Frankenstein on Wide World of Mystery (1973)

A TV adaptation of the Mary Shelley novel, broadcast in 2 parts on the 16th & 17th of January in 1973, as part of the Wide World of Mystery show. The presentation was released recently on DVD as a single 1973 TV Movie. The telefilm starred Robert Foxworth as Dr. Frankenstein, Susan Strasberg as his fiancee and bride, and Bo Svenson as the creature (credited as "The Giant" in the credits). Also with John Karlen as the assistant, Otto, and Jon Lormer. Willie Ames (famous later on the series Eight is Enough) has a small part as Frankenstein's much younger brother.

This version is certainly hampered by its TV budget and also leaves the impression of a stageplay just caught on camera. In the ensuing years, it has also been overshadowed by the more extravagant TV version later that year, Frankenstein:The True Story. However, this Dan Curtis production (Curtis also was responsible for The Night Stalker in '72) becomes an interesting variation on its own, especially with the introduction of the creature or monster. Svenson quite possibly gives the best performance and one of the most compelling versions of the creation, imbuing his scenes with incredible poignancy: