Trying to introduce the everyday filmgoer or even a moderate horror buff to the bizarre cinema of Jess Franco is not always an easy thing to do. It might be easier to push a Franco film on someone if it deals with the legend of Frankenstein, one of the most beloved and popular subjects of fantastic lore. And yes, Franco’s second take on Frankenstein is an unusual one to say the least, like a slight homage to Universal and Hammer mixed with a few cocktails and a hit of acid. The title in question, THE RITES OF FRANKENSTEIN (aka THE EROTIC RITES OF FRANKENSTEIN and THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN), was never even released theatrically in the U.S., nor did it appear here on home video until now with this DVD release from Image Entertainment.

A red-cheeked, bloated Baron Frankenstein (Dennis Price) has just electrically shocked his silver-skinned monster (Fernando Bilbao) into the power of speech (“It hurts, It hurts,” he cries!). Shortly after, Frankenstein’s lab is raided by the hulking henchman Caronte (Luis Barboo) and Melissa (Anne Libert), a cannibalistic “bird woman” who is blind, makes odd chirping noises, has a few feathers glued to her under-cape naked self, and has a set of claws that look like they were taken from a “Sesame Street” muppet. Caronte and Melissa leave Frankenstein for dead, as they bring the monster to the castle of Cagliostro (Howard Vernon), an evil, undead sorcerer who can control minds, and whose home is filled with freaky guests decked in gaudy Halloween costumes.

Frankenstein is presumed dead, and his daughter Vera (Beatriz Savón) arrives in town to reanimate her father just enough to find out that his monster is on the loose and in the hands of Cagliostro. The concerned Dr. Seward (Albert Dalbés) spoke to Frankenstein before his death, and knows about his monster, so he’s investigating the situation as well, periodically paying visits on Vera. Vera tracks down the monster and stops him from abducting an artist’s model, but soon after, Frankenstein’s creation is back in control of Cagliostro and then has the daughter under his spell. Cagliostro’s ultimate goal is to create a female for the monster to mate with, using an abducted woman from the town named Madame Orloff (the gorgeous Britt Nichols from Franco’s DAUGHTER OF DRACULA). More orgy-type torture and shenanigans follow in the depraved castle, and it’s up to the good Dr. Seward to stop it!

RITES OF FRANKENSTEIN is an oddball addition to the extensive list of films based on Mary Shelley’s handiwork, and although it’s cheap, crude, and just plain weird, there’s hardly a dull moment on the screen. Franco shot this one in Portugal and gets around the poor budget by filming in and around gothic castles, old houses and scenic landscapes, making for a picturesque period piece. The monster’s make-up is in the Karloff square-head mold, but his face and bare torso are painted shiny metallic, and it’s amusing to see it rubbing off of beefy Bilbao’s skin in some scenes. Dennis Price was towards the end of his life and looks terrible – but you can’t help but giggle at him in pasty face make-up as he spasms on the operating table, most likely waiting for Franco to shout “cut” so he could take a swig at his flask.

The film is loaded with other Franco regulars, who are used pretty well during the wacky proceedings, with Franco himself playing Frankenstein’s sinister assistant and composer Daniel White appearing as a police inspector aiding Dr. Seward. A very young Lina Romay shows up in a subplot about a gypsy girl who hears voices from beyond and converses with an ancient woman – the scenes go nowhere and where often missing from other versions of the film, making for a much shorter running time in those cases. Over the top circumstances, such as someone instantly loosing extremities after a splashing of sulfuric acid, as well as the amusing dismemberment of Britt Nichols’ living head, makes this colorful exercise in absurdity resemble a 1970s horror comic. Shortly before this, Franco had lensed DRACULA, PRISONER OF FRANKENSTEIN (aka THE SCREAMING DEAD and also due out from Image Entertainment in the coming months) which is an unrelated effort that uses much of the same cast, including Price, Bilbao and Dalbés in the same roles.

Recently released overseas by the German company, X-Rated Kult, Image Entertainment presents the RITES OF FRANKENSTEIN on DVD to American audiences with the same Spanish cut of the film, a “clothed” version. The film is presented in its original 2.35:1 Scope aspect ratio with anamorphic enhancement. Overall, the transfer looks very good with sharp detail and decent, if not overly vivid colors. There are some slight blemishes on the print source, but nothing major, and some scenes appear a bit too dark, probably due to poor lighting during shooting. The mono audio track is a Spanish language option only, with optional English subtitles (an English track does exist, but most likely not in entirety for this version of the film).

Extras include about 12 minutes from the sexier version of the film, comprised of mostly nude footage (mostly alternate takes on the “clothed” scenes), as well as a different title sequence. This includes a nude glimpse at an artist’s model, the totally in-the-buff Beatriz Savón and Luis Barboo being flogged by the monster over a bed of spikes, Britt Nichols and Anne Libert showing off their luscious bodies, a sequence where two sorcerer groupies are kicked out of Cagliostro’s bedroom, and more. Shown with English dialog, these scenes are culled from an inferior letterboxed VHS source. The back cover states that a still gallery is included, but the actual disc doesn’t include one. (George R. Reis)

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