Until 1943's Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man, Universal's famous monsters mostly kept to themselves. But fan fantasies everywhere were realized when two of the all-time horror greats went face to blood-curdling face. Hollywood hasn't looked back since, occasionally pitting genre icons against one another, though nary a monster mash is as well-crafted as this one. Starring Bela Lugosi and Lon Chaney Jr. as the titular titans, Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man is quite the class act for a B-flick, a corny but overall fun way of expanding the wide, weird world of Universal horror.

One would think being clobbered to death at The Wolf Man's denouement would be the end of Larry Talbot (Chaney). But alas, when two graverobbers try to knock over his tomb, they inadvertently resurrect the poor guy, whose beastly alter ego is as ferocious at ever. Larry is none too pleased that his eternal slumber has been postponed, so in hopes that modern science can help end his torment, he sets his sights on Castle Frankenstein.

Upon arriving, Larry finds that while the good doctor has passed on, his creation (Lugosi) still has a little juice left in him. But this town isn't big enough for two monsters, for as Larry delves into Frankenstein's secrets of life and death, he sets himself up to battle the creature in a fight for supernatural supremacy.

Werewolf, Frankstein, Ilona Massey

Little was left to truly fear from monster movies when Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man rolled around. Certain stories were still handled with care and attention, but posteriors in seats were of greater concern to studio execs. But while novelty may have been the initial driving force behind the film, its thoughtful story comes as a most welcome accident. Chaney's Wolf Man is unique in being Universal's one big horror property never to get a direct sequel; whenever the furry one popped up, it'd be to share screen time with his fellow creatures of the night. This sure comes close in this film, as Chaney's signature role is extended through rather somber means. Watchers can essentially spend the entire movie rooting for a man who's trying to kill himself, and for it to take on such a dramatic load while maintaining its matinee appeal is no small feat.

There's a great deal of heart in Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man - its majority again owed to Chaney. I've taken my potshots at Lon for playing the "woe is me" card for virtually his entire career, but I do admire how he communicates Larry's jam and makes the character his own. He really is one of the most sympathetic film monsters and powerless over the beast within, unlike Frankenstein's creation, whose humanity went bye-bye when Karloff flew the coop.

There's some incentive in seeing Dracula as ol' flattop himself, but Lugosi is left playing the creature as the walking prop he'd long since become. The pair doesn't even duke it out until the very end, with the plot ultimately (and wisely) favoring Larry's efforts in breaking rank with the undead. There's also some business with a Frankenstein heir that provides little more than the privilege of observing Ilona Massey's visage.

Unless the words Bride and Frankenstein are in the title, Universal's horror sequels more often than not bite the big one. Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man is halfway there, but it more than compensates with a movie that satisfies all demands. Between the atmosphere fans crave and the character development cinephiles desire, there's little ground that this creepy classic doesn't cover.

Director: Roy William Neill

Writer: Curt Siodmak

Cast: Lon Chaney Jr., Bela Lugosi, Ilona Massey, Patric Knowles, Maria Ouspenskaya

Rating: No MPAA Rating (standard scariness)

Classic Movie Guide: 3.5 stars out of 5

Run Time: 74 minutes

Studio: Universal Pictures

Format: Black-and-white, fullscreen

Photo credits: Universal Pictures