by
Kristin Battestella
Meet
the lovable and naive Herman Munster (Fred Gwynne) – a 150 year old
green skinned Frankenstein's monster – and his vampire housewife
Lily (Yvonne De Carlo) along with their Grandpa Count (Al Lewis),
unfortunately normal niece Marilyn (Beverly Owen, Pat Priest), and
young werewolf son Eddie (Butch Patrick) in the 1964-65 Season One
debut of The Munsters. Though
often derivative, gimmicky, and of its time, The Munsters
jam packs these first
thirty-eight episodes with gags, wit, and slapstick brimming with
Halloween mood.
Fittingly,
“Munster Masquerade” begins The
Munsters with young romance
and cross culture social clashes. These high society dames are
worried about misspelling “Munster as Monster,” but the titular
kin think an uppity masquerade party complete with King Arthur and
Little Bo Peep costumes is horrifying! The
Munsters establishes
its series tone and now familiar tricks early, however, such gags and
reverse quips – we weren't dug up last night, put the color back in
your cheeks, not letting the lack of rain spoil the evening – are
part of the spooky, for the laughs charm. One might not expect much
in these short twenty-five minutes or less run times, but the horror
tropes, sci-fi humor, and lighthearted morals are surprisingly well
balanced. The Munsters may not realize what they are, yet they make a
point of being kind because they know what creeps regular folks may
be. As a redo of the previous two test pilots, “My Fair Munster”
is almost a bottle episode of mean neighbors despite that Munster
friendliness alongside rectifying Marilyn's old maid status with
Grandpa's mistaken love potion. “Rock-A-Bye Munster” adds
self-awareness with a trick television and mini Frankenstein's
monster toys, leading to a witty case of mistaken pregnancy and the
birth of the Munster Koach. The robot is hokey and the clash with
truant officers remains unrealistic, yet “Tin Can Man” provides
great funeral jokes and fatal quips before Herman falls asleep in the
backseat as their car is stolen for a bank heist getaway in “The
Midnight Ride of Herman Munster.” His innocence ups the zany plot
twists, as he is surprised they want to go to the bank at dawn –
it's too early to be open – and he won't speed in a 25 miles per
hour zone when they leave. Likewise “The Sleeping Cutie” piles on
the hypnosis humor, a pill that turns water into gasoline, sleeping
potions, and a suitor named “prince.” What could possibly go
wrong? Instead of a night picnic in the cemetery, the family braves
the fresh air so Eddie can camp like the other boys in “Grandpa's
Call of the Wild.” Naturally, the trip spells disaster for Grandpa
– who brings his electric chair outdoors and almost ends up in the
zoo. The clan teamwork continues in “All-Star Munster” when
Herman is mistaken for a basketball star by redneck visitors
misunderstanding the comparably well to do Munsters, and “Bats of a
Feather” fully introduces the family pets – Kitty with its lion's
roar, Spot the dragon under the stairs, and that “spoiled bat”
Igor. Hey, why isn't their temperamental raven in the cuckoo clock
considered for the pet fair? I protest.
Herman's
detective school moonlighting and fun disguises raise Lily's jealous
suspicions in “Follow That Munster,” and the lighthearted marital
discord carries over in “Love Locked Out” when Herman is sleeping
on the couch until both separately go to a marriage counselor for
inadvertently competing advice. Eddie finally has a friend over in
“Come Back, Little Googie” but he's an insulting, nasty boy
trying to trick everybody, providing for The
Munsters special
brand of cruel versus
kind lessons. Relocating to Buffalo for Herman's promotion in
“Munsters on the Move” wouldn't be a problem if they didn't scare
away potential home buyers – literally! Unfortunately, life
insurance crooks are trying to kill Herman with on set accidents in
“Movie Star Munster,” but such stunts don't hurt him, forcing
them to up their risks. Granted, there are scams like this
practically every other episode on The
Munsters –
Herman always signs some
kind of terrible contract in a quest for fame and fortune. However,
the escalating trappings here are mad fun, and although diva Herman
may be dumb enough not to read the fine print, but I'll be darn he
isn't doing a scene if he doesn't feel the character's motivation!
Fashion shows faux pas, a disastrous golf course, and snooty club
members give everyone their moment in “Country Club Munsters” –
complete with hatred and veiled statements reminding The Munsters how
such bigoted people aren't up to
their kindly standards. “Love Comes to Mockingbird Heights” sees
the family working both for and against a cad banker making moves on
Marilyn just for the Munster gold, and say hey,
Uncle Creature from the Black Lagoon pays a visit before a hilarious
museum excursion leaves Herman locked in a sarcophagus for “Mummy
Munster.” Women in the workplace jealousy anchors “Lily Munster,
Girl Model,” and ridiculously fun Nutcracker spins and pirouettes
have the whole family in on the magic act for “Munster the
Magnificent.” Herman making friends and helping a little boy in
“Yes, Galen, There Is a Herman” accents The
Munsters with
slightly serious Frankenstein
movie parallels, and the eponymous boy's disbelieving family takes
him to a psychiatrist. Sure, today it is creepy the way Uncle Herman
picks up a boy on the street and takes him back to his dungeon to
watch Grandpa's home movies, but the wink within a wink embracing
fantasy versus destructive reality makes for a fine little finale on
The Munsters debut.
Of
course with so many episodes, The
Munsters certainly
has a few clunkers including the bickering couple using The Munsters
for their own gain in “Pike's
Pique” and the shocking townsfolk reactions and presumed to be
celebrating Halloween excuses in “Family Portrait.” The harp and
phonograph of “Far Out Munsters” are fun, as is the irony of The
Munsters liking The Beatles despite being initially too old fashioned
for rock n roll – “You know, they're almost as good as Kate
Smith!” However, although the Beatniks invading Mockingbird Heights
accept The Munsters as all right, the capitalizing Fab Four covers
miss the mark along with the ham radio and mistaken aliens of “If a
Martian Answers, Hang Up.” Too many stunt episodes in a row like
“Herman the Rookie” complete with Dodgers guest stars and get
rich quick schemes like the desolate timeshare of “Herman's Happy
Valley” feel like we've seen this same old already. You don't have
to watch The Munsters in
order, but when one tunes
in for every episode, you know what you're going to get. With so many
one trick ponies, it's somewhat amazing The
Munsters lasted
as long as it did, and
the series also has numerous inconsistencies. The make up stylings
are redesigned in the earlier episodes, and even the credits change
halfway through this first season with Fred Gwynne moving from his
last “and” billing to first. The juvenile crank speed running
away in horror exits get old fast, and bungling cop jokes suggest
more than a hint of Fred Gwynne and Al Lewis' prior series Car
54, Where are You? The
vampires on The
Munsters adhere to no
traditional undead rules, and how do a vampy wife and a monster man
end up with a werewolf son, anyway? Throwaway dates, locations, and
relations change from episode to episode with no clear show bible
logistics. It's no fun seeing so called regular folks trying to
swindle the family, yet The
Munsters relies on too many
of these scam sitcom scripts when that contrast isn't necessary
compared to the titular topsy turvy perspective. Fifty years on, some
jokes and pop culture references may not be understood by today's
audiences, and it is unfortunately very surprising to hear terms like
wetback and gyp or Romani jokes alongside woeful Asian stereotypes in
what is such a beloved and otherwise family friendly show. Honestly,
I'm surprised these rare but jarring moments weren't edited out for
the video release.
Sure
he works at a funeral parlor, however Herman Munster is a normal guy
who wants his idyllic mid century family to be safe. So what if he's
a dunce at his might and stomps his foot when he doesn't get his way.
“Fiddlesticks!” is Herman's go to exclaim, especially when he's
late for the carpool that picks him up in the back of the parlor's
Hearst – and he's ticklish, too. Herman may crack the mirror –
literally
– but he's more worried about his bills than being mistaken for the
misspelled monster in the headlines crook of “A Walk on the Mild
Side.” Always concerned about money, Herman tries a disastrous
laundromat job in “Herman's Raise” as well as wrestling on the
weekends for extra cash in “Herman the Great.” However, he's
simply too sweet to be ruthless against the cheating competition.
Herman won't disobey a “Don't Walk” sign but blows up the signal
when he presses the button! Gwynne excels in solo physical humor
scenes with few words as in “Dance With Me, Herman,” and he plays
a suave lookalike in “Knock Wood, Here Comes Charlie” complete
with a British accent and monocle. Fearful, finger pointing mobs may
be played for laughs on The
Munsters, but
Herman makes sure his kin isn't involved with the
nasty folks in town, and more looking through the window Mary Shelley
motifs are made humorous when Herman tries dieting at Thanksgiving in
“Low-Cal Munster.” Herman and his wife Lily sit on the couch
together and read, rock on the porch together during a storm, have a
beach date on a rainy day, and – gasp – sleep in the same bed!
Lily's pussycat is more handsome than that unfortunate Cary Grant in
her eyes. Although the family fears her wrath and she does get
annoyed at his bungling when Herman and Grandpa are mistaken for
burglars in Halloween masks in “Don't Bank on Herman,” Lily
easily forgives. She's a good mom, too – sewing Eddie's doll and
raising Marilyn despite her niece's “flaws.” Lily cleans nine
rooms and a dungeon, vacuums with a vacuum set to exhaust
the dust, and cooks
oatmeal, pancakes, and Herman's favorite cream of vulture soup. She
plays the harp, sleeps with her namesake flower, and in “Herman's
Rival,” the 137 years young nee
Dracula does palm readings at the local tea room. Although her white
hair streaks and make up design varies at times, Yvonne De Carlo (The
Ten Commandments) is
always delightful thanks
to bat necklaces, a werewolf stole, tiaras, iconic gowns, sparkling
taffeta coffin capes, and “Chanel No. 13.”
Likewise,
Al Lewis is all in good fun as that charming 400 year old widower
Grandpa. The Count – known to turn into a wolf himself – has a
werewolf son named Lester and still loves him some ladies despite
having had over one hundred wives and falling for a mail order bride
scam in “Autumn Croakus.” Occasionally, Lewis breaks the fourth
wall, and these talking to himself asides or sight gags add
self-aware wit. Grandpa hangs upside down in the living room, takes
his eggs night side up, and roots against
the Angels. Yes, there are a lot of hammy Dracula cliches on The
Munsters –
Grandpa's cape and widow's peak alone – but
there is always a lovable quip or two to match his cool basement
laboratory, potions, wacky inventions, and the latest money making
scheme up his sleeve. Grandpa watches television and soap operas are
his favorite comedy, but he has a naughty streak, too – tempting
Herman with trick pens or food when he can't eat. Unfortunately,
their bemusing bromance does suffer in “Grandpa Leaves Home” when
the feeling unloved Count runs off to perform in an ill-received
magic club act. Grandpa's tricks aren't as good as they used to be,
and such endeavors always have hair-brained results on The
Munsters. Child star Butch
Patrick's Eddie hangs with his Grandpa the most, helping him in the
dungeon when he's not howling at the moon or playing in the
fireplace, that is. Wolf look and all, “Edward Wolfgang Munster”
is a gosh darn cute little boy with his little short pants, knee
socks, pointed ears, and Woof Woof doll. He's so tiny beside the
seven foot Herman and no bigger than the golf bag when he caddies for
his dad! Fortunately, his small stature means Eddie can hide in the
cabinet or other fun places, and he has a pet door where one can
deliver his bedtime glass of milk. Although he plays baseball with
the other kids, they often don't believe his stories about the
Munster household – which unfortunately seem to happen mostly
without Eddie. I'm glad The
Munsters isn't
Eddie-focused in a Beaver Cleaver gone Halloween fashion, and the
series was in fact envisioned as a parody on Leave
it to Beaver by
producers Joe Donnelly and Bob Mosher. However, Patrick often only
has one scene even when the episode's premise starts with him, and
he's most often seen with his back to the camera at the family table.
“Eddie's Nickname”
is his only centric episode, but we do get to see his room in detail
alongside nice father and son time and some moral lessons. Besides,
today he would have a far worse nickname then “Shorty.”
She's
supposed to be Lily's sister's daughter, yet Marilyn's mother is
never mentioned by Lily or Grandpa, and her last name is still
somehow Munster. Yeah. It's somewhat sad that The Munsters' normal
blonde niece is so underdeveloped that the Beverly Owens to Pat
Priest casting change in Episode 14 is almost completely
unnoticeable. The Munsters does
at least make good use
of Marilyn's repeatedly scaring away dates right from the start, and
each unsuitable suitor gone is for the better as far as her Aunt Lily
and Uncle Herman are concerned. The family pities her for
being so “ugly” or “hopeless” and think she looks better with
the bags under her eyes when she can't sleep. They insist she stay in
school and get an education because she's only going to get a boy to
like her for her brain! Marilyn does get a kiss in “Love Comes to
Mockingbird Heights” – where we see her girly bedroom inside the
left gable of the Munster Mansion complete with floral wallpaper, a
canopy bed, and dainty furniture which Herman finds “distasteful.”
Though never shown having plots or hobbies of her own and mentioned
as being off studying when not included, Marilyn is briefly seen
playing the organ and being Herman's talent show magician's
assistant. She doesn't desperately fall for every wolf on the make,
either, and can tell when someone is suspicious. Most of Marilyn's
scenes, however, are with Lily, and it's apparent the character
really only exists as a soundboard for the wife at home. Like Eddie,
Marilyn has one scene and few lines per episode. On the rare occasion
they are alone onscreen, the cousins are still talking about others
rather than having stories of their own. Marilyn has one shtick and
one shtick alone, but it is a fun one, and the would-be con artists
who knock on The Munsters' door deserve to find this innocent and
demure decoy. For sure, The Munsters has
its fair share of famous and recognizable guests including postman
John Fielder (The Bob Newhart Show) and Bewitched's Paul
Lynde in several episodes as Dr. Dudley. Batman's Commissioner
Gordon Neil Hamilton is here, too, with Bill Mummy (Lost in
Space), Pat Buttram (Green
Acres), Barbara Babcock (Dr.
Quinn Medicine Woman), Harvey
Korman (The Carol Burnett Show),
Don Rickles, and more. I must say, I would have certainly
watched a spinoff featuring John Carradine as Herman's undertaker
boss Mr. Gateman!
Although
the drag racing creation of the Dragula roadster in “Hot Rod
Herman” will conflict with the later Munster,
Go Home movie plots and a
regular car driven by an unseen ghost is seen only once early on, the
aforementioned Munster Koach is always good fun. Likewise, the
cowabunga theme music remains as memorable as the always recognizable
Munster Mansion – a great television house that has appeared in
other films and television shows such as The
'Burbs and
Desperate Housewives
yet continues to inspire
builders who want to live at 1313 Mockingbird Lane. Sure, the kitchen
is kind of drab. The décor is too derelict trashy and hellllooo
dust mites rather than fancy Gothic sophistication – at Halloween
one always strives for the latter and ends up with the former!
However, that candlestick phone in the indoor coffin phone booth is
yes please, and let's throw in some nostalgic bells and whistles such
as that $2 with a 50 cent tip taxi cab fee for good measure. Secret
passages, creaking doors, and cobwebs spook up The
Munsters as
do phonographs,
candelabras, cool spell books, and creepy potion ingredients. I wish
the series had been in color – if The
Munsters had
lasted for a third year on CBS in the 1966-67 season, it could not
have remained black and white. Thankfully,
the smoke, fog, bubbling cauldrons, poofs of dust, and objects moving
by themselves benefit from the eerie grayscale palette while setting
the spooky Halloween funhouse atmosphere. Although the uneven sound
is perhaps understandable, the laugh track and cutesy music effects
feel like an intrusive insecurity today. The
Munsters is
a funny show, and the
audience gets the puns a minute without the canned response – and
we prefer our own spontaneous chuckles to being told we are too dumb
to know good comedy when we see it. The pet jokes are much more fun
on The Munsters thanks
to some surprisingly not bad special effects.
Not only are those opening stairs cool, but Spot's flames and
pyrotechnic gags, Kitty's lion roar, wolf or animal filming, and
bemusing bat work accent the horror humor. As to that grouchy cuckoo
clock raven voiced by Mel Blanc...want!
All
the mid-century so-called fantasy sitcoms have their gimmicks, and
The Munsters is
at once of its time with simplistic plots, stock character tropes,
and lighthearted happy family motifs in costumed dressings. Too many
episodes in a row can be tiring or annoying
when every half hour seems the same. Fortunately, the very affordable
Complete Series DVDs
add to the fun with actor spotlights, behind the scenes features,
unaired pilots and color versions – treats not available on current
retro channel airings or streaming options. The
Munsters uses every trick
at its disposal to crank out its weekly humorous horror wheelhouse,
and ironically, any derivative hang ups also make this debut easy to
marathon for a weekend. Viewers can pay attention or casually tune in
for the best gags or leave Herman, Lily, and the gang
on
to occupy the kids. Let
the delightful family frights of The
Munsters Season One play
for a harmless party or Halloween mood any time of year.
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