Ghost Upon the Floor

Last night it was time for another newer (to me) Halloween classic: 1967’s “Mad Monster Party?” Rankin and Bass, of “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” and other stop-motion animation Christmas classics fame, made this lesser known special as their answer to Halloween.

  Part love letter to the Universal Monster movies, part 1960s music extravaganza, “Mad Monster Party?” is an all that and the kitchen sink special that is incredibly endearing. Perhaps the program’s biggest claim to fame— and arguably best feature— is the get of having Boris Karloff himself voice, and sing, the part of Baron von Frankenstein, our Dr. Frankenstein character who’s discovery brings together our gallery of monsters— from Dracula, the Werewolf, the Creature (from the Black Lagoon) and others. And, of course, the Mummy. It’s the Mummy. It’s the Mummy.

 The first time I watched this, the songs didn’t make much of an impression of me, but, with their zany cheer they, they enchanted me. And that happens all the more so with each viewing.  On this viewing, I also realized that one of the things I love most about this is the incredible, gorgeous and painstakingly made and designed sets. The creepy ship, Frankenstein’s Castle, the island and the lagoon. This is art made by people who love the classic monster movies, and it shows. 

 After a weekend of Michael Meyers terrorizing teenagers and trick or treaters, and the ghostly manor of “The Others,” I decided last night to watch something different: 1967’s “Mad Monster Party?” This stop-motion animated musical film-length special was created by Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin Jr., the duo behind 1964’s “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” and countless other stop motion animated Christmas specials.

Yes I had never seen, or really even known, about “Mad Monster Party?” until a few years ago, and last night was only my second time viewing this film. This movie is bonkers and charmingly spooky. The plot, which is equally crazy, involves Dr. Frankenstein, voiced by none other than Boris Karloff (who even sings!), who makes one last invention before he wants to retire, and calls all the monsters together on the tropical island he now apparently has to show them. Frankenstein’s Monster and his Bride (the Bride voiced by and modeled physically on Phyillis Diller), the Mummy, the Invisible Man, the Wolfman, Count Dracula, Mr. Hyde, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, a Peter Lorre inspired Igor character—even the Hunchback of Notre Dame are all here singing and dancing some absolutely insane numbers, absolutely and wonderfully dated by its late 1960s time.

 I don’t know if it’s possible to have nostalgia for something you never saw as a child, but I think that might apply here. All the nostalgia of and love for the Universal monster movies is on display here, and what is there not to love about Count Dracula, some zombies and Dr. Frankenstein grooving out to some musical numbers lovingly produced by clearly big fans of old school monster movies.

 I can’t help but see the influences this film had on Tim Burton. With his short film “Vincent” and major work “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” Burton clearly is following in the footsteps of the stop-motion animation Rankin-Bass made famous. And what a beautiful tradition it is. I am so glad to have found “Mad Monster Party?”… long will it be a required part of my October viewing.