The week or so before Halloween, many of the cable networks drag out scores of horror/slasher flicks. Most are forgettable and deserve obscurity, but occasionally they'll put on some film which the audience might actually enjoy.

Sadly, early on a Thursday, when most folks are at work or watching the soaps (I guess) the networks figure they can cram in just about anything to fill the airtime. Since the Hallmark Channel appears to have dropped the reruns of Perry Mason (replacing them with The Waltons (a show I never watched when it initially ran) there wasn't much to do except surf the channels and try to find something remotely (pardon the expression) interesting.

AMC, in the midst of Monster Fest, had FRANKENSTEIN'S DAUGHTER (1959), which is not to be confused with the more well-known (at least in the strange circles I run with) JESSE JAMES VS FRANKENSTEIN'S DAUGHTER (1966). FD is one of those grade-Z films cranked out to fill the second bill of drive-in theatres and low-budget movie houses. Actually, the title is misleading, since the villain is actually Victor Frankenstein's grandson, now going by the name Prof. Frank and continuing the experiments of his father and grandfather. In JJvsFD, on the other hand, the evil work is done by Maria, the granddaughter of the good Baron. Neither film is memorable, except that JJvsFD was released as part of the "great" double-bill with BILLY THE KID MEETS DRACULA, both of which were directed by William Beaudine, who went on to direct a number of Disney TV shows, as well as episodes of THE GREEN HORNET. At least BTKMD, had John Carradine doing an over the top performance as the Count, a role he had first taken up back in 1944 in HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN.

More bad horror stuff in a few.