BRIDE OF THE MONSTER
US, 1955, 68 minutes, Black and white.
Bela Lugosi, Tor Johnson, Tony Mc Coy, Loretta King.
Directed by Edward D. Wood Jr.
Bride of the Monster is a film by Ed Wood, the subject of Tim Burton’s famous film, portrayed by Johnny Depp. Wood is a contender for one of the worst directors of all time – thanks to The Book of Golden Turkeys by Michael Medved. Plan Nine from Outer Space is considered one of the worst films. (However, there are plenty of other directors who could lay claim to the title of worst director.)
This film is much better than might have been expected. Ed Wood was friends with Bela Lugosi in the last years of his life (as dramatised in Ed Wood and Lugosi portrayed by Oscar -winning Martin Landau). Lugosi was a heroin addict and suffering from the effects during the 1950s. While he had made a big impact in Dracula both on stage and on screen in the early 1930s and followed it with films like White Zombie, he tended to give the same performance over and over, relying on his appearance, his idiosyncratic way of speaking. Wood takes great advantage of Lugosi in this film and he is more credible than in some of his other vehicles (especially in a film like Scared to Death). Lugosi looks the same, acts the same but seems to be more involved in the performance, moves from sinister to laughter, has a number of speeches, especially about his treatment in his home country. This makes the film worth seeing, especially those interested in Lugosi’s career.
However, the film plot is slight. Lugosi is a scientist exiled from Europe, coming to the United States after World War Two, indulging in experiments – and having a giant octopus, the monster, in a swamp outside his laboratory. He relies on the giant, Lobo (Tor Johnson who appeared in many of Wood’s films and is portrayed in Ed Wood) who does not have a talent for acting at all. The leads, a detective and a newspaper writer, are fairly wooden. The reporter is abducted by the scientist and is dressed in bridal attire – the bride of the monster. However, Lobo turns against his master and rescues the bride.
There are assorted police, some good scenes in the city with the police discussions, the visit of a professor from what seems to be a Soviet country wanting to get Lugosi back. With this mixture of effective scenes and some wooden acting, the film is certainly better than might be expected. However, while the octopus footage of the monster is real, the throes of the various victims struggling with a rubber octopus are quite ludicrous.
1.The work of Edward D. Wood Jr? His reputation? The contribution of this film?
2.The popular horror setting, the scientist with his laboratory, the mad scientist, his assistant whom he controls? The experiments? Abductions? The abducting of the journalist to become the bride? The octopus, the victims? The musical score?
3.Bela Lugosi as the doctor, his screen presence, appearance, manner of speaking, sinister, confrontation with his victims, his command of Lobo? His final speeches to the professor? Lobo turning against him, his death?
4.Lobo, the giant, in control, the poor performance – but his sympathetic character and his saving Janet?
5.Janet, her background, the paper, going to find the professor, the interview, her becoming the victim, the bride, the rescue?
6.Dick and the police, their travelling to the laboratory, Dick and his being caught in the quicksand, his shooting of the alligators? His rescue of Janet?
7.The police, their discussions, suspicions, the confrontation with the professor?
8.The professor from Russia, his arrival, meeting with the scientist, the discussions, his wanting him to return, the scientist and his speech about his experiences?
9.The blend of the horror and the ludicrous?
