Lady Frankenstein (1971)

La Figlia di Frankenstein
Daughter of Frankenstein
Madame Frankenstein

Cast:

Joseph "I used to be in movies with Orson Welles" Cotten is Baron Frankenstein
Rosalba "Sara Bey" Neri is Tania Frankenstein
Mickey "Jayne Mansfield's husband" Hargitay is Captain Harris
Paul Muller is Dr. Charles Marshall

What the box says:

When Dr. Frankenstein is murdered by a monster he made, his daughter and his lab assistant Marshall continue his experiments. The two fall in love and attempt to transplant Marshall's brain in to the muscualr body of a retarded servant Stephen, in order to prolong the aging Marshall's life. Meanwhile, the first monster seeks revenge on the grave robbers who sold the body parts used in its creation to Dr. Frankenstein. Soon it comes after Marshall and the doctor's daughter.

Plot:

A dirty bearded guy is doing some grave robbing. His buddies, the one eyed guy and wonder wino, help get the coffin on the wagon. They take it to Baron Frankenstein�s secret lab. Frankenstein wants a body less than 6 hours dead.

In the lab, Frankenstein and his lame assistant Charles Marshal go to work. Can you guess than Frankenstein is determined to succeed at any cost? His daughter, Tania, will arrive in the morning.

The next morning, Tania is greeted by Charles. The handyman, Thomas, takes in her luggage. Thomas would have been on the short wagon to school.

Tania is a licensed surgeon and determined to aid her father with his experiments.

In a bar, some drunken guys are talking about how Jack Morgan will be hanged.

Frankenstein and Tania are talking. She wants to help with her father�s research.

Lynch, the head of the grave robbers, is trying to negotiate a higher price for the body. Frankenstein steps out of the room for a moment. Tania steps in and meets the filthy Lynch. Let�s just say, she isn�t wooed by his charm and debonair personality. Frankenstein returns and escorts Lynch out of the castle. Lynch is planning on delivering Jack Morgan.

It is party time. The village has gathered for the hanging. Police Captain Harris has a little talk with Lynch. Lets� say that Harris is sure that Lynch will enjoy a taste of the rope if the fortunes are good.

Frankenstein and Charles are awaiting the hanging, too. They spot Tania arriving. Frankenstein tries to convince her to leave. Charles agrees with Tania that she should witness death first hand.

Jack Morgan is led to the gallows. I guess he never was a seaman. That would be too many Captains in the movie especially when one would be Captain Morgan. Well enough of my lame jokes, Morgan is dropped down a well shaft. That ought to take care of him.

Later, Charles and Frankenstein are waiting for their special delivery from Lynch. They unload the coffin.

Frankenstein and Charles begin working on the body.

Tania heads to the lab. She learns that her father has moved on to using humans for his experiments. She wants to help and is amazed by his progress so far. Frankenstein doesn�t want her to participate to give her �deniability.� Who knew the 19th Century had so many malpractice suits to hide important medical research? Tania leaves downhearted.

Surgery fu ensues. Air bladders are pumping. Frankenstein is working on the body.

The Doctor and his assistant wire the heart. Frankenstein starts to movie onto the brain.

He begins rambling about his work. They need lightning to bring the creature to life when it begins storming.

Frankenstein and Charles are still in the lab. They are about to transplant the brain when Charles realizes it is damaged. Frankenstein will use it nonetheless. Charles warns him of the dangers but still proceeds. They transplant the brain.

The creature is raised on the slab for the lightning to give the gift of life.

As chemicals bubble in various containers, bats fly around in the lab. The lightning catches the face of the creature on fire.

I really shouldn't barbecue when I reanimate dead flesh... The body is lowered. The creature is disfigured.
You rannnnnnnnnnggggggggg? Frankenstein checks for signs of life to no avail. The creature is dead.

Frankenstein and Charles don�t see the creature start to move. Frankenstein is depressed over his failure. He finally sees the creature is alive and releases it from the straps on the slab. Charles is sent to bring Tania to see the creature. The creature is ordered and embraces Frankenstein. Well, the good Doctor gets a fatal bear hug.

Charles and Tania hear the creature. They rush into the lab and find the dying Baron Frankenstein. Charles is about to get the police when Tania stops him. She needs time to save her father�s reputation.

The creature is on the loose. It spots a couple going at it like immoral wombats. Why does this seem to be a more adult version of Boris Karloff child drowning scene? The creature grabs the naked chick and drops her in the river.

Captain Harris is shown the lab by Tania and Charles. The story is a big man killed the Baron. Charles explains he was tossed aside. Captain Harris leaves.

Some fishermen find the drowned naked chick.

Elsewhere, a guy spots the creature. Needless to say, he is promptly killed by the disfigured monster.

Captain Harris pays a visit to Lynch and begins questioning him about his cronies.

Tania is looking over her father�s notes. Charles won�t help her until he knows what she�s planning. Tania wants to create a second creature to kill the first one.

Tania wants Lynch to get her a body. He volunteers to do it if she�ll bump his uglies. She still finds him repulsive.

When Charles learns about Lynch�s indecent proposal, he rages about how to kill him. Tania knows that Charles loves her. She wants to use Thomas the handyman�s body for the creature and Charles�s brain in the body. Tania wants his brain in that strong body. Charles is so desperately in love with her he agrees. This guy is the ultimate wimp. Well, what guy could honestly turn down Rosalba Neri?

Charles won�t kill Thomas. Tania will help him with that small problem. Sucking face ensues.

The creature spots a wagon in the distance.

Tania and Charles are married off screen.

The creature goes after another of Lynch�s buddies.

Later, Captain Harris finds Lynch has been mauled to death.

Another of Lynch�s buddies is attacked and killed by the creature. The guy�s wife is killed. The creature leaves the boy alive.

Captain Harris pays another visit on Tania. The big man has been described as a monster. Tania is upset by Captain Harris�s Columbo impression.

Some grave robbers are hard at work when the creature kills them.

Captain Harris is at the graveyard. He wants all the fresh graves inspected.

Tania has Thomas carry some packages for her. He drops them on the floor. She helps him gather them up. Locking the door, she maneuvers him to the bed and lets her hair and her clothes down. Charles is watching all of this nearby. Tania�s chesticals make a quite welcome appearance on screen. While Thomas and Tania are rolling around on the bed, Charles suffocates Thomas with a pillow. Would that make Thomas a pillow biter? Apparently, Tania gets even hotter watching the guy she�s riding suffering from a bout of un-erotic asphyxiation.

Thomas�s sister comes by a come of days later. Tania lies about Thomas.

In the lab, Thomas is on the slab.

The creature is still roaming around the countryside.

Several guys are talking with Captain Harris. They think Frankenstein is connected with the creature.

Tania is starting to have a few doubts about the plan. Charles reassures her to keep going. She sedates him before the operation.

The good Captain pays another visit to Tania.

Later, Tania is operating and begins the procedure.

This is to show Maria Frankenstein a thing or two for her dealings with Jesse James. Thomas�s body is revived. Charles�s brain is implanted.

Captain Harris talks with Julia, Thomas�s sister.

Charles awakens in his new body.

The villagers are carrying torches. They find the creature and open fire on it to no avail. The creature keeps rampaging.

Tania is testing Charles�s reflexives, not those. Charles is very strong. Note: I�m going to call him Charles which is simpler for the brain and because he�s in the driver�s seat.

Captain Harris pays another visit to Tania. He wants to talk with Charles who claims to be very sick and contagious. Harris reveals that Charles helped Frankenstein created the creature that has killed everyone else responsible for his creation. Harris is sure the creature will go after Charles.

Captain Harris has the Frankenstein castle surrounded.

Tania and Charles are alone.

The creature knocks Harris out and heads to the castle.

Charles finds the creature. Tania is convinced that the creature can be controlled now. It won�t realize that Charles is alive. Charles wants to kill the creature. The fight begins.

The villagers find Captain Harris and rush the castle.

Dueling monsters ensue as they trash the lab.

The villagers are revolting and looting the castle.

Charles cuts off one of the creature�s hands. They keep struggling. Tania runs an iron spike through the creature. Charles cleaves on ax into the monster�s skull.

Charles and Tania embrace. Tania seems to be awfully hot and bothered.

The villagers are really enjoying the looting and destruction of the castle.

Captain Harris takes Julia away. They see Tania and Charles porking in the flaming wreckage of the castle. Charles chokes her to death. Talk about your climaxes.

What I say:

Rogue Reviewers Roundtable
Today's suggested soundtrack for this review is a certain song by the Divinyls, I'm sure a lot can think of, and Alice Cooper's Feed my Frankenstein. With Rosalba Neri, it's a very good thing...

It was said that Helen of Troy launched a thousand ships or something like that. I�m not sure how many fans of B-movies have tried reading some of the source material. How many movies have been made because of Bram Stoker�s Dracula or Mary Shelley�s Frankenstein? It would be safe to say that those 2 novels have helped to mold a large portion of horror into what it is today. It could be said that Dracula and Frankenstein launched a thousand B-movies.

Look at the numerous versions of the Frankenstein story, Hammer Studios made several, including Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell. Can a movie scientist not try to create like in Frankenstein fashion? In fact, the low budget horror field seems to truly love the Frankenstein story. Frankenhooker, the Andy Warhol version, etc�

Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter is a far more inept production. Lady Frankenstein has a greater Eurosleaze feel. It isn't anywhere near the suburbs of Jess Franco or Lucio Fulci. It still has that kind of aura about halfway in when they start peppering it with the female flesh. The Roman Emperor, Nero, may have played the fiddle as Rome burned. Can you think of movie that ends with a mad scientist porking their creation as the castle they're in burns?

I've tried to suggest certain songs that might be appropriate for certain reviews. Why does "Get UR Freak on" seem so appropriate? That is too easy to suggest. For some reason, the Divinyls seems more appropriate. Tania seems to get her Mojo finished when Charles finishes off Thomas. When you have a character biting on her hand to stifle from arriving at the Big O, I don't mean a giant mecha piloted by Roger Smith. As her husband kills her bedroom buddy, you've got a couple of twisted little monkeys. Or for that matter, when Charles finishes off Tania.

How many movies have a guy who in the throws of passion call the woman he's with by the wrong name? And, it never ends good. The woman runs off and finds the little schlumpy guy who truly loves her. Well, in early 70s horror movies, it might be a good thing for hot chick scientists to call their boyfriends by name of his brain not body.

Rosalba "Sara Bey" Neri doesn't try doing the stereotypical mad scientist like Maria Frankenstein in Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter with rolling her "R's" to the point of tripping over them. Tania Frankenstein is more interested in aiding her father with his work. After his death, she wants to justify his work to the world. She manages to seduce Charles to aid her in her scheme to create a second creature to destroy the first one. She seduces the guy to give her husband a strong body to rock her like a hurricane in the vernacular of the Scorpions.

Rosalba is definitely a woman you can believe that the characters are drawn to. Charles, the assistant of her father, couldn't help from casting eyes on her. We have the extremely greasy Lynch hitting on her. Granted, he didn't have many problems finding any woman to use as mattress warmers. But, it just takes about an hour into the movie for Rosalba to truly kick into full on nympho mode. And that my ten of fans is a good thing...

Joseph Cotton was known years earlier for roles in Citizen Kane and Third Man. Unfortunately, he had some very bad luck and got into a number of low budget horror movies like Screamers and Torture Chamber of Baron Blood. Anyone in Abominable Dr. Phibes I salute. Joseph Cotton isn�t bad as Frankenstein. He comes across more as a humane mad scientist. Well, as humane as a guy that hires grave robbers can be.

Mickey Hargitay is known for being a former Mr. Universe or being married to Jayne Mansfield. His entire appearance in this movie comes across as he's trying to play Columbo. The way he stops by for "just one more thing." His role isn't like that of the typical policeman in this kind of movie. 95% of his scenes could be removed without losing a single thing. Look at the scenes, he talks about how Lynch will wind up at the gallows for his crimes. However, Creature gets Lynch. Everything he does has absolutely no effect on the rest of the cast. In fact, he is to deliver the exposition so we can follow what is going on. The better question is he trying to play a hick cop so no one suspects he really has figured out what is happening?

Baron Frankenstein may have been holding back on his research by mainly working with animals for years before the grave robbery. Over the years, the local villagers suspect that something awfully strange has been occurring at the Baron�s castle. Name any movie set in Europe that doesn�t have a creepy aristocracy.

The 1931 version of Frankenstein had the infamous scene with Boris Karloff tossing the girl into the stream where she drowns. Lady Frankenstein has a similar scene. The creature comes across as a couple going at it in a field and tosses the naked woman into the stream. Peasant getting their groove on in an open field is just asking for trouble.

The late 60s and early 70s saw how horror movies became more explicit. A virtual cold war emerged as filmmakers tried to push the envelope as far as possible. The same era also saw nudity start to creep in the movies as drive-ins and the grindhouse theaters began to proliferate. The nudity is always connected to sex. Tania's seduction of Thomas and the final porking. The saucy wenches that are with Lynch. The tart the Creature dunks in the nearby stream.

The end to the movie doesn't make any sense. Charles is choking Tania to death in the throws of passion. Is the body of Thomas realizing that Tania was responsible for his death? The immortal revenge from beyond the grave. In fact, several things are thrown out at the audience near the end that make absolutely no sense. Tania is convinced the creature will be able to be controlled with it unaware that Charles is alive in Thomas's body. Charles is convinced Tania wins no matter if he or the creature is killed. The logic for such an idea may be on Trantor surely not on Earth.

I�m sure with a few more scientists like Tania Frankenstein experimenting some sort of technocracy would be established in short order. But, would anyone really be opposed to a group of hot Italian chicks ruling the world? I envision Monica Belluci in the remake of Lady Frankenstein. I can think of no better conclusion than to have dancing Monica Bellucis in one's head.

Added 6-61-06
Email Comments From one of the truly ninjaliscious Ten of fans...

It's funny how you mentioned the effects that "Dracula" and "Frankenstein" had on the world of filmmaking in your review of "Lady Frankenstein," seeing as how both stories led to the creation of "Lady Frankenstein." I once read an interview with the director, who said that he was originally going to use a script called "Lady Dracula." For some reason, the writer refused to sell him the script and he had to improvise a script in order to satisfy his investors (I think; it's been awhile since I read that interview). Anyways, he figured that if he couldn't use Dracula, he'd use another famous monster: Frankenstein. The hasty scriptwriting (and shooting process) could explain errors like Tania being convinced that the monster will be able to be controlled since it doesn't know that Thomas/Charles is alive. Then again, it doesn't help that all current "public domain" releases are actually from an edited print of the movie, so it's possible that plot point was discussed in a cut scene. There's a German company working on an uncut restoration, so hopefully the matter can be solved once and for all.

As for the ending, the explanation I've heard was that Charles was bitter over Tania only desiring him for his strong body. Based on her comment about being able to control the monster, perhaps he was convinced that she only desired a superstrong being that she could control instead of being in love with him.

Random fun fact: According to the director, all of the equipment shown in the movie existed during the time period in which the movie was set and could have (theoretically) been assembled in real life by scientists then.

Quotable Dialogue
"People never die when it suits you."
"This is legalized murder."
"One day, Lynch, you're going to tell me the wrong thing at the right time."
Morals of the Story
Kids love a good hanging.
Men are hanged over a well.
All castles have secret passages.
Internal organs resemble Cornish game hens.
Reanimated corpses never obey orders.
Police were able to open any grave at any time.
Brains are battery powered.
Brain transplants give you super strength.