November 23, 2014

The Art of Frankenstein : Feg Murray (Part 8)

Cartoonist Feg Murray kept track and featured all the actors who played the Frankenstein Monster as they came aboard. We’ve seen Karloff, Chaney Jr. and Bela Lugosi pictured, and here’s a teaser, published on 2 July 1944, announcing Boris’ return to the Frankenstein franchise, with a caveat: The role of The Monster went to “someone else”. That would be Glenn Strange, of course — Coming up in our next post!

THE DEVIL’S BROOD was a working title for the first “Monster Rally”, released as HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1944), a gathering spot for The Monster, Dracula, The Wolf Man, a Hunchback and a Mad Scientist. Karloff was the Mad Doc, though not “Dr. Frankenstein” as stated by Murray. Karloff played Gustav Neiman, a lunatic asylum escapee and Frankenstein wannabe.

We are celebrating Boris Karloff this weekend, on the occasion of a birth date — November 23 — he shares with his daughter Sara. We send fond best wishes to Sara Karloff who generously keeps her father’s memory alive for his countless fans. 

Happy Birthday, Boris and Sara!        

With thanks to George Chastain.

2 comments:

Rick said...

I love the continuing coverage of Feg's work. I only regret his "greening" of the Monster. It's a personal gripe of mine. The Monster should not be green! A lovely gruesome gray from the grave is what's called for.
Also great to celebrate Mr. Pratt's birthday. Clearly he was and remains the number one "horror man."

Thanks, Pierre

Wobble The Witch Cat said...

I think Feg Murray's work was a kind of precursor of/to the work of James Bama and his Aurora box cover art and Famous Monsters of Filmland covers!