Bride of the Monster
Directed by Edward D. Wood, Jr.
Written by Edward D. Wood, Jr. and Alex Gordon
1955/USA
Rolling M. Productions
Repeat viewing/YouTube
[box] Dr. Eric Vornoff: My dear professor Strowsky, twenty years ago, I was banned from my home land, parted from my wife and son, never to see them again. Why? Because I suggested to use the atom elements, for producing super beings, beings of unthinkable strength and size. I was classed as a madman, a charlatan, outlawed in a world of science which previously honored me as a genius. Now here in this forsaken jungle hell I have proven that I am alright. No, Professor Strowski, it is no laughing matter.[/box]
One advantage of watching a bunch of boring bad movies is that they make Ed Wood’s flicks look a lot better.
People are being found killed at an alarming rate on Marsh Lake swamp. Rumors are spreading that the swamp is guarded by a monster. Within the first five minutes of the story, we learn that the slain are dispatched by a gigantic (rubber) octopus kept by mad scientist Dr. Eric Vornoff (Bela Lugosi) who has set up shop at Manor House. The muscle of the operation is Vornoff’s mute Tibetan slave Lobo (Tor Johnson). The strangers that are not immediately dispatched by his pet are subjected to the doctor’s experiments aimed at creating an atomic superman.
Ace reporter Janet Lawton believes the monster rumors. The police are interested only in facts and evidence. Janet is engaged to Lt. Dick Craig. She sets off to the swamp on her own without telling anyone. In the meantime, the police are approached by suspicious foreign scientist Professor Strosky who tells them of his experience as a monster hunter. The chief assigns Dick to accompany Strosky to the swamp. Good thing too as Dick arrives just in time find Janet in the clutches of Dr. Vornoff.
One thing we can say about Ed Wood is that he had a vision. A demented vision, to be sure, but a vision. This 60-minute film moves along fairly briskly and has the Woodian dialogue that I can’t resist. One could ignore the phony rubber octopus but why do that when the death struggles of its victims are so darn amusing? This is by far the best of the Ed Wood movies I have seen. That does not make it “good”, of course.
Trailer
Bride of the Monster v. Ed Wood
