THE MONSTER SPEAKS: Deleted Scene 1
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jbirtel-1 — 14 years ago(February 28, 2012 08:42 PM)
This takes place after the Festival of New Wine that was invaded by the Monster, when the villagers gather to hear Dr Mannering's promise to rid them of the Monster's presense.
Back at Frankenstein's castle at the fireplace
LARRY: Why did you come down to the village? Now they'll hunt us again -
MONSTER: I was afraid you'd left me - I thought you'd found that diary - and run away -
LARRY: You think you're so clever -Frankenstein gave you a cunning brain, did he? But you're dumb! You've spoiled our only chance -
DR MANNERING(in the script, his name is Harley): Talbot!Talbot!
MONSTER: Don't leave me - don't go! I'm weakThey'll catch me and bury me alive!
DR MANNERING: Talbot!where are you?
MONSTER(whispers): Put out the fire! The smoke will give us away -
When the Monster threatenes the approaching group with a piece of wood
LARRY: Take it easy!
(in the film, Larry says, "Steady !!")
MONSTER: Oh, it's you
LARRY: This is Dr "Harley" (Mannering - film) - he has come to help you - to make you well
DR MANNERING: Yes - that's why I'm here
MONSTER: It's my eyes - I can scarcely see
to be continued -
jbirtel-1 — 14 years ago(February 28, 2012 09:06 PM)
Inside the castle with Larry, the Monster and Meleva.
Upon hearing the rush of water
LARRY: What's was that?
MONSTER: The ice is meltingThe water will be rushing down soon and turning the turbinesthe machines will work again - and the Doctor will make me strong once more! Then I will see again - and be fit to rule the world!
(in the film, "the water will turn the turbines; that will make the machines work"; was reshot and spoken by Chaney)
LARRY: MalevaI can feel the (werewolf) spell beginning. I don't want to live through that again!
MALEVA: The moon will be full tonight, my son
LARRY: I can't endure it again - I can't!
after Larry confronts Mannering and leaves
ELSA: But what about Talbot? He's insane!
MALEVA: Insane? He's not insaneHe simply wants to dieThat is all he asks of the Doctor -
ELSA: Are you asking Dr Mannering to kill a man?
MALEVA: It would not be murderIt would be an act of grace to deliver this unfortunate soul from the curse of such sufferingMy powers have failed - but my prayers will be answered!
Maleva exits.
Unlike the film, it's the Wolf Man who breaks free and attacks Dr Mannering as he defends Elsa. The Monster comes to their rescue by interceding.
In the script, Mannering, Elsa and Maleva escape in Maleva's carraige back to the village.
The script closes with a description of rushing water that carries a page of the diary which is hand written:
"AND WHEN I SUCCEED IN CREATING LIFE, I SHALL BE AS GREAT AS GOD!
(signed)FRANKENSTEIN"
The page swirls and is sucked into a whirlpool of black water.
Fade Out
The End -
jbirtel-1 — 14 years ago(February 28, 2012 09:18 PM)
When screen writer Curt Siodmak finished a script, he would sometimes add a bogus scene to see how well the producers were paying attention. The producers missed the following exchange:
Together, Larry and the Monster are making their way toward the Festival of New Wine
LARRY: You know, when the full moon rises, I turn into a wolf.
MONSTER: Are you kiddin?
Lon Chaney caught it and asked Curt to remove it.
According to Siodmak, erasing Lugosi's dialogue scenes is what saved the film from producing loud & uncontrollable laughter. Which is exactly what happened when this was screened for the studio brass. Even though these guys knew that they had a potential financial embarrassment on their hands, that fact didn't stop them from rolling in the aisles out of laughing hysteria. Recognizing that much of the public would have the same reaction and that the audience laughter would be contagious; the emergency editing was ordered.
As soon as filming began, it was obvious to everyone that casting Lugosi was a mistake because, health wise and turning 60 years old, he just was incapable of conjuring the physical menace of the Monster. Which was why Gil Perkins and Eddie Parker were always on hand, in Monster make-up, to step in. Lugosi gave it his all to the point that, during filming, he collapsed on the set due to exhaustion; and was medically ordered to rest. Plus the fact that this was the 1st Frankenstein film where the Monster's co-star (Chaney) was a taller and larger man, which is why Lugosi's presense just was not as intimidating.
None of this is Lugosi's fault. He was always foremost in professionalism.
Reply, if you must; and let me know if the above deleted scenes revelations satisfied alot of your curiosity.
Hope you enjoyed them. -
CromeRose — 14 years ago(March 16, 2012 10:04 AM)
Wow - great thread! Thanks for the posts. Where did you get this material? Do you have the script? I watched this movie last night and actually thought Lugosi did well as the Monster - I felt sorry for him and realized that the Monster must always have been a sympathetic character, perhaps even in Shelley's book, which I have not read. Up till now, I thought the only sympathetic portrayal of the Monster was in The Monster Squad. Anyway, I love the last part about the studio execs rolling in the aisle with laughter - maybe they should have released the film as a comedy - without Abbott & Costello. The Monster's dialogue sounds fine when you read it, but yeah, I imagine it would come off daft and cheesy in actuality. Again, it would be a great comedy. Anyway, thanks for the awesome post.
http://www.amazon.com/Robert-Shaw/e/B0077EBQWI/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?q id=1329846290&sr=8-1 -
jbirtel-1 — 14 years ago(March 20, 2012 06:28 AM)
Go to amazon.com:
Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (Universal Filmscript Series, Vol. 5) (Universal Filmscripts Series: Classic Horror Films) [Illustrated] [Paperback]
I was fortunate to buy it when it was on the book shelves at $19.99.
The amazon site actually allows you to browse thru (some?) of the pages.
The "Gag Scene" is not a mis-quote.
Curt Siodmak gave an earlier interviewand THAT is the quote that's included in the above thread.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Karloff (obviously) was tops! Glenn Strange comes in 2nd on the Monster portrayals. -
hellpepper — 13 years ago(April 13, 2012 03:34 PM)
Thanks for posting! I have always had a soft spot for this film. First saw it as a small child with my older female cousin, I still remember her saying near the end just before the two monsters fight as the Wolfman was struggling to get loose from the table, "C'mon, c'mon Wolfman get free!"
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christopher_greenleaf — 12 years ago(July 03, 2013 04:52 PM)
According to Siodmak, erasing Lugosi's dialogue scenes is what saved the film from producing loud & uncontrollable laughter. Which is exactly what happened when this was screened for the studio brass. Even though these guys knew that they had a potential financial embarrassment on their hands, that fact didn't stop them from rolling in the aisles out of laughing hysteria. Recognizing that much of the public would have the same reaction and that the audience laughter would be contagious; the emergency editing was ordered.
As soon as filming began, it was obvious to everyone that casting Lugosi was a mistake because, health wise and turning 60 years old, he just was incapable of conjuring the physical menace of the Monster. Which was why Gil Perkins and Eddie Parker were always on hand, in Monster make-up, to step in. Lugosi gave it his all to the point that, during filming, he collapsed on the set due to exhaustion; and was medically ordered to rest. Plus the fact that this was the 1st Frankenstein film where the Monster's co-star (Chaney) was a taller and larger man, which is why Lugosi's presense just was not as intimidating.- Curt Soidmack was known to be a chronic liar. I notice that, according to Soidmack, it was the monster speaking with Lugosi's voice that allegedly caused all this purported laughter, not Soidmack's own asinine dialogue. as evidenced by the script. The monster spoke with Lugosi's voice at the end of 'Ghost of Frankenstein' and it didn't turn into a laugh fest then. It's interesting how Soidmack's account takes all of the blame off him, and places it on Lugosi (Who Soidmack disliked by the way!). All indications are that Soidmack's account of events were absolute horse crap!
- Chaney, at 6'2, stood a whole inch taller than Lugosi did at 6'1.
Be careful not to readily believe this nonsense as fact!
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woollybully07 — 12 years ago(October 06, 2013 09:18 PM)
Thanks so much for uploading this, I've always been curious.
Seems to me that cutting down the dialogue rather than removing it entirely would have worked better. There are some moments where it sounds like Ygor's brain somehow merged with the Monster's original brain, most sound like Ygor which would have been fine. Although he keeps saying he wants to rule the world which is fine because that's what Ygor wanted in the last film but he seems to say it to anyone and all the heroes seem to not care that the monster keeps saying when I get my strength back I'll take over the world. Sort of paints them in a different light.
Well hopefully the original sound can be found but I won't hold my breathe. -
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Mississippi20 — 12 years ago(February 15, 2014 09:57 AM)
The Monster speaking with Ygor's voice at the end of 'Ghost of Frankenstein' works because the whole plot leads up to it for a climactic end. And it's not but a few lines. I don't know if it could've worked for a whole movie. People are so quick to criticize the head honchos at Universal for cutting Lugosi's dialogue and ruining his performance - but what if they were right? Maybe it was silly and (unintentionally) hilarious? It would be very hard for the Monster to be the intimidating, fearful (and even mysterious) character we know from the previous films if that was the case.
It is, of course, very interesting to read the original dialogue - but there is nothing in the dialogue that can't be inferred from the resulting film.