Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster

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]

Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster
Theatrical release poster showcasing double feature with Curse of the Voodoo
Directed byRobert Gaffney
Written byR. H. W. Dillard
George Garrett
John Rodenbeck
Produced byStanley P. Darer
Alan V. Iselin
Robert McCarty
StarringJames Karen
Marilyn Hanold
James Karen
Lou Cutell
Nancy Marshall
David Kerman
Robert Reilly
CinematographySaul Midwall
Edited byLawrence C. Keating
Music byRoss Gaffney
Production
company
Futurama Entertainment Corp.
Distributed byAllied Artists Pictures
Release date
  • September 22, 1965 (1965-09-22)
Running time
79 min.
LanguageEnglish
Budget$60,000 (estimated)

Plot

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.

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.

The "Space Monster" of the title refers to a radiation-scarred mutant named Mull brought along as part of the Martian invasion force. The "Frankenstein" android and Mull battle each other at the end of the film and both are destroyed.

Cast
  • 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

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]

See also

References
  1. p. 131 Jenkins, Greg Chronicles of the Strange and Uncanny in Florida Pineapple Press Inc, 15/10/2010
  2. Rovin, Jeff (1987). The Encyclopedia of Supervillains. New York: Facts on File. pp. 272–273. ISBN 0-8160-1356-X.
  3. The 50 Worst Movies Ever Made at IMDb
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