Classic Vault Movie

Bride of the Monster

1955 • Classic Film

Bride of the Monster is a 1955 American independent science fiction horror film, co-written, produced and directed by Edward D. Wood Jr., and starring Bela Lugosi and Tor Johnson with a supporting cast featuring Tony McCoy and Loretta King. Dr. Eric Vornoff is a scientist trying to use nuclear energy to transform people into superhuman beings. Despite his efforts, the abducted subjects he uses die during the experiment -- with the exception of his assistant, Lobo, who gains monstrous powers. Vornoff's mansion is protected by a murderous octopus, but somehow, reporter Janet Lawton makes her way inside and discovers the truth. She's taken prisoner, but the police are close behind. FYI: According to Paul Marco, Edward D. Wood Jr. thought that Bela Lugosi's memory might not be very good, so for Lugosi's long speech, Wood had the prop man make cue cards. Lugosi, upset, insisted he didn't need cue cards and he would "memorize it." Wood still insisted on the cue cards, telling Lugosi, "We have to be safe". Lugosi went to Marco for help. He had Marco promise not to show him the cue cards during the scene. Marco held the cards at his side the whole time and Lugosi never looked over once. After Lugosi's performance the whole crew got up and applauded. This was Bela Lugosi's last speaking part in a film.