Blackenstein (1973)

An interesting sub-genre of the Blaxploitation film was the black horror movie. Undoubtedly the best known of these were Blacula and its sequel, Scream, Blacula, Scream, starring the magisterial William Marshall in the title role.  There was also Dr  Black, Mr Hyde, Abby, a Blaxploitation version of The Exorcist and the inevitable Voodoo Zombie Blaxploitation crossover Sugar Hill.  All have their merits, with the first Blacula film being held in high regard.  Blackenstein, however, is generally acknowledged as being irredeemably awful.  Written and produced by Frank R Saletri, a criminal lawyer by profession, Blackenstein's biggest fault is a failure to grasp the most basic tenets of the Blaxploitation genre.  Whereas most films in the genre subvert racial stereotypes (kindly and civilised black doctor turns into evil depraved white monster in Dr Black, Mr Hyde, for instance), Blackenstein has its central character degenerate into a racist negro stereotype: a savage who tears apart and eats his victims).

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Blackenstein is that it recycles the electrical equipment designed by Kenneth Strickfaden for the lab scenes of the 1931 Universal version of Frankenstein.  It's plot also recycles many of the plot elements from that film's many sequels: the evil assistant who subverts the experiment, turning the lead character into a monster, for example. It also attempts to ape the classic monster make up of the Universal films, with its creature sporting a squared off Afro.  On a pedantic note, the title character can't be 'The Black Frankenstein' as the trailer (and the film's alternative title) claims, as it was the doctor, not the monster, who was called 'Frankenstein'.  In point of fact, the actual 'Frankenstein' figure of the film, Dr Stein, is white.  He's played by John Hart, the closest thing the film has to a genuine star, who is best remembered for having played the Lone Ranger on TV, replacing Clayton Moore for a season while the latter was engaged in a pay dispute with the producers.

Released to try and cash in on the success of Blacula, Blackenstein proved a flop.  But that didn't deter Saletri, who subsequently wrote, produced and directed another Blaxploitation film:  Black the Ripper.  Thankfully, it remains unreleased.