When "Willard" was aired several weeks ago, I mentioned how the Ernest Borgnine scene was every disgruntled employee's fantasy. Well, "How To Make A Monster" is a feature length study of a disgruntled employee.
Make-up artist Pete Dumond, played by Robert H. Harris, who appeared as Henry Bellows in "Valley Of The Dolls," is being laid off at AIP because they are going from horror, his specialty, to teen musicals. His patrician manner, coupled with how he treats his assistant, Rivero, played by Paul Brinegar, and how he seems to drool over Larry Drake, played by Gary Clarke, and Tony Mantell played by Gary Conway, clearly establishes Dumond as homosexual. What is not established is that Gary Conway played the original lead in "I Was A Teenage Frankenstein." The hope was to also get Michael Landon, who played Larry Drake in the original "I Was A Teenage Werewolf, a lycanthropic redo of "Blood Of Dracula," but not nearly as much fun, to repeat his original role, but to no avail. Landon was already getting too big for his britches.
But the film is so fun, going from disgruntled employee revenge to a surprise "House Of Wax" type finale, with a special cameo appearance by Cucumbo! Be ready to cheer him on, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This film is always entertaining. Enjoy it again for those having seen it, and for those not, it is about time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And notice how the opening title is conveyed. I bet "Svengoolie" does some of his drawing games, tonight!
See you at eight, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
it was just what I needed after the news of Flaco’s death.
ReplyDeleteVictoria,
ReplyDeleteI could not agree more with you. I am still
saddened by his passing. But he stands for hope and
courage--he saw that open door, and he took that opportunity to fly.
And what a year he had!