The US version was compared with the uncut version. Both are on the UK Blu-ray of Nucleus Films.

Together with his assistant Charles, Baron Frankenstein is working on creating a human being. He uses body parts, which the greasy grave robber Lynch gets for him. Shortly before the completion of his work, his daughter Tania appears, who has completed her surgical studies. Frankenstein would not like to involve her in his experiments, but Tania is curious. One thundery night the moment has finally come. The monster created by Frankenstein comes to life, but since its brain is damaged, the creature turns against its creator and travels murderously through the area. Frankenstein dies, but Tania wants to continue his experiments. She wants to transplant Charles' brain into the body of the well-built but simple-minded herdsman Thomas. Meanwhile, the citizens are increasingly displeased by the crimes committed by Frankenstein's creature. Inspector Harris tries to get behind the secrets that happen at Frankenstein Castle.

Mel Welles, better known as the (supporting) actor, shot the film Lady Frankenstein, which was originally planned as Lady Dracula. As it turned out, producer Harry Cushing did not have the rights to the script, which was sold to Germany and so Lady Dracula was made with Evelyne Kraft. The script for Lady Frankenstein was written at short notice within two weeks, as the sets and actors for the original film had already been rented. The result is a surprisingly good film, which mixes motifs from the Frankenstein story with gothic horror and has Rosalba Neri as Tania Frankenstein, an emancipated leading actress. As the film progresses, the story becomes more and more abstruse, which only slightly clouds the film's enjoyment. In addition to the enchanting Rosalba Neri, who was seen in numerous Italian productions at the time, Joseph Cotten (Citizen Kane) and the Austrian Herbert Fux can be seen. In the English dubbing, Herbert Fux's role is spoken by Mel Welles.

Lady Frankenstein has a curious publishing history. Roger Corman, who was also involved in the financing of the film, has created a version shortened by about 15 minutes for the US market. Most of the sex and violence scenes have remained intact, the main plot was edited. This version appeared on VHS and various Public Domain DVDs and was quite widespread. In Sweden, a VHS was published with a complete version of the plot in which three scenes of violence were shortened. Things changed when a broadcast was announced on German Free TV. Originally the film was supposed to be shown on 29.06.07 as a free TV premiere in a restored version on WDR. Since the film was still indexed at that time, a worried cinefacts user asked WDR in which version the film would run due to the indexing. Since WDR apparently was not informed about the existing indexing, the film was removed from the program at short notice and replaced by Sade. A deletion from the list followed, WDR lost its right to a first broadcast and on 04.08.07 the restored version of the film was finally shown on 3sat. The documentary Die Wahrheit über Lady Frankenstein, in which director Mel Wells, leading actress Rosalba Neri and Herbert Fux remembered the film, was produced especially for this purpose and broadcast beforehand. In terms of quality, 3sat was the best and most complete release of the film. Nevertheless this version knows many film ruptures which were concealed as good as possible. In comparison to the uncut version some scenes are still missing. One of them, in which Zack talks to Harris and suggests that the anger of the citizens about the murders is concentrated on Frankenstein, is quite significant. In an earlier scene where Peter talks to the citizens, he manages to calm them down and expose them as inactive. When they storm raging the Frankenstein castle with torches towards the end, this seems a bit strange without the scene between Zack and Harris.
In the following years followed various patch-work releases, like the US DVD from Shout Factory. Basis was a very good transfer of the US version into the scenes from the 3sat broadcast and even the Swedish VHS were reintegrated. It looks similar with the German DVDs of '84 Entertainment.
As part of the Edition Hände weg! Anolis released the uncut version in Germany, but only in a small edition and relatively expensive. On September 3rd the film was released in England by Nucleus Films on Blu-ray. Included is both the uncut restored version and the US version, as well as extensive bonus material. The release is highly recommended if you are not dependent on the German sound.

You can legally download the film at archive.org. Of course only the US version, but the US synchro is pretty good.

Duration:

US Version: 83:38 Min.
Uncut: 99:00 Min.

[00:00:00][00:00:00]

The US version has the English opening credits, while the uncut version has the Italian titles.

No time difference


[00:03:43][00:03:43]

Charles and Frankenstein are visible longer than they leave the room.

UC: 3 sec.


[00:05:47][00:05:51]

Before Charles leaves, there's no dialogue between him and Frankenstein.

Charles asks Frankenstein what he wants to say to his daughter. He answers he doesn't want to tell her anything, because he wants to be considerate of her and finish the work quickly.

UC: 21 sec


[00:06:41][00:07:05]

Charles and Tania walk through a corridor while he tells her about Thomas.

The next scene starts a little earlier.

UC: 17 sec.


[00:08:00][00:08:42]

Frankenstein pours himself and Tania something to drink, while he tells a story from his youth how he has quarreled with his narrow-minded professor, because he considered his theses absurd.

UC: 51 sec.


[00:10:15][00:11:48]

Thomas is in the barn when Tania calls for him. He takes a young sheep and goes outside to see her.

Thomas frightens Tania a little as he approaches from behind. She asks him what the sheep's name is and he thinks it has no name. Tania asks him if he likes the Baron even when he takes the animals away from him. Thomas thinks that this is not the case. Thomas looks up and hears a carriage approaching.

UC: 1:20 min.


[00:10:18][00:13:10]

After the carriage was briefly to be seen, the scene continues.

Thomas tells Tania that the man on the carriage is a bad man. Lynch gets off the carriage.

UC: 13 sec.


[00:13:00][00:16:06]

After Morgan drives up on the wagon, the next shot starts earlier and Frankenstein says "I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him."

UC: 4 sec.


[00:15:20][00:18:30]

Harris asks his colleague who the woman is. He doesn't know, but he can investigate. Harris answers that this is not necessary.

UC: 8 sec.


[00:15:40][00:18:58]

There are two cuts missing on lynch and his two helpers.

UC: 6 sec.


[00:16:04][00:19:28]

After the execution there is again no cut on the commissioner, Lynch and his assistants.

UC: 4 sec.


[00:16:26][00:19:54]

The coachman can be seen a little earlier.

UC: 2 sec.


[00:16:52][00:20:22]

After the body has been unloaded, the dialog continues.

Frankenstein asks if Lynch trusts the men. Lynch says he doesn't trust anyone, but the baron shouldn't worry, because nobody will grieve over the dead Jack Morgan. Lynch asks when the next special assignment will come. Frankenstein thinks that he might not need him anymore and that he will get along without his money. The baron goes to his castle.

UC: 41 sec.


[00:17:45][00:21:57]

Tania closes the door of the secret passage behind her.

UC: 13 sec.


[00:24:21][00:28:46]

Frankenstein walks through a corridor and calls for Charles. He runs to the lab with him.

After that, the camera movement to the brain is missing.

UC: 26 sec.


[00:27:58][00:32:48]

Charles opens the window. After that Frankenstein can be seen again.

UC: 8 sec.


[00:30:00][00:34:59]

A camera panning over the glasses with the liquids is missing. After that you can see the roof window and the monster again.

UC: 15 sec.


[00:30:36][00:35:49]

Charles fends off a bat and closes the skylight.

UC: 6 sec.

[00:38:33][00:43:53]

Tania asks Charles if he loved him. Charles affirmed. Then she says that he shouldn't go to the police because of her.

UC: 17 sec.


[00:39:22][00:44:58]

The scene with the inspector begins a little earlier.

Harris has the location of the body shown to him. Then he thinks how interesting it is to see the castle from the inside, because the baron has always been very well isolated.

UC: 24 sec.


[00:40:43][00:46:43]

There's some dialogue missing when Charles is questioned.

Charles thinks he couldn't fall asleep and heard someone walking past the door. For him, it could only be a stranger, as the steps approached the lab.

UC: 22 sec.


[00:42:17][00:48:40]

Lynch is in bed. There's a knock. He lets Harris in and goes back to bed.

UC: 21 sec