Frankenstein's Daughter is an independently made 1958 American black-and-white science fiction/horror film drama, produced by Marc Frederic and George Fowley, directed by Richard E. Cunha, that stars John Ashley, Sandra Knight, Donald Murphy, and Sally Todd. The film was distributed by Astor Pictures and was released theatrically as a double feature with Missile to the Moon.
The film, set in mid-20th century America, tells the story of the creation of the first female "Frankenstein's monster".
Plot[]
Teenager Trudy Morton, who lives with her uncle Carter Morgan, has nightmares in which she is a monster running about the streets. Her boyfriend Johnny Bruder dismisses them. Unbeknownst to Trudy, she actually does turn into a monster at night, thanks to Carter's lab assistant Oliver Frank. He lives with them and has been spiking Trudy's fruit punch with the formula that he and Carter are developing at the home lab. Carter's goal is to eliminate all disease so that people can live forever; Oliver's goal is different: with the help of Elsu the gardener, he is assembling a "perfect being", for Oliver Frank is actually Oliver Frankenstein, grandson of the original Dr. Frankenstein.
Carter's project stalls and he breaks into Rockwell Labs for Digenerol, the chemical he needs for his experiments.
Police Lt. Boyd and Det. Bill Dillon investigate a report from a frightened woman that a monster in a swimsuit attacked her. They spot Trudy's monstrous self and fire at her, to no avail. Oliver grabs her and drags her home to recover.
The next morning, Carter asks Oliver if he has seen the newspaper story about a "Frankenstein monster" on the loose. Oliver scoffs at the story, but when Carter disparages the Frankensteins, Oliver jumps to his feet in their defense. Boyd and Dillon are visited by Mr. Rockwell of Rockwell Labs. Rockwell says the stolen Digenerol may be somehow related to the monster issue.
Back at the home lab, Elsu mistakenly enters through a secret door while Carter and Oliver are working. Oliver shoos him out and to distract Carter knocks the bottle of Digenerol from his hand, spilling every drop. Carter says he must now steal more Digenerol.
Trudy's friend Suzie Lawler visits her, and they quarrel. While flouncing off, she makes a date with Oliver. The date goes badly, with Oliver attempting to force himself on Suzie. Since he needs a brain for his creation, he runs Suzie over with his car, killing her. When Elsu asks why he wants to create this creature, Oliver says that "now we're aware the female mind is conditioned to a man's world. It therefore takes orders, where the other ones didn't."
While Oliver tries to reanimate the monster, Boyd and Dillon arrive. As they tell Oliver that they suspect Carter is the Digenerol thief, "she" comes to life, scarred and unrecognizable. After the police leave, "she" escapes and kills a warehouse worker. Another worker, Mack, calls the cops.
At the house, someone knocks on the front door. Trudy answers. It is the monster. Trudy screams and faints. Elsu coaxes the monster into the lab. When Johnny arrives and tells him what happened, Oliver convinces Johnny that Trudy has an overactive imagination.
Oliver wants the lab for himself and decides to kill Carter. As he starts strangling Carter, Boyle and Dillon show up with more questions about the Digenerol. Oliver tells them Carter stole it; Carter tells them Oliver tried to kill him. Oliver persuades them that Carter is mentally ill, and they arrest Carter. Oliver then argues with Elsu, who refuses any further assistance, and Oliver has the monster kill Elsu. After learning that Carter has been arrested, Johnny leaves for the police station while Trudy stays behind. Oliver reveals his family's name and shows her his creation. Trudy faints again, but awakens and goes to the police station, where she learns that Carter has died.
Boyle and Dillon return to the house to further question Oliver. When Boyle leaves, Dillon stays behind to keep an eye on Oliver. Dillon stumbles across the monster's hiding place and Oliver orders "her" to kill Dillon.
Trudy and Johnny come home and also find the hideout. Oliver orders "her" to kill them, too. "She" and Johnny fight in the lab. Johnny throws a vial of acid at "her", but hits Oliver instead, melting his face. As Oliver falls, the monster accidentally sets "herself" alight on a Bunsen burner. Trudy and Johnny flee as "she" is consumed by flames.