Son of Frankenstein [raymix]

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Faneditor Name:
Original Movie Title:
Genre:
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
1939
Original Running Time:
99
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
80
Time Cut:
20
Time Added:
1
Subtitles Available?
Available in HD?
Brief Synopsis:
This is the 3rd film in a project that aims to bring tighter editing, improved pacing & stronger continuity to a series of 4 Frankenstein films.
Intention:
My intention was to give the film a quicker pulse, a more modern presentation & a better series continuity all while retaining it's original charm.
Other Sources:
SOURCES USED:
Video-
-Son of Frankenstein (Universal bluray, 2017)
-smokey stock footage (forfilmcreation.com, 2015)
Audio-
-Sound Effects (youtube.com & freesound.org)
Release Information:
Digital
Special Features

Trailer

Editing Details:
I wanted to bring new life to the film using sharper editing & more extensive foley work, without anything seeming to be changed.
This version moves along at a more contemporary pace, while retaining it's original charm.
Cuts and Additions:
PRODUCTION CREDITS-
-added the fanedit.org logo.
-added my fanedit production logo.
TITLE CARD-
-new edit of the Main Theme.
-new "A Rowland V. Lee Film" credit.
-new smokey background.
-new title card.
-removed the opening credits.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING-
-changed "Because of these Frankensteins" to "Because of Frankenstein."
-extended the man's laugh so it doesn't cut off abruptly.
THE TRAIN TO TRANSYLVANIA-
-added train sounds as soon as it's seen fading in.
-added a wide shot as Wolf mentions his mother telling stories of his father.
-cut Wolf blaming the incident with the Monster on the "bad brain."
-smoothed the cross-fade from the train car to the waiting villagers.
ARRIVING IN TRANSYLVANIA-
-added the sound of the trains breaks.
-cut a shot of a sign designating the town of Frankenstein.
-cut a shot of Wolf walking past the Frankenstein town sign.
-removed a jump-cut during the cross-fade into the next scene.
ARRIVING AT THE HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN-
-cut a shot of Elsa & Frederick getting out of the car.
-cut Elsa calling their son "Peter." (here, he's Frederick from YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN)
-cut Elsa calling young Frederick "Peter" again.
-shortened the shot of Benson approaching.
IN THE LIBRARY-
-extended the shot of the painting of Henry Frankenstein.
-cut a shot of Wolf stepping closer to the painting.
-Benson's "you're rather like your father" is heard during the painting shot.
-shortened a shot of Wolf & Benson looking up at the painting.
-cut Wolf saying "A miracle the people of Frankenstein call a monster."
-cut Benson saying "Such stories I'd never heard."
-longer beat between "They say a lot worse than that"/"Would you like a brandy?"
-shortened the shot of Benson going to fix a brandy.
PUTTING YOUNG FREDERICK TO BED-
-cut young Frederick's "Our father, help me be a good little boy."
-cut Elsa asking about the beds.
-cross-fade from young Frederick asleep to the angry villagers.
ARRIVAL OF INSPECTOR KROGH-
-cut Elsa & Amelia running down the hallway as the Inspector knocks.
-added a thunder sound to cover a jump-cut in the audio.
-added a thunder sound after Krogh says "You're in danger."
-cut Krogh explaining his military ambitions.
-cut a shot of Krogh walking across the room to remove continuity error.
-cut Elsa checking on young Frederick while Igor peeks in.
AT BREAKFAST-
-cut Wolf calling young Frederick "Peter."
-cut young Frederick asking about the boar's head on the wall.
-cut Wolf calling young Frederick "Peter" again.
-re-timed young Frederick's "Goodbye!"
AT THE OLD LAB-
-added a sound for the rock rolling before it falls.
-shortened the shot of Igor climbing through the hole in the wall.
-re-timed Wolf's "C'mon, c'mon. Hurry it up."
-cut Igor knocking on his neck.
-cut Igor explaining that lightning is what hurt the Monster.
-merged two shots of the Monster into one.
-cut Wolf saying "Evidence of trauma. Exactly like a human being."
CITY COUNCIL MEETING-
-cut "Frankensteinians" from "We Frankensteinians are as nervous as cats."
-added a wide shot of the council.
-added a fade-out to end the scene.
-removed the cross-fade into the next scene.
-longer transition into the next scene.
PREPARING THE MONSTER-
-added a fade-in to begin the scene.
-added sounds for the door lifting.
-cut a shot of Igor coming up through the door.
-shortened a shot of Igor entering the room.
-shortened a shot of the Monster being laid back on the table.
-removed an odd cross-fade between two shots of the Monster.
-shortened Igor opening the door for Benson.
DIAGNOSING THE MONSTER-
-extended a shot of Benson.
-cut a shot of Wolf looking into the Monsters eye.
-cut Wolf saying "Take notes. Heart is contracted. Mental abnormality."
-cut Wolf saying "Definite hyper pituitary." ect.
-cut Wolf saying "That accounts for his great size."
-cut Wolf saying "No human heart can function like that" ect.
-cut a shot of spinning machinery.
-cut a shot of Wolf.
-cut a repeated shot of Igor.
-cut Wolf saying "He's completely super-human."
-cut a cross-fade from a shot of Wolf to Benson & Wolf raising the table.
THE MONSTER'S X-RAY-
-cut Wolf saying "Take notes, Benson."
-cut a shot of Igor.
-added a quick fade-out when Wolf flips the light switch.
-added a long fade-in as the light adjusts.
-shortened a shot of Wolf examining the x-ray.
-cut Wolf saying "Left ventricular preponderance."
-cut Wolf finding & commenting on bullets in the Monster's heart.
-cut a shot of Igor walking over to look at the x-ray.
-added a cross-fade from the x-ray to Wolf at the microscope.
EXAMINING THE MONSTER'S BLOOD-
-cut all of Wolf's comments.
-cut a microscopic shot of the blood.
-cut a shot of Wolf at the microscope.
-cut another microscopic shot of the blood.
-shortened a microscopic shot of the blood.
-added a cross-fade from the blood to Wolf looking at notes.
IGOR & THE CITY COUNCIL-
-moved this scene to later on.
WOLF MONOLOGUES HIS FINDINGS-
-cut Wolf talking about the "Cosmic Rays."
-cut Wolf talking about the Monster being "truly un-human."
-added a shot of Igor, reversed from later.
-cut Wolf wanting to "reveal the Monster's abnormal functions to the world."
REVIVING THE MONSTER-
-cut a shot of the Monster on the table.
-cut Igor touching the Monster, getting shocked & telling Wolf to stop.
-cut a shot of the Monster being electrocuted.
-cut the Monster waking up & attacking Benson before passing out again.
-longer transition into the next scene.
THE INSPECTOR HIRES A SPY-
-cut this entire scene & sub-plot.
IGOR & THE CITY COUNSEL-
-moved this scene from earlier.
-cut the man saying "Body snatcher, you mean."
-cut the pause before the man asks "Did he ask you to rob any graves?"
-cut the discussion about being able to hang Igor a 2nd time.
-longer transition into the next scene.
INSPECTOR KROGH AT THE HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN-
-added a long fade-in to begin the scene.
-cut Elsa explaining that Wolf has fixed-up his father's old lab.
-cut Krogh looking up at his spy.
-cut Krogh's spy giving him a knowing nod.
-Elsa's "He's deep in some experiment" is heard over a different shot of Krogh.
-added sound effects when Wolf sets his hat & cane down.
-cut the discussion about the sulfur pit being built by the Romans.
-cut Wolf saying "...and parboil you" as well as the ensuing laughter.
-cut Elsa calling young Frederick "Peter."
-cut young Frederick questioning Krogh's prosthetic arm.
-shortened Wolf carrying young Frederick up to his room.
-Wolf's "Here we go up the mountain" is heard during a different shot.
-cut Wolf calling young Frederick "Peter" again.
-extended the shot of Krogh after Wolf runs off to his lab.
-removed a cross-fade from Krogh to Wolf entering the lab.
WOLF SEARCHES THE LAB-
-cut Wolf opening the lid & going downstairs to search around.
-shortened the Monster looking at himself in the mirror.
-merged two shots of Wolf into one.
-cut some of the Monster comparing itself to Wolf in the mirror.
-shortened the shot of Igor after he says "I keep him here."
-cut some of Igor laughing.
WOLF CONFIDES IN BENSON-
-cut Wolf repeating "Yes, alive! Alive!"
-cut Benson calling young Frederick "Peter."
IGOR LEADS THE MONSTER-
-cut a shot of Igor coaxing the Monster down a hallway.
-cut the duo entering through & then shutting the hidden door.
-cut the Monster bobbing it's head up & down after Igor motions for murder.
-altered the pitch of the wagon sound effects as it comes uphill.
-extended the shot of Igor at the window after the Monster has gone.
-fade-out on the shot of Igor laughing.
-cut a shot of the wagon.
-cut a shot of the Monster in the countryside.
DEATH OF A JUROR-
-slow transition to show some time has passed.
-fade-in on a shot of the Monster in the countryside.
-the sound of the wagon fades in gradually as the Monster looks around.
-darkened the shot of the wagon passing by to match the surrounding shots.
-re-timed the man's first scream to match the Monster's attack.
-added a neck-break sound effect.
-added creaking sounds as the Monster climbs over the wagon harness.
-added a thud sound as the wagon wheel hits the juror.
DINNER AT THE HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN-
-cut Wolf repeating that Krogh is their 1st guest.
-cut Wolf bowing a 2nd time before Krogh leaves.
-cut Elsa worrying about Benson.
-cut Wolf leaving the room.
-cross-fade into the next scene.
WOLF SEARCHES FOR BENSON-
-cut Wolf asking about the Monster & Igor saying "He sleeps."
-cut Wolf's "That would scare anyone. I didn't think Benson would come here."
-shortened the shot after Igor slaps Wolf's hand away.
-fade from Wolf & Igor to Krogh at the juror's house.
KROGH AT THE JUROR'S HOUSE-
-shortened the shot of Krogh entering the room.
-shortened the shot of everyone leaving the room.
BEDTIME WORRIES-
-cut Wolf suggesting that Benson went out & got drunk.
-cut Wolf calling young Frederick "Peter" again.
-edited Wolf saying he's sending Elsa to Brussels to be faster, more intense.
-added a close-up of Elsa.
-cut Elsa crying about not as brave as Wolf.
-cut Elsa getting up to go get young Frederick.
-cross-fade from Wolf & Elsa to Elsa, young Frederick & Wolf in bed.
DEATH OF ANOTHER JUROR-
-cut shots of the Monster in the countryside.
-added a thud sound when the Monster strikes the juror.
-longer transition into the next scene.
KROGH STOPS WOLF'S FAMILY PLANS-
-added a fade-in to begin the scene.
-cut Krohg's "So?" after Wolf tells him he's going to the train station.
-cut Krogh ordering breakfast.
-added fade-out as Wolf walks away.
-longer transition into the next scene.
TERROR AT THE APOTHECARY-
-cut the scene of the screaming lady running out into the streets.
KROGH SPEAKS TO YOUNG FREDERICK-
-added fade-in to start the scene.
-cut Krogh asking if young Frederick is scared of the giant.
-extended the shot of Benson's watch, allowing time to read the inscription.
-added sounds for Amelia's footsteps coming into the room.
-removed Amelia calling young Frederick "Peter."
ELSA TALKS WITH WOLF-
-cut Elsa calling young Frederick "Peter."
-lowered the volume of the knocking.
KROGH, WOLF & THE DARTS-
-added the sound of two darts hitting the board as Krogh speaks.
-cut Wolf saying "That's too bad. I've never heard of him."
-added the sound of the dart hitting the board in the close-up.
-cut Wolf laughing after saying "The Monster."
-cut Wolf saying he recreated his fathers table "out of curiosity."
KROGH SEARCH THE HOUSE, WOLF SEARCHES THE LAB-
-cut some of Krogh knocking on the walls.
-added sounds as the wall slides open.
THE MONSTER FINDS IGOR-
-cut the Monster's scream.
-added a cross-fade from the Monster crying to Wolf in his study.
KROGH COMFORTS ELSA-
-cut this entire scene.
KROGH CONFRONTS WOLF-
-cut Wolf asking "Would you like a drink or would you rather play darts?"
-scene ends on a wide shot of Wolf & Krogh.
--extended the duration of the wide shot.
THE MONSTER MORNS IGOR-
-shortened the shot of the Monster carrying Igor.
-re-timed the music.
-shortened the close-up on the Monster.
THE MONSTER WRECKS THE LAB-
-new sound effect when the lab door closes.
-cut the Monster finding the fairy tales book.
THE MONSTER GOES TO YOUNG FREDERICK'S ROOM-
-shortened the Monster walking through the tunnel.
-added sound effects for the false-wall sliding open.
-re-timed the music to sync with the Monster's attack.
-cut away as the Monster grabs Amelia, before she faints.
-shortened a shot of Wolf & Krogh throwing darts.
-added a shot of the Monster dropping Amelia's body, cut earlier.
-shortened a shot of Krogh preparing to throw a dart.
ELSA FINDS FREDERICK MISSING-
-cut Amelia getting up & joining in on the screaming. (she's dead)
-cut Elsa running down the stairs & calling young Frederick "Peter."
EVERYBODY AT THE LAB-
-cut an exterior shot as Wolf, Elsa & Krogh run to the lab.
-removed all calls for "Peter!"
-shortened a shot of Wolf beginning to climb.
-cut before Amelia enters the lab. (she's dead)
-cut before Amelia reaches the embracing family. (she's still dead)
-slo-mo on the family embrace.
-added fade-out as the family embraces.
AT THE TRAIN STATION-
-cut this entire scene.
END CREDITS-
-music is a new edit of the Main Theme.
-added the title card before the credits.
-new card for the cast credits.
-new cards for the crew credits.
-added a credit for the make-up effects by Jack Pierce.
-new card for the director credit.
POST-CREDITS-
-added a shot of Igor at the front gates, reversed from earlier.
-added my production logo.

User reviews

1 review
Overall rating
 
8.2
Audio/Video Quality
 
8.0(1)
Audio Editing
 
10.0(1)
Visual Editing
 
7.0(1)
Narrative
 
7.0(1)
Enjoyment
 
9.0(1)
(Updated: March 11, 2024)
Overall rating
 
8.2
Audio/Video Quality
 
8.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
7.0
Narrative
 
7.0
Enjoyment
 
9.0
I had no immediate plans to watch this but Ray left me no choice - NO CHOICE ;)

In all seriousness though, audio editing is excellent. Didn’t detect a single transition in that respect and all flowed very naturally. It’s really just some visual and narrative nitpicks that bring this down from the other two edits I’ve seen in Ray’s Frankenstein series. Notes below.

VISUAL

- Quality is very good. Given the size of the file though, and having watched it shortly after the blu-ray, I do think it looks a bit softer thatn it should. The smoke footage used for the titles also has visible compression, though nothing extreme.
- 4:43 - you can tell dialogue doesn’t match frankenstein's movement.
- 6:45 - fade is a bit quick
- 9:58 - there’s a visual hiccup where frankenstein turns to face the butler twice, like a few frames were accidentally looped
- the light switch fade out in the lab felt a bit abrupt to me. Nice idea though
- 16:27 - cut feels a bit awkward
- 1:17:00 - the wife screams but her mouth isn’t open. Very brief as we cut away straight after, but it stood out to me
- 1:18:41 - this slow down shot looks very bad to me. I highly recommend revisiting it. Very unnatural given the period of the film and there is some AI frame-blending weirdness going on.

NARRATIVE
- i would have cut more of the opening courtroom scene, as there’s needless exposition, clearly there in case you haven’t seen the previous films for context. I think it would work fine if we went straight from the villagers fearing ygor to frankenstein arriving on the train. It would also make the inspector's intentions more ambiguous, since he expresses as much distaste as anyone else during the meeting, but expresses himself as noble and there to aid frankenstein for most of the film.
- Frankenstein saying “sulfur” isn’t needed IMO. Another bit of obvious exposition for the audience. It’s clearly hot bubbly liquid, which is all we need to know, and the inspector mentions that it’s sulfur again at 40:16 anyway
- 29:50 - do we need this? Personally, I don’t think we need any of these scenes until we have the interrogation of ygor. We've already met the village elders since they 'greet' Frankenstein and his family as he gets off the train
- I’m not sure if there’s some context you cut, but Frankenstein’s motives for wanting to revive the monster in order to vindicate his father’s name seem much more vague and unclear than when i watched the theatrical cut
- glad you cut the talk of cosmic rays.
- Not sure why the talk around the prosphetic arm was cut. I felt this showed some respect between Frankestein and the Inspector, in spite of their suspicions of each other
- 1:01:25 - the child says “hello general”, but the context for why he thinks he’s a general has been cut
- Again, when Frankenstein says “what news from the front?” it’s a clear mocking of the inspector, in contrast to his respect towards him earlier in the film. But the context is gone.
- Cutting the historical context of the romans building where the lab is based robs ‘…like the romans threw christians to the lions” of some of its bite.
- The ending is much better than the original ending. Still abrupt, but it doesn’t force us to swallow the fact that everyone now loves Frankenstein in spite of his crimes. It’s unfortunate though that it currently relies on a slowed down shot that is quite jarring.
- After credits scene - a touch confusing. I guess just implying Ygor is alive to allow for continuity with Young Frankenstein? I’m not sure how he’s alive after being shot.

A massive improvement in terms of pacing. Loads of great changes here. Due to some of the notes above, this is not a firm replacement for the theatrical cut for me, but that could easily change with a version 2. The new pacing alone makes this a great alternative. Very glad I watched it.

And Ray, please let me know if you do subtitles for these, as I would love to share these versions with my brother (he has problems with his ears, so won’t watch anything without subtitles).

User Review

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