Matt Dillon, Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and Maria Frankenstein! Yep...when cultures collide the consequences of 'Bring Your Daughter to Work Day' bubble to the surface. In this case, a restless and over ambitious daughter of a mad scientist plies her trade in America's Old West. Many of you figured the rough and tough west was immune from mad scientists. Think again. Today we examine 1966's "Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter."
 |
| Hillary...er...I mean Maria Frankenstein |
The little town near the Mexican border is almost a ghost town. The residents, one by one, have been summoned to Frankenstein's castle, and have never returned. Juanita (Estelita Rodriguez), the very beautiful Mexican babe, is horrified...her brother is the latest casualty. The castle? Having to flee Europe, Maria (Narda Onyx) and her brother Rudolph (Steven Geray) seek to plant an artificial brain in a healthy body. On the run from a botched hold-up, Jesse James (John Lupton) and Hank Tracy (Cal Bolder) arrive. Hank is mortally wounded and Juanita takes them in. Our Mexican dish falls in love with both of them and in a desperate play to save Hank's life, she brings them to the castle.
 |
| Hank attacks Jesse |
This will be a most unfortunate move for Hank as the Frankenstein spawn will remove his brain and replace it with an artificial one, completely subservient to Maria's commands. Maria also falls in love with Jesse and when he rebukes her advances she plots his demise. Juanita, realizing that Hank's brain has been replaced seeks to help Jesse, but Maria, sensing she is his love interest, also plots her demise. With Hank a slave to Maria's command, and a U.S. Marshal (Jim Davis) hot on Jesse's trail, this could be the end for the legendary outlaw.
 |
| Juanita to the rescue |
Is a rugged Old West gunfighter any match for the original mad scientist's kin? Is Maria Frankenstein merely the medical version of the rugged individualist cowboy? Will the nubile Juanita fall in love with the new Hank, thereby sucking face with Maria by proxy? Huh? For some Western fun with the Frankenstein legend mixed in, have fun with "Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter."
This seems like mad scientist meets grindhouse. Might be good to watch like an episode of MST3k. Nice review, Christopher.
ReplyDeleteNice review Christopher & this sounds like good silly fun & Maria actually does kinda remind one of Hil-Dawg from that pic lol (And sounds like someone whose advances you decidedly shouldn't rebuke), added to my ever growing watchlist, thanks for the heads up & rec mate.
ReplyDelete