By CRYYSTAL GUILLORY

As most of you can surmise from my involvement with the New Orleans Worst Film Festival that I am from New Orleans. Already your minds are filling with images of Mardi Gras, Bourbon Street, Jazzfest, Pat O' Brien's and other symbols of good times. If there is one thing we know how to do in this city it is to throw a party.

We also appreciate a good party as well, which is why I jumped at the chance to write about a particular party. A party that you can incorporate in your own Halloween parties this month--a party known as the "Mad Monster Party," based on the famous monstrous puppet film of the same name.

This soiree is brought to you by the good folks of Rankin-Bass, the ones who brought such holiday creations as Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer and Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.

In1967's Mad Monster Party, the creative team of Jules Rankin and William Bass brought all the monsters to life through the use of a process called animagic. This process is a stop motion photography technique using three dimensional figures.

These figures were designed by Mad magazine's own "mad" artist, Jack Davis, who also did the concept drawings for this party. Not only are those greats involved in this work, but the Ackermonster himself (Forrest J Ackerman) was one of the scriptwriters for this movie. This movie also has the voice of Boris Karloff as Baron Von Frankenstein, a role that is very ironic to say the least, since he portrayed the Frankenstein Monster originally.

As the Monster's mate, it is none other then Phyllis Diller supplying her voice. However in this version, the "mate" does not hiss and scream but actually has dialogue and even gets to break into song.

I should right now get into the plot of the movie, since that is the reason you are reading this article in the first place. Baron Von Frankenstein is having a good day on Monster Island working with his chemicals. Then in one instant (and with the use of stock footage) he discovers a formula that could destroy all matter. This is an important day and therefore calls for a celebration, so the doctor calls all the members of the Worldwide Organization of Monsters for a party.

With his lovely assistant Franchesca by his side, the doctor sends invitations to Dracula, the Wolf Man, the Mummy, the Creature (of the Black Lagoon, we assume) and Dr. Jekyll (with  Mr. Hyde along for the ride). There is one other invitation he sends, to an young American by the name of Felix Flanken.  We are then introduced to Felix at his workplace in America. I don't know why this character reminded me of Brad from the "Rocky Horror Picture Show" but he did. To call him nebbish would be a compliment; however I digress.

The poor hapless fellow works in a drugstore, hoping to be a chemist. Unfortunately his clumsy ways keep him from achieving his goal. He gets his invitation to the party, and his boss, wanting a vacation from Felix, sends him away with his blessings. So Felix boards a ship, and, being the clueless fellow he is, he meets with the other monsters without realizing what they are.

Eventually the monsters and Felix all land on the Island and greet the Baron, Franchesca, the Frankenstein Monster and his big-mouth mate. There is a jovial spirit in the air as the monsters dance and feast the night away in that castle (just don't ask what they feast on!).

However there is a plot afoot, for the Baron wants to retire as head of the Worldwide Organization of Monsters and have the most worthy one as his successor. Among that group Franchesca is the only one who knows that Felix Flanken (who is the Baron's nephew) will be the new leader.   Being the femme fatale she is, she strikes a deal with Dracula to rid of the pesky human so that she can learn all of the Baron's secrets and therefore pass it on to him. The two are making their plans outside when they are spied upon by the Monster and his mate. Franchesca is very miffed by the Monster's mate's rudeness to the point that the gals have a catfight. To my knowledge this has got to be the first catfight in a "kiddie" feature, at least the first one for Rankin-Bass.

Felix, in the meanwhile, is enjoying his vacation on this island even if the locale is a little strange-looking. He did enjoy his little tour of the island with Franchesca, even if they were interrupted by all kinds of pesky things along the path (pesky things which were supposed to kill him but did not). Eventually the Baron approaches his nephew with the offer of being the leader of the Worldwide Organization of Monsters, which takes Felix off-guard. It takes him off-guard to the point that he has to think things over, and since he does his thinking while fishing, he fishes in the moat.

Meanwhile things are not going so well for our red-haired, bee stung-lipped, wasp-waisted Franchesca (I can see why so many guys had fond memories of this "kiddie" feature now) for she has been double-crossed by Dracula (hmmm that is ironic) and the Monster's mate. They chase after her but she escapes them, sending a note to a creature cryptically known as "It". This creature has been known to be the most dangerous and anti-social of the monsters, which was why he was not invited to the party in the first place. The monsters discover Franchesca, and to escape them she dives out of the window and into the moat.

Little did Felix realize what a catch he would get! Franchesca is freaked out after her rescue by Felix that she can not speak straight. Felix, not knowing what else to do and being a product of a less enlightened culture decides to slap her in order to calm her down. This worked all too well, for Franchesca fell in love with him. (Note: At this point, I find it hard to believe this is really a "kiddie" film.) The two do not have the time to celebrate their new love for they are on the run for their lives from the other monsters.

Things are starting to look bleak for the young lovers, when "It" shows up to make things even more bleaker. It is at this point the Baron has decided that the guests have worn out their welcome and he ends the party in a most drastic way.

Meanwhile Franchesca and Felix sail off to their new life together, and more secrets are revealed.   What is that secret you ask? Ahhh, you have to rent the video to see. I would be a very rude guest at your party to reveal that secret.

I had seen this film years ago on television when I was young. I was always amazed by the skill of the animation and the cast of monsters in this film. Needless to say, I was delighted to acquire the video for my own viewing pleasure this Halloween.  So do yourself a favor, rent or buy the video this Halloween, get together a group of your compatriots, and have your own "Mad Monster Party!" This film is sure to be a crowd pleaser, especially among the men.

Happy Halloween to all monsters everywhere!

(Crystal Guillory is vice-president of the New Orleans Worst Film Festival to be held on June 10, 2000.  Click here to read more about it.  You can contact Crystal personally here.)

Party on, Crystal!  And the same to all you readers!  The best way to properly fete the All Hallows Eve is with your very own "Mad Monster Party!"

Article copyright © Crystal Guillory

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