True to their word, Chapters delivered my Universal Legacy DVD's today. And while I would normally save my classic monster movie viewing until closer to Halloween, I thought it fitting to celebrate the completion of my collection by watching at least one of them today.
After exploring the options, I chose House of Dracula. My job search has been stagnant of late and I felt the need for some humour mixed in with the horror. Humour that can only come from multiple monsters. At first, I was hesitant about another monster "team-up". House of Frankenstein was disappointing in that respect since it promised five monsters in one movie, but delivered individual stories loosely packaged as one. Also, House of Dracula had neither Bela Lugosi as Dracula nor Boris Karloff as Frankenstein's monster. But, perhaps as compensation, Lon Chaney Jr. reprised his role as the Wolfman, currently my favourite monster.
As the story unfolds, Dracula seeks out a Dr. Edlemann, supposedly seeking to cure his vampirism. He's taken the liberty of smuggling his coffin into the doctor's basement, so it doesn't appear that he will take "No" for an answer. Although the doctor is busy working on a treatment for his hunchbacked nurse, he agrees to treat the Count. While the doctor is consulting with Dracula, a frantic Larry Talbot arrives, demanding to see the doctor for assistance for his werewolf transformation problem. Unable to get an immediate appointment, he runs off and has himself jailed for the protection of the townspeople, who have already formed an angry mob. News obviously travels very quickly in a small town.
When the doctor visits him in jail that night, Larry transforms and, unable to break free, collapses. All this has attracted the attention of the doctor's second nurse (the non-hunchbacked one) who develops a bit of a crush on poor tortured Larry. Understandable despite the new moustache. The doctor decides he might be able to use his developing hunchback cure on Larry's head to cure his werewolf problem. The details of this are sketchy at best but the doctor seems to know what he's doing. Alas, this treatment is not yet ready.
Upset, because there is of course a full moon that very night, Larry throws himself into the ocean and washes up in a cave filled with mold spores. Apparently just the thing needed for the doctor's cure. But, mixed in with the mold is . . . Frankenstein's monster. Beautifully preserved. Everyone gathers at the doctor's home/laboratory: the doctor, the wolfman, the hunchback nurse, Dracula and Frankenstein's monster. So naturally, it isn't long before events spiral out of control.
When the doctor visits him in jail that night, Larry transforms and, unable to break free, collapses. All this has attracted the attention of the doctor's second nurse (the non-hunchbacked one) who develops a bit of a crush on poor tortured Larry. Understandable despite the new moustache. The doctor decides he might be able to use his developing hunchback cure on Larry's head to cure his werewolf problem. The details of this are sketchy at best but the doctor seems to know what he's doing. Alas, this treatment is not yet ready.
Upset, because there is of course a full moon that very night, Larry throws himself into the ocean and washes up in a cave filled with mold spores. Apparently just the thing needed for the doctor's cure. But, mixed in with the mold is . . . Frankenstein's monster. Beautifully preserved. Everyone gathers at the doctor's home/laboratory: the doctor, the wolfman, the hunchback nurse, Dracula and Frankenstein's monster. So naturally, it isn't long before events spiral out of control.
Overall, this was a more unified and better film than House of Frankenstein. And it was nice to see the Wolfman again. Did I mention that he's my favourite monster?
But what has been learned here?
But what has been learned here?
Three things. First: Dracula is untrustworthy. Second: Frankenstein's monster cannot be outrun no matter how slowly he moves. Third: Always keep the angry mob on your side.
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