Frankenstein '80
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| Frankenstein '80 | |
|---|---|
 Italian film poster | |
| Directed by | Mario Mancini |
| Screenplay by |
|
| Story by | Ferdinando De Leone[1] |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Emilio Varriano[1] |
| Edited by | Enzo Micarelli[1] |
| Music by | Daniele Patucchi[1] |
Production company | M.G.D. Film[1] |
| Distributed by | Variety Distribution |
Release date |
|
Running time | 89 minutes[1] |
| Country | Italy[1] |
Frankenstein '80 is a 1972 Italian film directed by Mario Mancini.
Plot summary[edit]
By day, Dr. Frankenstein (Gordon Mitchell) works innocuously in his lab. But at night, he works to perfect Mosaico (Xiro Papas), a monstrosity pieced together from dead bodies. Once completed, the behemoth escapes from the lab and embarks on a killing spree. Local beauties begin popping up dead, murdered in a variety of gruesome ways, as authorities attempt to stop Mosaico's rampage.
Cast[edit]
- John Richardson as Karl Schein
- Gordon Mitchell as Dr. Otto Frankenstein
- Renato Romano as Inspector Schneider
- Xiro Papas as Mosaic - the Frankenstein Monster
- Dalila Di Lazzaro as Sonia
- Roberto Fizz as Professor Schwarz
- Dada Gallotti as Butcher
- Marisa Traversi as Second Prostitute
- Lemmy Carson as Head Nurse
- Marco Mariani as Track Spectator
- Luigi Bonos as Hobo
- Enrico Rossi as First Investigator
- Fulvio Mingozzi as Second Investigator
- Umberto Amambrini as Vice Straus
- Luigi Antonio Guerra as Agent
- Anna Odessa as Stripper
- Renata Kasché as Redhead
Production[edit]
Despite the films title alluding to Mary Shelley's character, the film has little in common with her creation.[2] The inspiration of Ferdinando De Leone and Mario Mancini's script was from the adult only comics such as Oltretomba.[1][2] Future Academy Awards winner Carlo Rambaldi provided the special effects in the film such as the monster named Mosaic.[2][3] Curti referred to the special effects as "crude" and was an "early hint of the tendency towards excess that will characterise Italian genre cinema of the decade"[2]
Lou Castel was originally going to act in the film but was not allowed after being expelled from Italy in April 1972 due to his political views.[4] Actor Gordon Mitchell stated that parts of the film were possibly shot in Bavaria, but not any of the scenes he was involved in.[4] The rest of the film was shot in Munich and Rome.[1]
Release[edit]
Frankenstein '80 was released in Italy on 12 December 1972 where it was distributed by Les Films 2R Roma.[1] Film historian Roberto Curti stated that the film "passed almost unnoticed in Italy at the time of its release"[4] A photonovel version of the film was released in the Italian issue of Cinesex in May 1973.[4]
As of 2017, the film is in the public domain in the United States.[4]
Reception[edit]
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From retrospective reviews, AllMovie called the film "stupid, sickening, and obscene", but "seekers of psychotronic cinema will have a field day with this ridiculous Italian exploitation product."[5] In his book on Italian horror film directors, Louis Paul referred to the film as "strange" and "a lurid sex film dressed as a horror movie."[6]
References[edit]
Footnotes[edit]
Sources[edit]
- Celli, C.; Cottino-Jones, M. C (2007). A New Guide to Italian Cinema. Springer. ISBN 978-0-230-60182-6.
- Curti, Roberto (2017). Italian Gothic Horror Films, 1970-1979. McFarland. ISBN 978-1476629605.
- Paul, Louis (2005). Italian Horror Film Directors. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-8749-3.
External links[edit]
- Frankenstein '80 at IMDb
- Frankenstein '80 is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
- Frankenstein '80 at Variety Distribution
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