Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter

The sister flick to “Billy the Kid Versus Dracula”

Dr. Maria Frankenstein (Narda Onyx) continues her infamous grandfather’s experiments at a monastery in the Southwest. Jesse James (John Lupton) is carrying on his outlaw activities in the region and is forced to bring his wounded pardner (Cal Bolder) to the castle, I mean monastery, for medical help. Big mistake. Estelita Rodriguez is on hand as the gypsy girl while Jim Davis plays the marshal.

"Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter" (1966) was shot back-to-back with the similar "Billy the Kid Versus Dracula" by ‘B’ director/writer team William Beaudine & Carl Hittleman. Like that other movie, this one wisely takes the material seriously. In other words, what would happen if Dr. Frankenstein really existed and his granddaughter set up shop in the American Southwest to continue his gruesome experiments? And what if Jesse James didn’t die so young, but moved from the Midwest to the Southwest and met Ms. Frankenstein?

To its credit the superior “Lady Frankenstein” (1971) was obviously influenced by this film; “Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell” (1974) too to some degree. Unfortunately, it’s not as compelling as its sister flick, not to mention it occasionally provokes unintentional chuckles. But it’s still worth checking out if you can handle the mixing of genres. And Narda Onyx and Estelita Rodriguez don’t hurt.

The film runs about 1 hour, 25 minutes, and was shot at Ray Corrigan Ranch, Simi Valley, California, and Paramount Studios, Hollywood.

GRADE: C