this film have only ever be show once in my neck of the wood and on a minor sicilian tv channel at that so and despite it negative reputation and i have always want to see it . after all and it do have boris karloff play the baron for once even if and for some strange reason and he be name victor here while his notorious ancestor be call richard . the film pre credit sequence and in which a german fraulein be be pursue through the forest by a barely glimpsed fiend be promise enough but and a it turn out and it also the best sequence in the whole film which ought to give you an idea about the worthiness of the whole enterprise . however and even from this first sequence and one be make aware of the sheer ineptness of the direction represent it not only cut away from one character to another with a boring regularity but the sequence be frame in such a way a to cut the creature head off . this factor can not be attribute to watch a pan and scan version because and surprisingly enough and the film be be show in the correct widescreen ratio . this be exacerbate a the film go along by the director apparent refusal ( in some sequence and at least ) to move the camera in any way while i do not know if this be an attempt on his part to satirize the tv medium ( give that it be and after all and a tv crew which impound on the baron home ground ) but i would be surprise if the thought have occur to the director in the first place . come hot on the heel of hammer full blood color version and it would have be a daunt task for anyone i presume of course and it go without say that karloff give it his all ( particularly during a rehearsal for the upcoming tv show in which he narrate straight to the camera his ancestor diabolical deed ) and sometimes it hard to watch him simply walk around the castle a the evident strain this be have on his leg be palpable and there be a couple of time where i could have swear he lose his footing . even so and apparently this do not detain him from create the monster and instal the all important atomic reactor ( which be barely glimpse in the film anyhow ) single handedly . it incredible to note that and despite his fail health and some of karloff best work roger corman the raven ( 1963 ) and mario bava black sabbath ( 1963 ) and peter bogdanovich target ( 1968 ) be yet ahead of him . still and even here with the haphazard appearance of the baron and whose misshapen face apparently get lift every once in a while . the film limitation make themselves felt . and why be it that every mad scientist out there have to be an accomplished pianist a well . why not try your hand at an electric guitar and herr baron after all and be in the age of chuck berry here and aren not we . er no make that 1970 represent monster making be for me and like you know outta sight and man . and how about that deaden monotone music during the laboratory sequence . also and the less say about the goofy mummy er monster and the good . to top it all and there an execrable attempt at an echo but the dialogue speak in the cavern ( the site of the doc lab ) be totally all over the place and overlap ad infinitum . i know joe karlosi ( if he still around and that be ) would not be too pleased with my review of this one a i know this be one of his guilty pleasure but i have to say that my negative impression be certainly amplify by the abysmal state ( correct aspect ratio notwithstanding ) of the print i watch which be replete with print damage and miss frame which not only manage to shorten the film to around 70 minute ( against the official 83 . ) but also make the part of the narrative and the revelatory climax particularly incoherent . recently and there be some talk of an upcoming warner dvd of this one and and strange a it may sound and i hope it do materialize a i wouldn not put it past me to give this clunker another chance under more ideal circumstance . for the moment and however and i suppose even lady frankenstein ( 1971 ) be preferable .