Monster Mash (1995 film) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Monster Mash |
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| Directed by | Joel Cohen Alec Sokolow |
| Produced by | Michael Kates Nathaniel Kramer |
| Screenplay by | Joel Cohen Alec Sokolow |
| Starring | Bobby Pickett Candace Cameron Ian Bohen |
| Music by | Bobby Pickett Joe Troiano Jeffrey Zahn |
| Cinematography | Scott Andrew Ressler |
| Editing by | Stephen Mirrione |
| Studio | Prism Pictures |
| Distributed by | Prism Pictures |
| Release date(s) | November 14, 1995 |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Monster Mash (also known as Monster Mash: The Movie) is a fun musical comedy horror film from 1995. It was written and directed by Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow. The movie is based on the famous song "Monster Mash" by Bobby "Boris" Pickett. It also takes ideas from a 1967 stage musical called I'm Sorry the Bridge is Out, You'll Have to Spend the Night. This stage show was also created by Pickett and Sheldon Allman.
The film has seven musical songs. Bobby Pickett, the singer of "Monster Mash," stars in the movie as Dr. Frankenstein. Other stars include Candace Cameron and Ian Bohen. The movie was first shown in theaters on November 14, 1995, by Prism Pictures.
Contents
Story of the Movie
A teenage couple, Mary and Scott, are driving home from a Halloween party. Their car breaks down, so they look for help at an old mansion. This mansion belongs to Victor Frankenstein, a mad scientist.
Once inside, Mary and Scott meet many strange characters. Dr. Frankenstein tells them, "I'm sorry the bridge is out, you'll have to spend the night!" This means Mary and Scott are stuck there with the monsters.
Each character has a secret plan for Mary and Scott:
- Dr. Frankenstein wants to take Scott's brain for his newest creation, a monster.
- Frankenstein's helper, Igor, likes Mary. He hopes to get Scott's brain for himself after it's removed.
- Count Dracula and his wife, Countess Natasha, are vampires. They want to make their marriage more exciting by feasting on the teenagers. But Dracula decides he wants Mary to be his next wife instead.
- Wolfie is a werewolf who struggles with changing into a wolf. His overprotective mother wants Mary to help cure him.
- Hathaway, a music agent, has brought Elvis Presley back to life as a mummy. To fully restore Elvis, they need a special ingredient from Mary and Scott.
Igor and Wolfie both feel sad about their problems and not having love. Mary tries her best to comfort them.
By the next morning, things get wild! Dracula is forced back into his coffin because he didn't notice the end of daylight saving time. Hathaway and Elvis get trapped in their sarcophagus without the special ingredient. Igor tricks Dr. Frankenstein and switches his own mind with Frankenstein's instead of Scott's. Mary and Scott manage to escape safely. The Monster, who seemed unable to speak before, finally talks and says, "I am surrounded by idiots."
Main Actors and Characters
- Bobby Pickett as Dr. Frankenstein
- Candace Cameron as Mary
- Ian Bohen as Scott
- John Kassir as Igor
- Anthony Crivello as Count Dracula
- Sarah Douglas as Countess Natasha "Nasty" Dracula
- Adam Shankman as Wolfie
- Mink Stole as Wolfie's Mother
- Deron McBee as The Monster
- Jimmie Walker as Hathaway
- E. Aron Price as Elvis
- Linda Cevallos as Dancer #1
- Carrie Ann Inaba as Dancer #2
- Daryl Richardson as Dancer #3
Songs in the Movie
The film features these musical numbers:
- "I'm Sorry the Bridge is Out, You'll Have to Spend the Night" - Sung by Dr. Frankenstein, Igor, Dracula, Natasha, Wolfie's mother, Wolfie, and Dancers
- "Play Your Hunch" - Sung by Mary, Igor, and Dancers
- "On a Night Like This" - Sung by Scott and Mary
- "Eternity Blues" - Sung by Dracula, Natasha, and Dancers
- "Monster Mash" - Sung by Dr. Frankenstein and Company
- "Things a Mother Goes Through" - Sung by Wolfie's mother
- "You're About to Lose Your Mind"† - Sung by Linda Cevallos, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Daryl Richardson
† This song plays during the movie's ending credits.
How the Movie is Different from the Stage Show
The Monster Mash movie is quite different from the original stage musical, I'm Sorry the Bridge is Out, You'll Have to Spend the Night. While the main idea and basic story are similar, many songs and some characters were changed for the film. This was done to fit the 1990s setting better.
Character Changes
For example, Scott's character in the movie was named "John" in the stage show. Wolfie's mother was called "Mom Talbot" on stage. The Mummy character was changed to Elvis Presley for the movie. Also, Elvis's manager, Hathaway, was a different character in the stage show. The dancers in the film are based on Dracula's "Draculettes" from the stage show.
Music Changes
The music also had big changes. Only four of the twelve songs from the original stage show appear in the movie: "I'm Sorry the Bridge Is Out, You'll Have to Spend the Night," "Play Your Hunch," "Eternity Blues," and "Things a Mother Goes Through." The songs "On a Night Like This" and "You're About to Lose Your Mind" were written especially for the movie. A new version of the famous "Monster Mash" song was also recorded for the film, even though it wasn't in the original stage play.
