| Mad Mad Mad Monsters | |
|---|---|
 Official logo | |
| Written by | William J. Keenan Lou Silverstone |
| Directed by | Arthur Rankin Jr. Jules Bass |
| Starring | Allen Swift Bob McFadden Bradley Bolke Rhoda Mann |
| Theme music composer | Maury Laws |
| Country of origin | United States Japan |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Producers | Arthur Rankin Jr. Jules Bass |
| Cinematography | Steve Nakagawa |
| Editor | Irwin Goldress |
| Running time | 43 minutes |
| Production companies | Rankin/Bass Productions Animation: Mushi Production |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC |
| Release | September 23, 1972 (1972-09-23) |
Mad Mad Mad Monsters is a 1972traditional animatedHalloween-themedcomedytelevision special produced byRankin/Bass Productions[1] in the United States and animated overseas byMushi Production in Japan. The special aired on September 23, 1972 as an episode ofThe ABC Saturday Superstar Movie.[2] It is "related" to the 1967stop motion animated filmMad Monster Party?[3]
AfterBaron Henry von Frankenstein creates aBride for hisMonster, he decides to make arrangements for a lavish wedding at the Transylvania Astoria Hotel. Henry's assistantIgor is jealous of the Monster and wants the Bride for his own, much to the annoyance of Henry.
Arriving at the hotel, Henry gets the wedding booked on Friday the 13th while having thehotel manager Harold write down the required foods. He does turn down the flaming shish-kebabs idea since some of the guests are allergic to fire. Another thing Henry asks is for him to watch his petvulture Rosebud and make sure he stays in his cage during the event since he does not want him bothering his guests.
Many monsters are invited to the wedding includingCount Dracula, hisson Boobula and Boobula's petblack cat, Ron Chanley theWerewolf, theMummy, theCreature, Claude theInvisible Man, his invisible wife Nagatha, his invisible son Ghoul, and Ghoul's invisible dog Goblin when Harold'smailman brother Harvey delivers the invites.
Following his visit to a therapist, Harvey is asked by Harold to watch over the hotel while he takes a vacation. Once the wedding guests arrive, they terrify the guests and staff as the bellhop Norman gets the autographs of the monsters (since he believes them to be movie stars). Norman even talks to Count Dracula and Claude about a rumor that theWicked Witch of the East will emerge from the cake at midnight during the bachelor party. Henry arrives to see that the Transylvania Astoria is as he likes it. He also reminds Harvey to keep an eye on Rosebud and make sure he stays in his cage.
When the bachelor party occurs, Count Dracula and Claude talk about the Monster's various moments in the past while Nagatha advises them not to embarrass the Monster. When the Bride is shown, the monsters are fascinated and start fighting each other (all except Claude and Nagatha who continue eating their dinner) and the two pets chase each other. As midnight happens, the Wicked Witch of the East does indeed emerge from the cake.
Igor begins to steal the Bride the next day when instructed to hide her until the wedding which does not go at all according to plan when the Bride ends up snatched up by apterosaur and lands in the clutches of a giantgorilla named Modzoola.
Running back to the Transylvania Astoria, Igor uses charades to inform Henry what happened. While Harvey stays behind, Henry leads the monsters and Norman to rescue the Bride. When they catch up to Modzoola, they work to rescue the Bride. Just then, Modzoola's wife Mrs. Zoola shows up and Modzoola releases the Bride as Mrs. Zoola drags him off to deal with him.
When the wedding approaches, the Monster is nervous until Henry and Norman help him get over it and have his suit specially made. Due to the priest not showing up, Harvey is enlisted to wed them. When the monsters kiss as the Bride's face is shown, they release massive electrical energy that destroys the Transylvania Astoria.
Sometime later, Harvey visits the therapist again who tells him that monsters are not real. The therapist turns out to beDr. Jekyll. When he drinks his elixir, Dr. Jekyll becomes Mr. Hyde and chases Harvey.
As the credits roll, the Creature, Count Dracula, Ron Chanley's werewolf form, the Mummy, Boobula, Claude and Ghoul, the Monster, his Bride, and their newborn child all join Mr. Hyde in chasing Harvey. Norman runs after them in order to get Mr. Hyde's autograph which will complete his collection of the monsters' autographs.
It was called "visually stunning" but, because of the poor storyline, a "disappointing outing".[5]
