Frankenstein's Aunt is the protagonist of three

novel A novel is a relatively long work of narrative fiction, typically written in prose and published as a book. The present English word for a long work of prose fiction derives from the for "new", "news", or "short story of something new", itsel ...

s - two by

Allan Rune Pettersson Allan Rune Pettersson (9 March 1936 – 15 August 2018) was a Swedish author. After a varied career as a producer of children's programmes on Swedish radio and later as an innkeeper in Portugal, he became a freelance writer on his return to Swe ...

and a seven-episode

TV miniseries A miniseries or mini-series is a television series that tells a story in a predetermined, limited number of episodes. "Limited series" is another more recent US term which is sometimes used interchangeably. , the popularity of miniseries format h ...

based on the first one. The story is a humorous

homage Homage (Old English) or Hommage (French) may refer to: History *Homage (feudal) /ˈhɒmɪdʒ/, the medieval oath of allegiance *Commendation ceremony, medieval homage ceremony Arts *Homage (arts) /oʊˈmɑʒ/, an allusion or imitation by one arti ...

to the

Universal Horror Universal Classic Monsters (also known as Universal Monsters and Universal Studios Monsters) is a media franchise based on a series of horror films primarily produced by Universal Pictures from the 1930s to the 1950s. Although not initially concei ...

Frankenstein ''Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus'' is an 1818 novel written by English author Mary Shelley. ''Frankenstein'' tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who creates a sapient creature in an unorthodox scientific ex ...

'' films.

Novels

''Frankenstein's Aunt''

Although the later TV series is based on the first novel by Allan Rune Pettersson, there are many differences in the TV series: Characters were edited out and added, the story was changed and expanded, and it has another ending.

''Frankenstein's Aunt Returns''

The book is a direct sequel to the first novel and therefore does not revive the story of the TV series.

Third novel

A novel by Werner Meier was published in German in

Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...

in 1987 which retells the story of the TV series with almost no differences. The book has the title ''Frankensteins Tante'' which means ''Frankenstein's Aunt''.

Television series

Story

Similar to the first book by Allan Rune Pettersson, Aunt Hannah comes to Frankenstein with the aim of finding a bride for her nephew so that the family will gain some ''little Frankensteins''. He, however, is too busy for anything like that. He tries to create a man with the power of a machine and the brain of a genius. Unlike in the novel, Aunt Hannah meets more spooks like a

merman Mermen, the male counterparts of the mythical female mermaids, are legendary creatures, which are male human from the waist up and fish-like from the waist down, but may assume normal human shape. Sometimes they are described as hideous and other ...

, a fire spirit and a

White Lady A White Lady (or woman in white) is a type of female ghost. She has long straight hair, typically dressed in a white dress or similar garment, reportedly seen in rural areas and associated with local legends of tragedy. White Lady legends ar ...

and the orphan Max, who is running away from a circus.

Intention

The makers of "Frankenstein's Aunt"

Jaroslav Dietl Jaroslav Dietl (22 May 1929 – 29 June 1985) was a Czech television series writer, film and television screenwriter, and playwright working mainly during the Normalization period. He is known for such works as the coming-of-age drama '' Inže ...

and

Juraj Jakubisko Juraj Jakubisko (born 30 April 1938) is a Slovak film director. He has directed fifteen feature films, between 1967 and 2008. He often takes the dual role of cinematographer, and is often also credited as a screenplay writer as he usually co-writ ...

interpreted the classic

theme in a humourful way tending to

parody A parody, also known as a spoof, a satire, a send-up, a take-off, a lampoon, a play on (something), or a caricature, is a creative work designed to imitate, comment on, and/or mock its subject by means of satiric or ironic imitation. Often its subj ...

. But they did not only want to entertain the audience, but to emphasize the triumph of reason and sanity over human aggressiveness and intolerance.
Jakubiskofilm Reviews
''

Production

The director J. Jakubisko about the production: ''"This seven country co-production was a challenge for me. The producers' wish was to see spooks from every single culture so it would be familiar for children around the world. So we found ourselves in Babylon during the production - many languages, many spooks"''
Jakubiskofilm About Movie
'' The series was an

international co-production A co-production is a joint venture between two or more different production companies for the purpose of film production, television production, video game development, and so on. In the case of an international co-production, production companies ...

from: *Taurus Film Munich (

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

) *MR-Film (

) * Československá Bratislava (

Czechoslovakia , rue, Чеськословеньско, , yi, טשעכאסלאוואקיי, , common_name = Czechoslovakia , life_span = 1918–19391945–1992 , p1 = Austria-Hungary , image_p1 ...

) *Films du Sabre and FR-3 (

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

) *

SVT 1 SVT1 (SVT Ett; commonly referred to as Ettan) is the primary television station of the Swedish public service broadcaster Sveriges Television in Sweden. History Television in Sweden officially launched on 4 September 1956 with the launch of ''R ...

(

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...

) *

Raiuno Rai 1 () is an Italian free-to-air television channel owned and operated by state-owned public broadcaster RAI – Radiotelevisione italiana. It is the company's flagship television channel, and is known for broadcasting mainstream and genera ...

(

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

) and * TVE (

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

). Filming location were

Hallstatt Hallstatt ( , , ) is a small town in the district of Gmunden, in the Austrian state of Upper Austria. Situated between the southwestern shore of Hallstätter See and the steep slopes of the Dachstein massif, the town lies in the Salzkammergut ...

, the environ of

Salzburg Salzburg (, ; literally "Salt-Castle"; bar, Soizbuag, label=Bavarian language, Austro-Bavarian) is the List of cities and towns in Austria, fourth-largest city in Austria. In 2020, it had a population of 156,872. The town is on the site of the ...

Dachstein Hoher Dachstein () is a strongly karstic mountain in central Austria and the second-highest mountain in the Northern Limestone Alps. It is situated at the border of Upper Austria and Styria, and is the highest point in each of those states. Pa ...

Boskovice Boskovice (; german: Boskowitz) is a town in Blansko District in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 12,000 inhabitants. The area of the historic town centre, Jewish quarter, château complex and castle ruin is well preser ...

and

Werfen Werfen () is a market town in the district of St. Johann im Pongau, in the Austrian state of Salzburg. It is mainly known for medieval Hohenwerfen Castle and the Eisriesenwelt ice cave, the largest in the world. Geography Werfen is located in the ...

with

Burg Hohenwerfen Hohenwerfen Castle (german: Festung Hohenwerfen, lit=Hohenwerfen Fortress) is a medieval rock castle, situated on a precipice overlooking the Austrian market town of Werfen in the Salzach valley, approximately south of Salzburg. The fortress is s ...

.
Czech film database CFN
'' Jacques Herlin, who played Igor, said in an interview,

'' that the filming was a lot of fun, the only bad side being Viveca Lindfors who hated the director from the first day. According to him, she said to the director: "''As far as I'm concerned, you're a shit. I've signed the contract, but won't agree with you. My character will smoke a cigar, even if you don't like it. Go fuck yourself"''. Nevertheless, Herlin added that he actually liked Viveca. He described the director as crazy - a poet, ex painter and friend of

Fellini Federico Fellini (; 20 January 1920 – 31 October 1993) was an Italian film director and screenwriter known for his distinctive style, which blends fantasy and baroque images with earthiness. He is recognized as one of the greatest and most i ...

. The character of the "White Lady" (played by

Mercedes Sampietro Mercedes Sampietro Marro (born 24 January 1947) is a Spanish actress. Biography Mercedes Sampietro Marro was born in Barcelona on 24 January 1947. She began her career as a stage actress in 1970. Having performed as a voice actress in a numb ...

) was inspired in

Elizabeth Bathory Elizabeth or Elisabeth may refer to: People * Elizabeth (given name), a female given name (including people with that name) * Elizabeth (biblical figure), mother of John the Baptist Ships * HMS ''Elizabeth'', several ships * ''Elisabeth'' (sch ...

Trivia
' (1560–1614). She is thought to have tortured hundreds of maids to death, and according to the legend she was cursed to haunt her castle. Her character in the series was moderated, similarities are still the same first name and some insinuations. The series' director, Juraj Jakubisko made also Bathory, a movie about her, which was released in 2008.

Ferdy Mayne Ferdy Mayne (or Ferdie Mayne) (born Ferdinand Philip Mayer-Horckel; 11 March 1916 – 30 January 1998) was a German-British stage and screen actor. Born in Mainz, he emigrated to the United Kingdom in the early 1930s to escape the Nazi regi ...

, who played Count Dracula, played a similar character as Count Krolock in

The Fearless Vampire Killers ''The Fearless Vampire Killers, or Pardon Me, But Your Teeth Are in My Neck'' (shortened to ''The Fearless Vampire Killers''; originally released in the United Kingdom as ''Dance of the Vampires'') is a 1967 British comedy horror film directed b ...

(1967).

Cast

Viveca Lindfors Elsa Viveca Torstensdotter Lindfors (December 29, 1920 – October 25, 1995) was a Swedish stage, film, and television actress. She won an Emmy Award and a Silver Bear for Best Actress. Biography Lindfors was born in Uppsala, Sweden, the da ...

- Hannah von Frankenstein ** Martin Hreben - Max ** Gerhard Karzel - Albert **

Barbara De Rossi Barbara De Rossi (born 9 August 1960) is an Italian actress who has combined a career in international cinema with longstanding popularity in Italian television. Biography Barbara De Rossi was born in 1960 in Rome to an Italian wine importer and ...

- Klara **

Eddie Constantine Eddie Constantine (born Edward Israël Constantinowsky; October 29, 1917 – February 25, 1993) was an American singer, actor and entertainer who spent most of his career in France. He became well-known to film audiences for his portrayal of se ...

- Alois - Water Spirit **

Flavio Bucci Flavio Bucci (25 May 1947 – 18 February 2020) was an Italian actor, voice actor and film producer. Biography Born in Turin, Bucci began appearing in film and television in 1971, making his debut appearance in the film ''The Working Class G ...

- Talbot - Werewolf **

- Count Dracula **

- Elisabeth **

Tilo Prückner Tilo Prückner (26 October 1940 – 2 July 2020Bolek Polívka Boleslav Polívka (born 31 July 1949, in Vizovice) is a Czech film and theatre actor, mime, playwright, and screenwriter. He has appeared in more than 40 films. Career Polívka first started appearing in films in the 1960s. He graduated from t ...

- Henry Frankenstein ** Marie Drahokoupilová - Mrs. Karch **

Gail Gatterburg Gail may refer to: People * Gail (given name), list of notable people with the given name Surname * Jean-Baptiste Gail (1755–1829), French Hellenist scholar * Max Gail (born 1943), American actor * Sophie Gail (1775–1819), French singer ...

- Bertha **

Sancho Gracia Félix Ángel Sancho Gracia (27 September 1936 – 8 August 2012) was a Spanish motion picture and television actor. Biography Gracia was born and died in Madrid. He started his acting career in Montevideo, Uruguay, where he lived from 1947 u ...

- Investigation Judge **

Jacques Herlin Jacques Herlin (17 August 1927 – 7 June 2014) was a French character actor. Born in Paris as Jacques de Jouette, he appeared in an impressive number of films from the early sixties. He was also active on stage and on television. He died i ...

- Igor **

Andrej Hryc Andrej Hryc (30 November 1949 – 31 January 2021) was a Slovak actor. He appeared in more than fifty films since 1976.Milan Lasica Milan Lasica (; 3 February 1940 – 18 July 2021) was a popular Slovak comedian, actor, singer, writer, lyricist and satirist. Active from 1961 up to his death, he was known mainly from his double act with Július Satinský and their collaborat ...

- Teacher ** Roman Skamene - Hans

Episodes

#The Birth #The Clean-Up #The Bride #The Cradle #The Ladies' Man #The Car #The Wedding

Alternative and other versions

A recut of the series in a 96-minute movie was made with the title '' Freckled Max and the Spooks''. A musical for schools is based on the novel of Allan Rune Petterson.
information about the musical
'

Nomination

In 1988 it was nominated best film in the International Fantasy Film Awards.
Nomination
'

Video release

The series was first released on DVD in Germany on March 17, 2008. This is currently the only release of the series on video so far and includes only the German-language version.

Notes

Literature

* Allan Rune Pettersson: Frankenstein's Aunt,

External links

*{{IMDb title, 0090434

* ttp://www.kinobox.cz/film/25256-pehavy-max-a-strasidla kinobox.cz entrybr>Intro of Frankenstein's Aunt
Austrian television miniseries Works based on Frankenstein 1980s television miniseries 1980s Austrian television series cs:Teta (seriál) de:Frankensteins Tante (Fernsehserie) es:La tía de Frankenstein fr:La Tante de Frankenstein it:La zia di Frankenstein