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Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster
Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster
Film poster for Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster
Directed by Robert Gaffney
Produced by Stanley P. Darer
Alan V. Iselin
Robert McCarty
Written by R.H.W Dillard
George Garrett
John Rodenbeck
Starring James Karen
Marilyn Hanold
Lou Cutell
Robert Reilly
Music by Ross Gaffney
Cinematography Saul Midwall
Editing by Lawrence C. Keating
Distributed by Futurama Entertainment Corp.
Release date(s) North America September 22, 1965
Running time 79 min.
Language English

Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster (1965) is a science fiction cult film, directed by Robert Gaffney and starring Marilyn Hanold, James Karen, and Lou Cutell. The film was released in Great Britain 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.

Plot[]

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. The Martians shoot down a space capsule manned by the android Captain Frank Saunders (Robert Reilly), causing it to crash in Puerto Rico. Frankenstein's electronic brain and the left half of his face are damaged after encountering a trigger-happy Martian and his ray gun. Frank, now "Frankenstein", described by his creator as an "astro-robot without a control system" proceeds to terrorize the island. A subplot involves the martians abducting bikini clad women.

The titular space monster refers to the radiation-scarred mutation 'Mull' brought along as part of the alien invasion force. The Frankenstein android and Mull confront one-another at the climax.

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 / The Monster (uncredited)
  • Susan Stephens as Blonde Surf-bather (poster girl) (uncredited)

Reception[]

The film enjoys a rather deep cult following thanks to late-late night showings on independent television, especially during the 1970s and 1980s. The nonsensical plot, wooden performances, monster action, musical interludes, and tatty production values have lent the film a reputation as a sort of esoteric - although perhaps unintended - masterpiece.

Accolades[]

This film was ranked #7 in the 2004 DVD documentary The 50 Worst Movies Ever Made.[1]

Home media[]

The 2006 DVD release contains the original theatrical trailer and the feature-film.

References[]

External links[]


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