Lady Frankenstein (1971)

Lady Frankenstein is a 1971 Italian horror film directed by Mel Welles. It stars Joseph Cotten, Rosalba Neri under the pseudonym Sara Bey, Mickey Hargitay and Paul Muller. The script was written by cult writer Edward di Lorenzo. When Dr. Frankenstein is killed by a monster he created, his daughter and his lab assistant Marshall continue his experiments.

The two fall in love and attempt to transplant Marshall's brain in to the muscular body of a retarded servant Stephen, in order to prolong the aging Marshall's life. Meanwhile, the first monster seeks revenge on the grave robbers who sold the body parts used in its creation to Dr. Frankenstein. Soon it comes after Marshall and the doctor's daughter.

The film was written an directed by Mel Wells, an actor who many will remember for his brilliant performance as the flower shop owner, Gravis Mushnik, in the camp classic, “Little Shop of Horrors” (1960). The film is often compared with the Frankenstein cycle made by the Hammer Studios (1957-72), and may also have been an influence on Paul Morrisey's controversial Flesh for Frankenstein (1973). Some have posited that Di Lorenzo intended that this film should present a feminist slant to the mad scientist genre. Others have disagreed with this assessment, pointing to the ultimately irredeemable qualities of the female scientist, and the copious amounts of female nudity throughout the film.

Directed by: Mel Welles
Produced by: Mel Welles
Starring: Joseph Cotten, Paul Muller, Paul Whiteman, Rosalba Neri
Crew: Alessandro Alessandroni, Cleofe Conversi, Francis Mellon, Maurice Nichols, Riccardo Pallottini
Copyright: Public Domain
Format: Colour
Duration: 85 mins
Year: 1971
Tags: B-movie, Edward Di Lorenzo, Frankenstien, Horror, Italian, Mel Welles, Nudity, Sex

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