| Blackenstein | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Credits | |
| Title: | Blackenstein |
| Directed by: | William A. Levey |
| Written by: | Frank R. Saletri |
| Produced by: | Ted Tetrick; Frank R. Saletri |
| Music by: | Cardella DeMilo; Lou Frohman |
| Cinematography: | Robert Caramico |
| Edited by: | Bill Levey |
| Production | |
| Production: | Frisco Productions Limited |
| Distributors: | Xenon Pictures |
| Released: | August, 1973 |
| Rating: | R |
| Running time: | 87 min. |
| Country: | USA |
| Language: | English |
| Navigation | |
| Previous: | — |
| Next: | — |
Blackenstein is an American independent feature film of the blaxploitation genre, which takes its cues from the Frankenstein concept. It was directed and edited by William Levey with a script written by Frank R. Saletri, who also co-produced the film. It was produced by Frisco Productions Limited, and distributed through Xenon Pictures. It was released in the United States in August, 1973.
Plot[]
Meet Doctor Winifred Walker. She's about to have a really strange day.
A young black doctor from New York named Winifred Walker flies to California to reconnect with her old mentor, Doctor Stein. She is greeted by Stein's assistant, Malcomb, who takes an instant yet silent liking to Winifred. Winifred explains to Doctor Stein that her fiancée, Eddie Turner, just returned from Vietnam. He had stepped on a landmine, and as a result, loss both of his arms and legs. He is currently at the VA hospital in Los Angeles. Doctor Stein, who claims to have solved the DNA genetic code, believes he may be able to help.
Don't worry. Doctor Stein's got this!
At the hospital, Eddie is tormented by a cruel attendant, who makes fun of him for going to Vietnam, but inwardly is self-conscious about his own masculinity. Winifred and Doctor Stein arrive and shoo the attendant away. They tell Eddie about Stein's experimental procedures, and Eddie agrees to go back to Stein's castle/laboratory.
Stein has two other patients residing in his home; a 90+ year-old woman named Eleanor who, thanks to Stein's treatments, appears to be in her mid-fifties. Another is a man named Bruno Stragor who, after receiving an RNA injection, has developed a tiger-striped leg. Stein begins working on Eddie Turner with limb transplants, and conducts cellular matches by injecting him with daily treatments of DNA. The procedure appears to work, Eddie responds to his new limbs.
"Damn it! I hate Operation! I always get zapped on the funny bone!"
Through the course of events, Malcolmb addresses Winifred, and pledges his undying love for her. Winifred is flattered, but states that she is committed to her relationship with Eddie and that they plan to be married. Malcolmb cannot deal with this rejection, so he sabotages the DNA serums, mixing various chemicals together. Stein and Walker, unaware of Malcomb's malfeasance, continue to give Eddie Turner DNA injections. The side-effects of the altered serums turns Eddie into a Blackenstein! He has a large, stocky physique, outstretched arms, diminished intellect, a protruding brow, and a box-shaped Karloffian afro. Stein and Walker place Eddie into a dungeon recovery room, but they fail to lock the door.
Blackenstein's in da house!
Late at night, Blackenstein escapes from his cell and stalks into the city. He returns to the VA hospital where he murders the attendant that had been cruel to him, tearing his arm off. He returns to his cell unseen, but the following evening, he goes back out to commit more random murders. He accosts a dog, and attacks a blonde-haired woman. He later strangles another blonde, who had ditched her date. He also murders a black woman who had been sexually assaulted out behind a night club.
Blackenstein returns to the castle to find Malcomb in Winifred's room attempting to rape her. Blackenstein pulls Malcomb off, and the assistant shoots him with a gun. This does nothing to the creature, and the hulking brute strangles Malcolmb to death.
Only thing missing here is a folding chair and a steel cage.
Doctor Walker throws on a robe and alerts Doctor Stein that Eddie is on a rampage, and that he is the murderer that the newspapers have been writing about. She quickly scrambles together several chemicals, hoping to find something that might cure her fiancée's condition. Blackenstein lumbers toward her, but hesitates - as something about Winifred triggers a memory. Doctor Stein enters the lab and takes advantage of the creature's hesitation and leaps upon his back. Blackenstein throws Stein off of him into some laboratory equipment. The high voltage equipment sends a shock into Stein's body, that kills him.
Eddie leaves the castle and finds a young woman in a dune buggy at an empty industrial warehouse. He chases after her, but by this point, the Los Angeles Police Department are aware of Blackenstein's actions, and home in on his location. They release several Canine Corps Dobermans, who attack Blackenstein, tearing his arm off, and disemboweling him.
Cast[]
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| John Hart | Doctor Stein |
| Ivory Stone | Doctor Winifred Walker |
| Joe DeSue | Eddie Turner |
| Roosevelt Jackson | Malcomb |
| Andrea King | Eleanor |
| Nick Bolin | Bruno Stragor |
| Karin Lind | Hospital supervisor |
| Yvonne Robinson | Hospital receptionist |
| Bob Brophy | Hospital attendant |
| Liz Renay | Woman in bed |
| Jerry Soucie | Man in bed |
| Beverly Haggerty | Woman in car |
| Daniel Faure | Man in car |
| Andy C | Nightclub comedian |
| Cardella DeMilo | Nightclub singer |
| Marva Farmer | Woman in alley |
| Robert L. Hurd | Man in alley |
| Jim Cousar | Police Sergeant Jackson |
| Don Brodie | Lieutenant Tucker |
| Dale Bach | Girl in dune buggy |
Notes & Trivia[]
- Frankenstein, and all related characters, are based on concepts developed by English author Mary Shelley's as presented in her 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus. The Frankenstein story has since been adapted and expanded upon in numerous films, novels, comic books and television projects.
- The tagline to this film is "Warning! To people with weak hearts... No doctors or nurses in attendance".
- The title card for this film provides the additional subtitle, "Blackenstein - The Black Frankenstein".
- Production on Blackenstein began on October 1st, 1972.
- There are a total of twenty cast members in this film.
- Blackenstein was released on Blu-ray by Severin Films on May 30th, 2017.
- Blackenstein does not have a Tomatometer rating on the movie review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes. However, it does have an audience score of only 10% based on 100+ ratings.
- Clips from this film are presented in the 2019 documentary Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror on Shudder.
- Music performer Cardella Di Milo is credited as Cardella DeMilo in this film. In addition to providing some of the blues tracks for the movie, she also makes an appearance in the film as a lounge singer.
- Actor Joe De Sue is credited as Joe DeSue in this film.
- Actor John Dennis is credited as Bob Brophy in this film.
- Actor Gerald Soucie is credited as Jerry Soucie in this film.
- Actor James Cousar is credited as Jim Cousar in this film.
- The actress who appears on posters and promotional material for this film is Marva Farmer. She only has a bit role in the movie as one of Eddie Turner's victims. She has no dialogue and her character is never identified by name.
- This is William A. Levey's first film work as a director. He is also known for directing The Happy Hooker Goes to Washington in 1977, and Skatetown U.S.A. in 1979. His only other work in the horror genre is Hellgate in 1981, starring Ron Palillo.
- This is Frank R. Saletri's only known film work as both a writer and producer. He was previously a criminal defense lawyer. Actors Joe De Sue and Liz Renay were both former clients of his. Saletri was found murdered in his home in Los Angeles, California on July 12th, 1982 at the age of 54.
- This is actress Ivory Stone's only known work in film.
- This is actor Joe DeSue's only known work in film.
- This is the first credited film work for Roosevelt Jackson. He also played the chief of detectives in China Heat in 1992.
- A comedy sketch called "The Bride of Blackenstein" was presented on the January 29th, 2011 episode of Saturday Night Live.
- Actress Liz Renay previously worked as a Las Vegas showgirl and later, a stripper. She was romantically tied to Los Angeles mobster Mickey Cohen. Her connection to Cohen pretty much destroyed any serious career she may have had as a Hollywood actress.
Recommendations[]
- Blacula
- Dr. Black and Mr. Hyde
- Frankenstein
- Ganja & Hess
- Sugar Hill
- Scream, Blacula, Scream
External Links[]
References[]
 |