AS others have commented on, BOTM is indeed a competent B-movie. After
seeing it on public domain video I was glad to buy the Image DVD which has
very good image quality. You can see the movie the way Ed Wood intended it.
The lighting is competent; the camera work is competent.
But what elevates BOTM to film nirvana is Bela Lugosi's performance as Dr. Eric Vornoff (sp?). To those who say that Ed Wood exploited Bela (including Bela Jr), I say, at least he didn't put Bela in white plastic go-go boots and give him no dialogue, like the director of The Black Sleep did.
Without exception Bela's performances are hypnotic. His strange intonation, his deliberate facial gesture, his gravitas -- he is always the magnetic center of his films. And BOTM gives a summary of his career -- the Dracula hands, the White Zombie hands -- and the pathos of his "I have no home" speech -- give his
performance a dimension most of his roles (though check out "Invisible Ghost" for another excellent role) lacked.
"Nuff said. I enjoy the delirium of Glen or Glenda? and Plan 9, but Bride of the Monster is Bela's show ALL THE WAY.
