Mad Monster Party   Starring (voice): Boris Karloff, Allen Swift, Phyllis Diller and Gale Garnet Optimum Classic RRP: £15.99 OPTD1697 Certificate: U Available 08 February 2010

Doctor Baron Frankenstein has invited some very unusual guests to his remote island. Count Dracula, the Werewolf, Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde, The Mummy, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, the Invisible Man, the Hunchback of Notre Dame, Frankenstein's Monster and many more. Also invited is Felix, Frankenstein's nerdy human nephew, who suffers from clumsiness and allergies. Quite a diverse gathering, but then Frankenstein is the leader of the Worldwide Organisation of Monsters. He is planning to retire and leave his legacy to one of them; however, when they realise it might be Felix, the monsters conspire to have him taken out of the picture...

It's easy to believe why this film was reportedly the inspiration for Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, and subsequent features such as The Corpse Bride and Coraline. Mad Monster Party is a veritable masterpiece in its field, especially considering it's 90 minutes of puppets, stop-animation and corresponding required sets. It's alive (aside from the zombie, who's undead!), vibrant, humorous and very enjoyable to watch. And what's even more amazing is that, although it's in colour, it dates back to 1967 - but still looks as relevant today.

The Doctor Frankenstein character is fashioned to look like Boris Karloff, and is indeed voiced by the old horror star. Similarly, Frankenstein's most successful creation, the glamorous Francesca both resembles and is voiced by Phyllis Diller, herself a star from the golden age. It's obvious that Felix's voice is made to sound like James Stewart, and Frankenstein's hapless assistant is a pretty close approximation of Peter Lorre. The only annoying character is the old witch who hangs around with Frankenstein's monster. Almost every time she speaks a sentence she roars with very false laughter.

There's something for everyone to enjoy here, from small child to wrinkled granny. There are song and dance moments, although I wouldn't describe it as a full-blown musical, a tribute to King Kong, and I particularly liked Frankenstein's quote from arguably Edgar Allan Poe's best poem, The Raven - when he sends off an experimental Raven to its death, saying: "Quoth the Raven - Nevermore!" Excellent stuff. However, I must balance this opinion by saying that the film should have been shorter. By the end I'd well and truly had enough.

There are supposed to be extras on this DVD, but as my check disc didn't contain any I can't comment on their content.

8

Ty Power