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As a kid I loved the TV series "The Munsters", but don't ask me to choose between either "The Munsters" or "The Adam's Family". Both were staples of my childhood - watching reruns on the TV with my parents and sister. Now the films were a different story, as my memory of them were hazy at best. So it was like going in fresh.

Herman and his kooky family made their big-screen debut in a spin-off from the television series, "Munster, Go Home!". This sees the loveable family heading to England (studio back lot stand-ins) for an inheritance. However they face stiff opposition from their English cousins who will do anything to stop them from gaining the title of Lord Munster. As expected there are whacky hi-jinks, smarting one-liners and running gags around the stranger-than-life characters. From Herman's clueless actions to Lily trying to keep the family out of mischief and grandpa always finding himself in trouble with his clumsy experiments. In what feels like an extended episode with a change of scenery (well, sort of) and a budget matching its TV origins, but with that in mind it stays true to what made the TV series enjoyable by steering close to the familiarity of its madcap writing making the Munsters feel right at home. There are neat little in-jokes involving superstitious townsfolk, old dark house vibes and the DRAG-U-LA! Having the original cast (with the exception of the "ugly duckling" Marilyn Nunster played by Debbie Watson) made sure the authentic twitches, costume quirks and chemistry carried over with wonderful performances by Fred Gwynne, Yvonne De Carlo, Al Lewis and Butch Patrick. Working across from them with perfect comic interplay are British character actors Terry-Thomas and Hermione Gingold.

I'm sure someone will correct this if it's wrong, but I think the title of this motion picture is a parody of the film title "Lassie Come Home," a picture also set in England, which introduced another, eventual, TV star to the world, that most intelligent of all collies, and one that was currently on television at that time.

Fred Gwynne, Yvonne de Carlo, Al Lewis and Butch Patrick are all on hand to reprise their roles from the black and white series, but here in full Paramount color. Plus we have Debbie Watson, perhaps best known for taking the movie series role of "Tammy" and bringing it to the small screen, here takes the role of niece Marilyn, played by Beverly Owen and Pat Priest on the show, to the big screen.

The plot is a stretch, even for this 1960s comedy - Herman inherits a piece of property in Great Britain and tows the family from Mockingbird Lane across the pond to claim it. Of course, the stiff upper lips that occupy said property are unamused and attempt to scare off the newcomers. But how does one scare a family of monsters?

To me, the most interesting thing about this film is seeing some long time actors and TV stars almost randomly turning up in this plot. Bernard Fox, Samantha's Warlock physician Dr. Bombay from "Bewitched" is here. Richard Dawson, who at the time was a star of "Hogan's Heroes" and eventually "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In," long before his "Match Game" and "Family Feud" days is in the mix. And Robert Pine, who is best remembered as commanding officer to Ponch and Jon from "CHiPs" is a love interest for Marilyn!

The film really feels like two films are going on: our sitcom characters doing what they usually do (and there is a cross country auto race, with Herman driving the famed "Drag-u-la" vehicle - while the Munster Koach also makes a cameo), and then we have the locals just plotting how to rid themselves of these unwanted outsiders. Hermione Gingold, Terry-Thomas and a completely unrecognizable John Carradine as a manservant populate that group.

Tons of sight gags, typical sitcom dialog and all the slapstick you could want from what is basically an extended and full color episode of the series.

If you are a fan of the series this film is based on and most especially if you enjoyed that program more than the similarly themed series "The Addams Family," you should get a kick out of this film.

I have to admit this one kind of had me reaching. Munster Go Home has our friendly Gothic cast from the television series going to the United Kingdom to claim the title of Lord Munster. Needless to say the guy who hoped he would inherit the title Terry-Thomas is not pleased. Neither of course is Lady Munster wannabe Hermione Gingold and their faithful retainer butler John Carradine. In fact Carradine's working an agenda all his own.

I'm still puzzling over how someone who was put together with old body parts can possibly claim any lineage for a title. But I think I'm being picky there.

Anyway Fred Gwynne, Yvonne DeCarlo, Al Lewis, and Butch Patrick from the television series all return for the feature film and Debbie Watson becomes the third actress to play Marilyn who thinks she's an ugly duckling because of the beautiful family she's from. The cruise to the other side of the pond should have made her rethink those notions as she sees everyone else on the ship and gets romanced by Robert Pine.

Nothing great here, but if you're a fan of the show you should like it.

After appearing in 57 of 70 television episodes as Marilyn Munster one would think Pat Priest would have been included in The Munster's FIRST feature length film. There was some lame excuse that she was too old, even though the film was released a year after the series' last episode. Debbie Watson gave a good performance in MGH, but I had a difficult time excepting her as part of the Munster clan.

This, however, did not detract from the film that Munster Charm that came to us for two wonderful seasons on The Munsters. I still loved the film in all its brilliant color. I've just purchased the First Season episodes on DVD and am very saddened and surprised to learn Munster Go Home, the DVD version, is currently out out of print. Munster Go Home is as enjoyable as the series and should be offered to all Munster fans of all ages to enjoy.

The Munsters read a will from their late English relative. Herman is named the new Lord of Munster Hall and inherits a vast estate. The family is off to England but their distant relatives have dire plans for them.

I've never seen the TV show but it's not that complicated. They're a lovely bunch. It's a little silly. It's light. It's nothing outrageously funny but it's cute enough. It's cute enough.

Only the laugh track is missing from this movie version of the classic TV series. The absence of the canned laughter makes some of the sight gags seem like they go on a little too long, but other than that, I give the writer and director credit for doing the series justice. It's too bad that writers and directors of more recent times can't learn a few things from their predecessors about making movies out of TV shows.

This movie was filmed around the time the series was still in production, using writers and a director from the original. No doubt, that is a major advantage when trying to capture the original flavor. Some might argue that the movie should have been done in black and white, but the color is not overdone and actually adds a nice touch. With the exception of Marilyn, the original cast is there. Marilyn's role changed hands in the series anyway. Debbie Watson does fine, so it's not a significant distraction.

This is good light fare for the family looking for some classic innocent fun. Fans of the series should like it as well. It is nothing more than it tries to be - a movie version of the series with a few extras (color, location, and length.) The movie delivers on that, and I give it high marks.

Fans of this movie should also try "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken." It has nothing to do with the Munsters (other than the house facade happens to be located next door to the Munster house on the Universal Studios back-lot), but it is more classic comedy with a spooky twist. It stars Don Knotts during his heyday.

This film appeared at the height of the Swinging London movement of the mid-Sixties, when even Batman made a televised visit to Britain. A cross section of British funnymen came aboard to welcome America's improbably sweet family of ghouls to the old country. (And never mind that the name "Munster" is Irish and not English).

Fred Gwynne never looked back after making this final appearance as Frankenstein's monster, so bitter was he at the lingering pain performing the role caused him. It's a shame, because he was never better than in this lightweight role of goofy old Herman.

As he was in "Car 54", Al Lewis is Gwynne's sidekick, gleefully gnawing on the scenery as an over-the-top sendup of Dracula. Frankenstein vs. Dracula sounds like one of those high-concept films only the hard core will watch, but these two made it work.

I saw this film in the theater during its first run and continue to enjoy it on its occasional TV appearances. Often these are during the run-up to Halloween, when "Munster Go Home" acts as an antidote to the depressing run of horror films.

I remember seeing the movie when it came out on the silver screen over the Summer of 1966. We finally got to see the Munsters in living color. It was every fan's hope that the success of this movie would save the TV series from cancellation. Sad to say, the series was axed before the movie was released. And in spite of the crowds that paid to see the Munsters on the silver screen, the series remained in its canceled state. The Network execs had made up their minds and that decision was final! Debbie Watson was a cute and perky teenager. But casting her in a role that belonged to Pat Priest, was a big mistake that angered Fred Gwynne and Al Lewis. This choice also left many in the audience either puzzled or downright angry. I would imagine that this role also played a part in Debbie Watson's movie career, going the way it did (she retired from acting in 1972).

With all things considered, Debbie Watson played her role well.

The movie lived up to its claims. It was hilarious. It was everything that the TV series was, except that it was in living color (and there was no canned laughter). If you loved THE MUNSTERS, you'll love this movie!

In 1964 when "The Munsters" debuted, it was briefly a very popular series and Munstermania hit America. The show was so popular that there were a lot of products based on the program and it ranked a very respectable #18 in the ratings. But it only lasted a couple seasons and interest diminished very quickly. Because of this, it's not surprising that this Munsters movie did poorly in theaters....a case of a film just coming out too late. It also didn't help that the studio inexplicably replaced Marilyn yet again...angering some fans.

When the film begins, Herman learns that he's just inherited a British title and he is taking his family with him to see his new estate. However, they don't know that their British relatives are god-awful people...criminals as well as folks who are planning on either chasing the Munsters back to America or kill them! They also learn that the locals HATE the British branch of the Munster family...making them anything but welcome.

So is it any good? Well, if you like the TV show, you'll likely enjoy this film....though as I mentioned above, replacing Marilyn is sure to upset some. I prefer Pat Priest and would have preferred seeing her in the film instead of the faux Marilyn. Overall, enjoyable and a must-see for Munsters fans....but others might find it all a bit too slight.

By the way, much of the film supposedly takes place aboard the ocean liner the SS United States. Well, the boat is still afloat but was recommissioned decades ago. It currently sits rotting and looking well the worse for there in a dock in Philadelphia.

You pretty much get what one would expect from this first theatrical film using the Munster characters going to England to claim an ancestral home. All the actors return except for Pat Priest - here replaced by Debbie Watson. Herman Munster and Grandpa ham it up in all sorts of quite ridiculous scenes in a quite ridiculous story. Yet, throughout it all, the film does capture the essence and heart of the original show as well as the humour. Fred Gwynne shows us that he was the heart of the Munsters with his amusing turn as the awkward Herman Munster with strange family in tow - living like a somewhat normal monster in a world he saw as the weird thing filled with people he felt were weird. Al Lewis is equally amusing and the whole cast does a good job aiding the antics. British character actors Terry-Thomas - always a treat to see - and the indefatigable Hermionne Ginglod as his mother trying to off Herman Munster and keep their title and lands both give pleasant comic turns. John Carradine is aboard as a very slow-moving butler. Bernard Fox plays the head of a rival family whose one goal is to win a car race every year. Naturally, Herman must defend the House of Munster. Like the television show, many of the laughs are a bit forced, but there are some genuinely funny scenes - most of them between Gwynne and Lewis. Lewis turns into a wolf a couple times, and the race itself is the centerpiece of the film. The ending is perhaps the most forced, but overall I enjoyed the film - not because it was particularly good but rather because it allows one another chance to see Gwynne with the role he would forever be linked with in life. The film w as directed by Earl Bellamy who had directed at least one of the episodes from the series.

Of course it would have been impossible for the Munsters to take a trip to England in a 25-minute TV episode. So it's fun to see it finally happen. I'm not the world's biggest Munster fan, but I've been watching the series ever since I was a little kid and I do love it (a wee bit). This, in particular, is a fun adventure, in which Herman inherits an English title and goes to the Sceptred Isle to claim it, even in spite of the wishes of his greedy cousins, who want the title for themselves. Naturally, this movie has the same kind of rim shot-based gags that highlight the show ("I thought he was made in Germany"), but it also has a great deal of fun and some gags are really quite funny, not to mention the drastic culture shock that takes place when the Munsters-- who aren't even normal Americans-- take Great Britain by storm. So if you like "The Munsters," you should go ahead and give "Munster, Go Home!" a try. You won't be disappointed.

This was a favorite of mine as a kid, if you're a fan then you've seen it, if you are a first-timer, hop in the Dragula and let's ride!

Herman Munster and his ghoulish family (plus Marilyn) travel to England where the Munster family patriarch has inherited both manor and title as 'Lord Munster'. Needless to say, some of the locals have other plans and nefarious schemes are soon underway. Few people watching this film would be unfamiliar with its progenitor TV show and thus will know exactly what to expect: a lot of corny sight-gags (many of which you can see coming before the show even begins) and the standard Munster shtick (their 'opposite-world' view of life, their pity for poor Marilyn's hideous looks, their straight-faced and steadfast failure to realise that there is anything unusual about themselves). The TV show was a brief hit in the sixties (when 'camp' was ascendant), primarily (IMO) due to Fred Gwynne's and Al Lewis's talents as physical comedians. Gwynne's towering, child-like, flat-topped Herman, with his endearing laugh and expressive face (impressively so, considering the heavy make-up) was one of T. V.'s great comic characters. The other macabre family members, 1940s exotic-starlet Yvonne de Carlo as Lily and fang-toothed Butch Patrick as Eddie, are fine. Debbie Watson (a controversial replacement for Pat Priest) plays Marilyn, who serves little purpose beyond highlighting the rest of the family's strangeness (although her failure to recognise that she is the 'normal one' was part of the fun). The film features some UK character actors, including the ubiquitous Terry Thomas, Bernard Fox, Richard Dawson and Hermione Gingold, and John Carradine seems to have fun as the doddering bewhiskered butler Cruikshank. Like many teen-oriented comedies in the 1960s, there is a 'car' angle as Herman defends the family's honour in a road race against local toffs in their Ferraris, Mercedes and Jaguars, which of course are no match for Grandpa's souped-up, super-charged, coffin-bodied 'Dragula'. There is also lots of groovy 60s generic guitar-rock, including riffs on the memorable 'Munsters theme'. If you liked the TV show, you'll know exactly what to expect and probably like the movie. Plus, it's a chance to see the original denizens of 1313 Mockingbird Lane in full, un-living colour.

I've always enjoyed The Munsters and respect it's earned spot in the pantheon of 1960s sitcoms. From seeing it on the old Commander Tom Show on Buffalo's Channel 7 back in the '70s to the Nick at Nite reruns. This Blu-ray was a purchase from Shout Factory when they had a big sale on and I recently watched it. The print looks amazing and flawless.

I have to say I'm not really feeling Debbie Watson as Marilyn. She comes off more like a Shelley Fabares wannabe here. I still think Beverly Owen was the best casting choice for the role although Pat Priest did fine. If you look beyond the peroxide wig and study her features, Beverly Owen was a classic beauty who gave off Jaclyn Smith vibes.

It's great to see The Munsters in color, but to be honest, I think the BW photography on the TV series was more evocative of the old monster movies it was trying to spoof. That being said, it's too bad that BATMAN stole away a large chunk of their audience in 1966. I would have loved a full-season of color episodes to enjoy.

Classic TV fans: watch the movie at least once for nostalgia's sake and to pick out the character actors.

Theatrical farewell to Herman, Lily, Grandpa and the gang features many of the same talents behind the popular 1960s television show "The Munsters", but this misadventure seems a little bereft of imagination--perhaps a laugh-track might have helped? The ghoulish clan inherits a British estate, and Herman gets involved in a slapstick auto race. Debbie Watson is the one newcomer to the cast (taking over for Pat Priest as niece Marilyn), but not even a jovial Fred Gwynne or the glinty-eyed Al Lewis can raise this script from the crypt. Maybe filming the family in color was a technical error--it takes the edge off the Universal/monster movie satire which the TV show nailed without effort. This one strains for laughs, and ends on a whimper. *1/2 from ****

I love this movie even though the original cast wasn't complete.It had its most funniest moments.As always Fred Gwynne,Yvonne DeCarlo,and Al Lewis shines as Herman,Lily,& Grandpa.I wonder why they didn't get Pat Priest back in the role as Marilyn instead of casting Debbie Watson.Still this movie is/was great.The movie has been released on DVD thru Universal and its a double feature disk.Munster Go Home & The Munsters Revenge together on the same DVD! WAY TO GO UNIVERSAL! If you are a die hard fan of the TV series THE MUNSTSERS then get this DVD.I bought it at Wal-mart for around $15.00.The quality of both movies is excellent and great Techicolor on the Munster Go Home movie.Its great to see our favorite characters in color instead of the old black and white format!

Munster, Go Home!

The parental advantage to being a Frankenstein-esque father is your torso can be at work and your head can be at your kid's soccer game.

However, in this comedy, the patchwork patriarch's entire body is overseas.

Willed an English manor by his relative, Herman (Fred Gwynne) moves his vampiric wife (Yvonne De Carlo), his feral son (Butch Patrick), his blood-sucking father-in-law (Al Lewis) and his normal-looking niece (Debbie Watson) to Munster Hall.

Herman's cousins (Jeanne Arnold, Terry-Thomas) however are infuriated that he inherited their estate.

To rid the home of their relations, the pair plan to sabotage a drag race Herman is entered in.

As campy as the TV show it's based on, this creature feature-film boasts most of the principal cast members as well as Grampa Munster's legendary Drag-u-la dragster.

Besides, Brits having a problem with weird-looking people with pointy teeth is like the kettle calling the pot black.

Yellow Light

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Blooming franchises are always an exciting thing to see come to fruition. For the 1960s, there were two spooky family sitcoms that had viewer's attention. One was The Addams Family and the other being The Munsters. Both were very successful despite the fact that each ran for only two seasons. Sometimes when a TV show does good enough, more interest is generated into expanding the property onto the big screen. Unlike The Addams Family which technically didn't get one until 1991, but with a small TV movie in 1977, The Munsters got their first movie with this feature two years after the show ended. Quite interesting that this is how it played out considering both shows were evenly popular among American audiences. There's definitely pitfalls this feature could have avoided but much of it is a good time for anyone who enjoys the show.

Joe Connelly, Bob Mosher and George Tibbles are the writers to this film who also had hands in several episodes to the show. The narrative is about Herman Munster (Fred Gwynne) receiving a notice that he is to inherit a place called Munster Hall located in England, which he and the family head out to visit. However, what they don't know is that something shady is going on at Munster Hall along with relatives Freddie (Terry-Thomas), Grace (Jeanne Arnold), Lady Effigie (Hermione Gingold) and their butler Cruikshank (John Carradine). With that, it's up to Herman, Grandpa (Al Lewis) and Lily (Yvonne De Carlo) to figure out what's going on. Meanwhile, Eddie (Butch Patrick) gets to see Marilyn (Debbie Watson) try to bring home another guy who won't run out on her after meeting her family - this time being Roger Moresby (Robert Pine).

There's actually some similarities between this movie and Halloween with the New Addams Family (1977). For one, writer George Tibbles would help write that script too. The second thing is the movie to its credit and fault is that it feels very much like an extended episode or TV movie...not so much a theatrical film. So much of it was kept the same that the translation from a TV series to the big screen doesn't quite fit. The points that make this plainly obvious is the pacing and comedic timing. Directed by Earl Bellamy whose credits almost completely encompass directing TV series, kept that feeling. For those feeling like this will be a feature that cranks up the franchise to a new height will be disappointed. The film doesn't really build much momentum. And part of that also is compounded by the comedy elements.

Now this is not to say it doesn't work but there's one key element missing from this - the audience laugh track. Now of course, as a feature film - comedies don't include this. However, this was something that helped make the series work and without it, the jokes sound off without it. Again that's not to say the punch lines don't work but it's not as impactful. This also doesn't take away the acting of any sort from the slew of veterans attached to this project. Gwynne, De Carlo, Lewis, Patrick, and Watson all play their characters fine. It's interesting to see even Chris Pine's father play a role in a Munster film. The English cast members also perform well too from Thomas, Gingold, Carradine and even Bernard Fox playing Roger's father.

One other similarity that this movie shares with the Addams Family film of 1977 was that it was finally shown in color. Filming these scenes in bright new color was Benjamin H. Kline, the same cinematographer for the TV series. Sufficive to say, Kline was perfect as he kept the look of the show intact for this feature. Credit goes to the production crew for all the interior shots of Munster Hall and all the sets created, as so much of it is impressive to look at. Lastly the film score was composed by the same man from the series, that being Jack Marshall. Again, it only makes sense that since Marshall scored the show that he would for this movie. Surprisingly, an album to this was released with an hour of material. While the main theme isn't heard like usual, it is referenced and all other tracks have their own unique sound and flare that only Marshall could create.

A lot of the time, it is essential to keep original elements unchanged for a big screen adaptation. Unfortunately, the pacing to the original Munsters show is a little heavy footed for a ninety-minute feature. This also doesn't work as well with the comedy as the laugh track is absent. However, the acting is still good, practical effects look great and the music is wonderful being that is also can be heard on its own.

Munster Go Home! Isn't a particularly great adaptation for the big screen (for starters, The Munsters looks wrong in colour and the film doesn't feel right without the canned laughter), but it's still a whole lot better than the travesty that is Rob Zombie's 2022 film. Fred Gwynne, Yvonne DeCarlo, Al Lewis, and Butch Patrick play the monstrous members of the Munsters, with Debbie Watson as Marilyn, who is lucky to have not inherited her family's 'good looks'. When Herman Munster is bequeathed the title of Lord in a will, as well as a valuable estate in England, his jealous relatives try to make sure he's not around long enough to enjoy his fortune.

The film is mostly mildly amusing rather than hilarious, but it is too good-natured and daft to dislike. Gwynne and his TV co-stars do what they do best, and they are joined by a great supporting cast, with Terry Thomas doing his trademark cad routine, and horror legend John Carradine as a whiskery butler. The absurdity includes the Munsters taking a cruise to the UK, the greedy relatives attempting to scare Herman and Lily (a futile task), and Herman and Grandpa discovering a counterfeit operation (a somewhat redundant subplot), but the best is definitely saved for last, when Herman enters a road race, driving his souped-up drag car, The Dragula. The final act is full of wild and crazy antics that end the film on a high.

5/10.