Frankenstein '80

{{Infobox film | name = Frankenstein '80 | image = Frankenstein-80-poster.jpg | alt = | caption = Italian film poster | native_name =  | director = Mario Mancini | producer = | writer = | screenplay = {{plainlist|*Ferdinando De Leone *Mario Mancini}} | story = Ferdinando De Leone{{sfn|Curti|2017|p=69}} | based_on =  | starring = {{plainlist|*John Richardson * Xiro Papas * Renato Romano * Dalila Parker * Anna Odessa * Bob Fiz * Renata Kasché * Dada Gallotti * Marisa Traversi * Enrico Rossi * Fulvio Mingozzi *Gordon Mitchell *Luigi Bonos}} | narrator = | music = Daniele Patucchi{{sfn|Curti|2017|p=69}} | cinematography = Emilio Varriano{{sfn|Curti|2017|p=69}} | editing = Enzo Micarelli{{sfn|Curti|2017|p=69}} | studio = M.G.D. Film{{sfn|Curti|2017|p=69}} | distributor = Variety Distribution | released = {{Film date|df=yes|1972|12|12|Italy}} | runtime = 89 minutes{{sfn|Curti|2017|p=69}} | country = Italy{{sfn|Curti|2017|p=69}} | language = | budget = | gross = }} '''''Frankenstein '80''''' is a 1972 Italian film directed by Mario Mancini.

== Plot summary == By day, Dr. Frankenstein (Gordon Mitchell) works innocuously in his lab. But at night, he works to perfect Mosaic (Xiro Papas), a monstrosity pieced together from dead bodies. Once completed, the behemoth escapes from the lab and embarks on a killing spree. Local beauties begin popping up dead, murdered in a variety of gruesome ways, as authorities attempt to stop Mosaic's rampage.

== Cast == {{castlist| *John Richardson as Karl Schein *Gordon Mitchell as Dr. Otto Frankenstein *Renato Romano as Inspector Schneider *Xiro Papas as Mosaic - the Frankenstein Monster *Dalila Di Lazzaro as Sonia *Roberto Fizz as Professor Schwarz *Dada Gallotti as Butcher *Marisa Traversi as Second Prostitute *Lemmy Carson as Head Nurse *Marco Mariani as Track Spectator *Luigi Bonos as Hobo *Enrico Rossi as First Investigator *Fulvio Mingozzi as Second Investigator *Umberto Amambrini as Vice Straus *Luigi Antonio Guerra as Agent * Anna Odessa as Stripper * Renata Kasché as Redhead}}

==Production== Despite the film's title alluding to Mary Shelley's character, the film has little in common with her creation.{{sfn|Curti|2017|p=70}} The inspiration of Ferdinando De Leone and Mario Mancini's script was from the adult only comics such as ''Oltretomba''.{{sfn|Curti|2017|p=69}}{{sfn|Curti|2017|p=70}} Future Academy Awards winner Carlo Rambaldi provided the special effects in the film such as the monster named Mosaic.{{sfn|Curti|2017|p=70}}{{sfn|Celli|Cottino-Jones|2007|p=106}} Curti referred to the special effects as "crude" and was an "early hint of the tendency towards excess that will characterise Italian genre cinema of the decade"{{sfn|Curti|2017|p=70}}

Lou Castel was originally going to act in the film but was not allowed after being expelled from Italy in April 1972 due to his political views.{{sfn|Curti|2017|p=71}} Actor Gordon Mitchell stated that parts of the film were possibly shot in Bavaria, but not any of the scenes he was involved in.{{sfn|Curti|2017|p=71}} The rest of the film was shot in Munich and Rome.{{sfn|Curti|2017|p=69}}

==Release== ''Frankenstein '80'' was released in Italy on 12 December 1972 where it was distributed by Les Films 2R Roma.{{sfn|Curti|2017|p=69}} Film historian Roberto Curti stated that the film "passed almost unnoticed in Italy at the time of its release"{{sfn|Curti|2017|p=71}} A photonovel version of the film was released in the Italian issue of ''Cinesex'' in May 1973.{{sfn|Curti|2017|p=71}}

As of 2017, the film is in the public domain in the United States.{{sfn|Curti|2017|p=71}}

== Reception == {{expand section|date=July 2015}} From retrospective reviews, AllMovie called the film "stupid, sickening, and obscene", but "seekers of psychotronic cinema will have a field day with this ridiculous Italian exploitation product."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://allmovie.com/movie/frankenstein-80-v18482/review |title=Frankenstein 80 (1972) |author=Fred Beldin |work=AllMovie |access-date=30 June 2012}}</ref> In his book on Italian horror film directors, Louis Paul referred to the film as "strange" and "a lurid sex film dressed as a horror movie."{{sfn|Paul|2005|p=28}}

== References ==

===Footnotes=== {{reflist}}

===Sources=== {{Refbegin}} * {{cite book |last1=Celli |first1=C. |last2=Cottino-Jones |first2=M. C |title=A New Guide to Italian Cinema |publisher=Springer |date=2007 |isbn=978-0-230-60182-6 }} * {{cite book |last=Curti |first=Roberto |title=Italian Gothic Horror Films, 1970-1979 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-1476629605 |year=2017 }} * {{cite book | last= Paul | first= Louis | title= Italian Horror Film Directors |publisher= McFarland |year= 2005 |isbn= 978-0-7864-8749-3}} {{Refend}}

== External links == *{{IMDb title|id=0071518}} *{{Internet Archive film|id=MarioMancinisFrankenstein801972}} *[https://www.varietydistribution.it/en/catalogue/frankenstein-80/ ''Frankenstein '80''] at Variety Distribution

{{DEFAULTSORT:Frankenstein 80}} Category:1972 horror films Category:1972 films Category:Italian science fiction horror films Category:1972 Italian-language films Category:Frankenstein films Category:Films shot in Rome Category:Films shot in Munich Category:1972 Italian films