Perfectly 'Frankenstein'

SON OF FRANKENSTEIN (1939)

Probably the least of the original Big Three productions from Universal, Son of Frankenstein does still boast Boris Karloff's final embodiment of the creature, enhanced to no small degree by Bela Lugosi's perfectly imagined Ygor, he of the broken neck, and Basil Rathbone's typically assured performance as the son of the first Dr. Frankenstein, compelled to repeat the vainglorious mistakes of dear, dead dad. Rowland V. Lee's direction may not have been as vivid as James Whale's, but it was more than adequate, and the expressionistic sets provide much added value, as does Lionel Atwill's quirky performance as the town's chief of police (ably punctured in Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein years later). But at 99 minutes, the film does tend to drag a bit.