Munster, Go Home!

(1966, U.S.) color 96 minutes
Universal Studios
Sceenplay: Joe Connelly, Bob Mosher, George Tibbles
Music: Jack Marshall
Cinematography: Benjamin H. Kline
Editing: Bud S. Isaacs
Produced by Joe Connelly, Bob Mosher, Irving Paley
Directed by Earl Bellamy

With: Fred Gwynne (Herman Munster), Yvonne De Carlo (Lily Munster), Al Lewis (Grandpa Munster), Butch Patrick (Eddie Munster), Debbie Watson (Marilyn Munster), Terry-Thomas (Freddie Munster), Hermione Gingold (Lady Effigie Munster), Robert Pine (Roger), John Carradine (Cruikshank), Bernard Fox (Squire Moresby), Richard Dawson (Joey), Jeanne Arnold (Grace), Maria Lennard (Millie), Cliff Norton (Herbert), Diana Chesney (Mrs. Moresby), Arthur Malet (Alfie), Ben Wright (Hennesy)

***

In 1966, Bob Mosher and Joe Connelly decided to do a color feature film version of their popular horror TV sitcom The Munsters for theatrical release. The story opens with Funeral pallor employee Herman Munster (Fred Gwynne) returning home to the family's old house at 1313 Mocking Bird Lane. When he enters the front door he is told by his wife Lilly (Yvonne De Carlo) that a special deliver letter has arrived earlier that day the letter states that The Munsters are the heirs to a vast estate left to them by a recently deceased relative in England.

Overjoyed with the news the family prepares to sail to The UK on an ocean liner. The arrival of the American cousins to the British relatives abode Munster Hall is not met with great enthusiasm by Lady Effigy Munster (Hermonie Gingold)or her brother Freddie (Terry Thomas)or the family's manservant Cruikshank (played by horror film and stage veteran John Carradine). The presence of the Munsters is also met with tremendous animosity by their aristocratic next door neighbors The Moresbys (played by Bernard Fox and Diana Chesney).

Herman, Grandpa Dracula (AL Lewis), Eddie (Butch Patrick), Lilly and Marilyn (Debbie Watson who would go onto play Jerry Fogel's wife on The Mother's In Law on NBC TV two years later) can’t understand why they are hated by their neighbors and they are also disliked by their own relatives Until one night Herman & Grandpa search the basement and they find a collection of old coffins and a printing press.

At first they think that the coffins have some more members of the family inside of them. But after opening one of them up they find out to their outrage that the boxes are actually filled with counterfeit British pounds. Lady Effigy and Freddie are part of a counterfeiting ring. And the family's fortunes are bogus the Munsters' relatives have used up the legacy left to them by their uncle and in order to repay their creditors. They're working with a gang to print fakes monies and ship it out to the banks and switch the real currencies with the fake ones. Outraged!

Herman wants to clobber the crooks but Lilly doesn't believe that their relatives are criminals and she tells Herman not to annoy them or to call Scotland Yard. Needing funds to replace the misused monies Herman & Grandpa take one of the fake coffins and turn it into a race car The Dragula Racer and enter it in The British Car races at Brighton. Seeing that their cousins may expose them to the authorities. Lady Effigy, Freddie, Cruikshank and their gang kidnap Lilly, Eddie and Marilyn and hold them prisoner within the house.

The gang also plans to kill Herman during the race .via a staged accident. Luckily our Frankenstein like hero prevents the mobsters from wrecking the car and Herman wins the race and the grand prize. With the aid of one of his creature changing pills Grandpa turns into a bat and saves Lilly, Eddie and Marilyn from the crooks and after taking over their car. Turn them over to the police. After repaying the creditors and receiving an apology from Sir Moresby and his family. Herman notifies his employers in the states that he and family are returning home and even though they didn't get the legacy left to them by their uncle. They did gain something more important than money they earn the love and friendship of The Moresby family. This film was not a hit with the critics back in 1966 but it did gain a following with the kids at Saturday matinees.

In order to promote the movie Messers: Gwynne and Lewis did personal appearances at movie theaters that were screening the film. More often than not they would drive up to their theater in The Munster Coach. I was lucky enough to see the film at The Wakefield Movie Theater in The Bronx, NYC back in 1966 and I was lucky to not only see Mr. Gwynne and Mr. Lewis in person at The Wakefield. I was also lucky enough to meet Mr. Lewis when I was living on F.D. Roosevelt Island in NYC back in the late 1980's. He told me that he enjoyed making the film. It was one of the highlights of my acting career Kevin! I loved playing this zany character and working with Fred, Yvonne, Butch, Debbie, Terry, Hermoine and John was a real kick!'

- Kevin S. Butler