Movie review by Andy Lalino
Though growing up I was a big "Munsters" and "Addams Family" fan, I never cared to watch "Munster, Go Home", a TV feature based on the popular TV series, for some reason (it may have been the absence of a laugh track, which seemed weird to me at the time). After viewing it at a much older and wiser age, I now know why.
In terms of story/plot and character, "Munster, Go Home" is pretty terrible. The "reading of the will" and "spooky estate inheritance" is hardly worth a run-of-the-mill TV episode, let alone a feature. Herman gets a letter informing him that he's inherited a British estate, and is now deemed "Lord Munster". He gathers up the family, featuring all cast originals, with the exception of Marilyn, and crosses the pond in an ocean liner on the way to merry ol' England.
The ship sequences are the film's worst. There's even the very tiresome old gag of a too-sauced guest stumbling onto Herman and Grandpa, blaming the firewater for his visions. Are there any horror comedies from the '30s-'60s that don't feature a scene like this? How dry it is.
Believe it or not, the movie actually improves once the family gets to their castle estate, run by a group of eccentrics that rival The Munsters in weirdness. Of course, there's the "secret of Munster Hall", meaning something's afoot attempting to make Herman and family "scared" out of their inheritence (Scooby-Doobie Doo!). This makes for a good scene, where a sleepy Herman and Lily are entertained by a cool spook show, featuring a chattering skull, a hanging corpse, and a "live" ghost. The end of the plot features a cool race along the British countryside, in which Herman drives the famous "Dragula". The "secret of Munster Hall" is finally revealed (you'll never guess who the mastermind is; I didn't) and the Munsters live happily ever after.
Though the whole production is largely a dud, horror fans will find the supporting cast helps make "Munster, Go Home" tolerable. First and foremost, John Carradine is aboard, looking almost unrecognizable in a red wig and sideburns as Cruikshank, the butler. Robert Pine, from "CHiPs" and "Empire of the Ants" plays Marilyn's love interest with a lazy British accent. Richard Dawson ("Family Feud", "Hogan's Heroes", "The Running Man") is a cokney grave robber. British actor Terry-Thomas manages to make an eccentric seem over-the-top in a very peculiar and somewhat embarrassing performance. Not his fault, though, the script and dialogue give him little to work with.
The other star is the wonderful Art Direction and Production Design, which is far too good for this type of material (as is the cast from the original TV show). Plus, it's always fun seeing Spot, the Munsters coach hot rod, and Dragula. Munster Hall is gloriously cavernous and spooky, with Gothic architecture abounding. Bauhaus fans will be in heaven. The cinematography is rich and colorful, and it's indeed a hoot to see Herman, Lily, Grandpa, Eddie and even Spot in glorious Technicolor, which probably is the main reason to watch "Munster, Go Home".
Universal Pictures
Produced By: Joe Connelly and Irving Paley
Screenplay By: Joe Connelly, Bob Mosher, George Tibbles
Make-Up By: Bud and Perc Westmore, Abe Haberman, Karl Silvera
Visual Effects By: Albert Whitlock, matte supervisor
Directed By: Earl Bellamy
Starring:
Herman Munster......................FRED GWYNNE
Lily Munster............................YVONNE DE CARLO
Grandpa Munster....................AL LEWIS
Eddie Munster.........................BUTCH PATRICK
Marilyn Munster......................DEBBIE WATSON
Freddie Munster.....................TERRY-THOMAS
Lady Effigie Munster...............HERMIONE GINGOLD
With
Robert Pine (Roger)
John Carradine (Cruikshank)
Bernard Fox (Squire Moresby)
Richard Dawson (Joey)
Jeanne Arnold (Grace)
Maria Lennard (Millie)
Cliff Norton (Herbert)
Diana Chesney (Mrs. Moresby)
Arthur Malet (Alfie)
Ben Wright (Hennesy)
Jack Dodson (Shipmate)
Jimmy Garrett (British Hooligan)
Helen Kleeb (Emily)
Run Time: 96 minutes
Color
The movie synopsis and review of "Munster, Go Home" is ©2005 by Andy Lalino. "Schlockarama™" is a part of Crazed Fanboy™ dotcom and all contents are ©2005 by Nolan B. Canova