Despite their vastly different origins, Frankenstein's Monster, The Wolf Man and Dracula have three great films to their names. The 1930s and 1940s were an important era for horror films, of which Universal pictures I did a lot during this time. He contributed greatly to the development of the film industry, essentially creating some of the best horror films of all time. Some of these films were such a big success that the studio quickly capitalized on them by releasing sequels, sequels, and even crossovers.
Movies like Dracula, The Wolf Man and the Invisible Man, Frankenstein, And Mummy They were obviously intended to be standalone horror films, but their popularity made the idea of their monsters meeting each other on the big screen very appealing. This strategy paved the way for one of the most outstanding monster crossovers ever made. Frankenstein's house which was soon followed by two more, with all three sharing the horror genre triumvirate.
House of Frankenstein was a sequel to Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (but with Dracula)
Released in 1944, House of Frankenstein directed by Earl K. Crewton
Universal's biggest monsters aren't linked by lore, so it's easy to see why combining two monsters would be a huge creative challenge. However, Universal managed to overcome this - more than once. Combining all three would seem particularly problematic, but Frankenstein's house The effort to make a movie about the werewolf, Dracula and Frankenstein's monster was made easier by the previous crossover. Universal had already pitted the werewolf and Frankenstein's Monster against each other, so the studio used this fight as setup for the two to already be together in the sequel.
Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man staged the titular meeting by making Universal's werewolf hero, Larry Talbot, believe that the cure could be found in Dr. Frankenstein's notes.
Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man staged the titular meeting by making Universal's werewolf hero, Larry Talbot, believe that the cure could be found in Dr. Frankenstein's notes. This, as expected, set the stage for Talbot - as the Wolf Man - to come to blows with the scientist's infamous creation, Frankenstein's Monster. Due to a flood in the castle at the end of the film, both were presumed dead. As a direct continuation of this, Frankenstein's house investigated what happened to them next, showing that the main characters find them after meeting Dracula.
However, it is important to note that although Frakenstein House there's The Wolf Man, Frankenstein's Monster and Dracula, only the last two actually share scenes. Dracula's role in the story disappears even before the main characters meet Frankenstein's Monster and the Wolf Man.as he was killed shortly after being revived. Since the participation of all three was a key part of the concept, the film was disappointing in this regard, but this was eventually corrected.
House of Dracula completes the stories of Dracula, the Wolf Man and Frankenstein's Monster
Released in 1945, The House of Dracula was directed by Earl K. Kewton.
Unlike Frankenstein's houseits direct sequel combined the storylines of all three monsters. This was done through the introduction of Dr. Edelman, a scientist whose expertise coincidentally attracted the attention of Dracula and the Wolf Man at the same time. Both Dracula and Larry Talbot went looking for him, both seeking a cure for what made them monsters. As for Frankenstein's Monster, he appeared on the scene after his comatose body was found by Dr. Edelmenn in the cave where he was left at the end of the film. Frakenstein's house.
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Although all three monsters were here, none of them were fighting each other. Rather, the center of the action was actually Dr. Edelmenn, who eventually became a monster himself. His actions led to an action-packed finale that gave each of Universal Pictures' three iconic monsters something to do.. In this respect he was superior Frankenstein's houseas not only did he do a lot more with Dracula, but he didn't sideline any of his main attractions until halfway through the film.
This decision seemed especially important given that House of Dracula works as a conclusion to the stories of the three universal monsters.. Admittedly, each of them had died before, but the sequels kept them alive by giving them new stories to develop. No one needed an ending more than Larry Talbot, whose battle with the werewolf curse haunted him throughout every installment. It took several films, but after House of DraculaUniversal Pictures has finally put an end to this fight for him.
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein is the best Three Monsters crossover, even though it's a comedy
Released in 1948, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, directed by Charles Barton
Three years later House of DraculaUniversal Pictures gave the trio a third crossover, this time in a completely different format. Deciding to mix horror with comedy, Universal Pictures included The Wolf Man, Frankenstein's Monster and Dracula in a story starring Budd Abbott and Lou Costello, a comedy duo who would go on to become a hugely popular franchise. Being the second film in the series, Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein sent his main characters to the castle, where they meet Larry Talbot, who wants to destroy the newly resurrected Dracula and Frankenstein's Monster.
Moreover, it did much more with the crossover concept than its predecessors. even going so far as to have the Wolf Man fight Dracula. Of course, the idea of two actors known for their slapstick comedies starring in a movie with three monsters doesn't fit with their franchises, as it naturally results in a lack of any true sense of horror. But despite this, Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein doesn't suffer from being a comedy because it was able to generate laughs without sacrificing its Frankenstein's Monster, Wolf Man or Dracula tropes.
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Before the film's release, this aspect of the story was acknowledged by Dracula actor Bela Lagosi himself, who noted how the Prince of Darkness would be abandoned."irreproachable" To Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein. The same can be said about the other two monsters, who themselves do not indulge in humor. Rather, it's the main characters, their machinations and their reactions to the creatures that provide most of the film's fun moments. This allowed the film work as a comedic character while being true to the reputation of the monsters at the same time.
The cast made it even better. Instead of Glenn Strange reprising his role as Dracula from Frankenstein's house And House of Dracula again, Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein brought back Bela Lugosi, the actor who made the character a cinematic icon in the first place. Strange was still in the film, but this time playing Frankenstein's monster. So, Lugosi as Dracula and Lon Chaney Jr. playing the Wolf Man for the fifth time in his career, Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein was able to include two of the most iconic versions of the three Universal pictures monsters.