Mad Monster Party? (1967)

I was a bit surprised when reading user comments from my peers that they weren't as impressed with this Rankin/Bass stop motion animation film which includes all the rogues gallery of classic monsters, with even Boris Karloff voicing Baron Frankenstein (the character even imitating him so realistically, it's uncanny). So it's hard for me to complain. And Boris even given a song for his retiring mad scientist, who has successfully concocted an electrified liquified explosive that can destroy life and everything else on impact. He wants to leave this for his nephew (voiced by Allen Swift, who also voices all the monsters just about), invited to his isle of evil for a grand party. Francesca (Gale Garnett) is Frankenstein's assistant, also desiring to gain control of the explosive liquid in the vial held in the scientist's possession. Eventually Francesca realizes the error of her ways and falls for Flanken, Frankenstein's nephew, a nasally, allergies-plagued clutsy innocent. If I had an issue with this it is Phyllis Diller as Frankenstein Monster's wife. She is a nagging, obnoxious hag also plotting to get Frankenstein's formula. I loved that the Monster resembled Karloff, too. The Monster even uses a chair with bolts to relax him to rest! The gallery includes Dracula, who also wants the formula, The Mummy (complete with sarcophagus, assisted by Quasimodo), the Gillman, the Wolfman, Jekyll/Hyde, and Fetch (a Peter Lorre favored and voiced assistant to the Baron who gets a lot of screen time). We even get a great homage to Willis O'Brien with an imitation King Kong! Baron and his "zombie bellhops" in planes flying at Kong is really neat. The big Frankenstein castle on the island, the lagoon that leads to it from the Caribbean entrance, the dragon boat Frankenstein has to guide visitors to his home, also right in my wheelhouse. And you get Frankenstein's lab, a great dinner table scene where all the monsters gather for their feast, the ship ride to the island with the captain and his mate quite frightened of their passengers, and each monster gets its/his/her chance to shine. And the designs for the monsters are very close and similar to our favorite icons of horror. It isn't perfect, and Diller gets way too much time, complete with a song and dance with the Monster and Mummy, but their designs and appearances are so cool and always welcomed by me personally. As a Universal Monster fan and King Kong fan this is ideal, but include Karloff and I certainly feel spoiled. Sadly, this film is often overshadowed by the many Christmas specials Rankin and Bass are more known for. I couldn't see how Karloff fans wouldn't be at least interested in his work in this. 3.5/5