Jesse James Meets Frankenstein’s Daughter (1966, John Lupton, Jim Davis, Steve Geray, William Fawcett, Narda Onyx) – Classic Movie Review 12,193

‘KILLERS CLASH! ROARING GUNS against RAGING MONSTER!’

Director William Beaudine’s 1966 low-budget Western horror film Jesse James Meets Frankenstein’s Daughter is a horrible hybrid of horror, sci-fi and Western, in which real-life Western outlaw Jesse James (John Lupton) takes refuge from pursuing lawman Marshal MacPhee (Jim Davis) at the Frankenstein place, where Dr Frankenstein’s fictional granddaughter Maria (Narda Onyx) hangs out. The evil Maria then transforms Jesse’s dim brute of a henchman Hank Tracy (Cal Bolder) into a bald zombie named Igor.

There are lots of laughs for those who enjoy scoffing at bad movies – and, there is no doubt about it, make no mistake, this is one heck of a bad movie. It was never meant to be a masterpiece, but those involved must have been shocked at the state of it. The actors are not to blame, as Carl K Hittleman’s script is, er, not good. Some call it a cult horror Western, but, if so, it is a very silly cult.

Director Beaudine and the entire rest of the behind-camera team made this at the same time as Billy the Kid Versus Dracula. Both films were shot in eight days at Corriganville Movie Ranch and at Paramount Studios in mid-1965 and were released together in a double bill in 1966.

Produced by TV producer Carroll Case for Joseph E Levine at the usually classier Embassy Pictures, they were the final feature films of director William Beaudine.

The cast are John Lupton as Jesse James, Narda Onyx as Dr Maria Frankenstein, Estelita Rodriguez as Juanita Lopez, Cal Bolder as Hank Tracy/ Igor, Jim Davis as Marshal MacPhee, Steven Geray as Dr Rudolph Frankenstein, Rayford Barnes as Lonny Curry, William Fawcett as pharmacist Jensen, Nestor Paiva as Saloon Owner, Roger Creed as Butch Curry, Rosa Turich as Nina Lopez, Felipe Turich as Manuel Lopez, Fred Stromsoe as Stacy, Dan White as Pete Ketchum, Page Slattery as Deputy Andy, and Mark Norton as Francisco Lopez.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,193

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