This is the first of Universal's ensemble horror pictures but it doesn't have a great reputation and is a good illustration of the problems of trying to be a sequel to two different films at once.
The first problem was the fact that Lon Chaney Jr played both the titular characters in their respective films so instead Lugosi finally played the Monster . This was logical enough as his character Ygor had donated his brain and voice to the Monster at the end of the previous film. The producers didn't have the time to explain this and test audiences , apparently being ignorant of the previous picture did not accept a speaking Monster so most of Lugosi's scenes were cut. Together with the use of stunt doubles for the now sixty-year old actor, there's actually very little of him in the picture. It was a significant milestone in his decline.
The movie's very poorly paced with the first half hour a leisurely tale about the search for Chaney's identity which would be fine if he were its sole subject but then once Elsa and the Monster are brought in it turns frantic.
Ilona Massey ( as Elsa Frankenstein )
Sex : She shows some impressive cleavage in a quick shot of her getting out of bed
Death : Survives
Ilona was a Hungarian opera singer who came to America in 1936 and was briefly billed as "the new Dietrich" but her voice was too light for musicals and her acting ability too limited for a long film career. She had more success on television in the fifties. She died of cancer in 1974 aged 64.
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