one really centers on the creature and its unfortunate existence. Like the book, the focus is on the "monster" after it is soon abandoned by its maker and the life the creature creates for itself shows great humanity and depth. In fact, in this way, the movie is terribly sad and heart-wrenching. Let me give a couple of examples. First, soon after the creature is created, Frankenstein's assistant plays with him. The monster, unaware of his immense strength, crushes the poor assistant to death. When Frankenstein returns to find this, the creature is saying "Otto, play" over and over again because he has no idea what he's done. Second, after running away, the creature hides out in a pantry--living among the bags of potatoes. He is so lonely for human contact that he delights in listening to the family talk and interact--knowing he cannot reveal his ugly self to them. In fact, he is so miserable, that he creates a little pretend man out of a potato and talks to it out of desperation. How pathetic! This film chooses to focus on the creature and portray him like a toddler sent out to live alone. On this level it is very successful.