| Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster showcasing double feature with Curse of the Voodoo | |
| Directed by | Robert Gaffney |
| Written by | R. H. W. Dillard George Garrett John Rodenbeck |
| Produced by | Stanley P. Darer Alan V. Iselin Robert McCarty |
| Starring | James Karen Marilyn Hanold James Karen Lou Cutell Nancy Marshall David Kerman Robert Reilly |
| Cinematography | Saul Midwall |
| Edited by | Lawrence C. Keating |
| Music by | Ross Gaffney |
Production company | Futurama Entertainment Corp. |
| Distributed by | Allied Artists Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 79 min. |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $60,000 (estimated) |
Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster (sometimes stylized as Frankenstein Meets the Spacemonster) is a 1965 science fiction film. It was directed by Robert Gaffney and starred Marilyn Hanold, James Karen and Lou Cutell. It was filmed in Florida and Puerto Rico in 1964.[1]
The film tells the story of a facially-damaged android robot who fights alien invaders. Despite the title, neither Dr. Frankenstein nor Frankenstein's monster appear in the film. However, it is stated near the beginning of the movie that the android is partially built from human pieces and he is also often called by the first name of Frank.
Plot
[edit]All of the women on the planet Mars have died in an atomic war, except for Martian Princess Marcuzan (Marilyn Hanold). Marcuzan and her right-hand man, Dr. Nadir (Lou Cutell), decide they will travel to Earth and steal all of the women on the planet in order to continue the Martian race.[2] The Martians shoot down a space capsule carrying the android astronaut Colonel Frank Saunders (Robert Reilly), causing it to crash land in Puerto Rico. Frank's electronic brain and the left half of his face are damaged after encountering a trigger-happy Martian and his ray gun. Frank, now the "Frankenstein" of the title, described by his creator as an "astro-robot without a control system", proceeds to terrorize the island. A subplot involves the Martians abducting beautiful bikini-clad women for the purpose of breeding.
A radiation-scarred mutant named Mull is part of the Martian invasion force. The "Frankenstein" android and Mull battle each other, and both are destroyed.
Cast
[edit]- Marilyn Hanold as Princess Marcuzan
- James Karen as Dr. Adam Steele (as Jim Karen)
- Lou Cutell as Dr. Nadir
- Nancy Marshall as Karen Grant
- David Kerman as Gen. Bowers
- Robert Reilly as Col. Frank Saunders/Frankenstein
- Robert Alan Browne as Martian crewmember (uncredited)
- Robert Fields as reporter (uncredited)
- Bruce Glover as Martian crewmember/Mull the Space Monster (uncredited)
- Susan Stephens as blonde surf-bather (poster girl) (uncredited)
Release
[edit]The film was released in the United Kingdom as Duel of the Space Monsters. It is also known as Frankenstein Meets the Space Men, Mars Attacks Puerto Rico, Mars Invades Puerto Rico and Operation San Juan. Released by the Futurama Entertainment Corp., it was released on DVD by Dark Sky Films in 2006. In the United States, it was initially released on a double feature with Curse of the Voodoo.
The film was ranked #7 in the 2004 DVD documentary The 50 Worst Movies Ever Made.[3]
Jean Shepard talks about his old army buddy making this film on his WOR radio show, 3-4-1974
See also
[edit]- List of American films of 1965
- Invaders from Mars (1953 film)
- Plan Nine from Outer Space
- Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
- The Day Mars Invaded Earth
- Zombies of the Stratosphere
References
[edit]- ^ p. 131 Jenkins, Greg Chronicles of the Strange and Uncanny in Florida Pineapple Press Inc, 15/10/2010
- ^ Rovin, Jeff (1987). The Encyclopedia of Supervillains. New York: Facts on File. pp. 272–273. ISBN 0-8160-1356-X.
- ^ The 50 Worst Movies Ever Made at IMDb