The Munsters (film series)

Several movies based on The Munsters were released, three featuring original cast members.

Munster, Go Home! (1966)

Munster, Go Home! (1966). The Munsters go to England to claim Munster Hall after the death of an old relative. The film starred the original black & white series' cast, with the exception of Pat Priest who was replaced by Universal Pictures by its teenage contract player Debbie Watson. Priest commented in the A&E Biography documentary produced on The Munsters by the A&E (Arts and Entertainment) cable TV network, that she was devastated at the producers' decision not to include the then-29-year-old actress. The film gave fans a chance to see the Munsters in color during their original 1960s era run for the first and only time. The film also featured the famous "DRAG-U-LA" souped up dragster/hot rod Munsters car. As of 2020, this film has been released on DVD and Blu-ray.

The Mini-Munsters (1973)

The Mini-Munsters (1973), a one-hour animated TV-movie that was part of The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie ran on the Saturday Morning circuit. Al Lewis provided the voice of Grandpa. As of 2020, this film has yet to be released on official home media.

The Munsters' Revenge (1981)

The Munsters' Revenge (1981), a made-for-TV movie. The owner of a wax museum creates robots of Herman and Grandpa and uses them as part of a plot to rob a traveling Egyptian antiquities exhibit. Gwynne, De Carlo, and Lewis recreated their roles, but Eddie and Marilyn were played by K.C. Martel and Jo McDonnell respectively. As of 2020, this film has been released on DVD and Blu-ray.

Here Come the Munsters (1995)

Here Come the Munsters (1995), another made-for-TV movie. The family search for Herman's brother-in-law Norman Hyde, only to find out that he has unknowingly turned himself into Brent Jekyll, who is running for Congress. An all-new cast now plays the main characters (see chart below), although the film features a cameo scene of De Carlo, Lewis, Priest, and Patrick (Gwynne died in 1993) as a bickering family in a restaurant who were served by (the new) Herman Munster who was a waiter. Herman Munster is played by actor Edward Herrmann. It has been released on VHS but is out of print and hard to find. This film was released on DVD, but only for region 2. [1]

The Munsters' Scary Little Christmas (1996)

The Munsters' Scary Little Christmas (1996). Grandpa has accidentally captured Santa Claus and two of his elves, while Lily is trying to win the local neighborhood Christmas home decorating competition. Meanwhile, Marilyn has invited family and friends from the "old country" to stay for Christmas. Despite being released only a year after Here Come the Munsters, the film features an entirely different cast. This film has been released on DVD.

Wayans film

In August 2004, the brothers Keenen Ivory Wayans, Shawn Wayans, and Marlon Wayans negotiated a deal with Universal Pictures to produce a contemporary film adaptation of The Munsters.[2] In September 2006, Shawn Wayans revealed that The Munsters would be produced and written by the brothers and that it was slated for a 2007 release starring Rose McGowan as Marilyn Munster.[3] Shawn also indicated that the cast would not be all-black in the adaptation like The Honeymooners (2005), instead continuing to have a green appearance like its '60s predecessors.[4] Shawn also reported that the film would be rated PG-13 in the United States to continue moving away from the R-rated comedies that attracted minors.[5] In November 2008, Shawn Wayans announced that the movie was "almost ready to be shot" upon completion of Dance Flick which he was producing at the time.[6] The movie has yet to materialize, with the belief being that the Bryan Fuller-developed television adaptation Mockingbird Lane scuttled production.[7]

Cast
Film Year Character
Herman Munster Lily Munster Grandpa Munster Eddie Munster Marilyn Munster
Munster, Go Home! 1966 Fred Gwynne Yvonne De Carlo Al Lewis Butch Patrick Debbie Watson
The Mini-Munsters
(animated, voices only)		 1973 Richard Long Cynthia Adler Bobby Diamond  
The Munsters' Revenge 1981 Fred Gwynne Yvonne De Carlo K. C. Martel Jo McDonnell
Here Come the Munsters 1995 Edward Herrmann Veronica Hamel Robert Morse Mathew Botuchis Christine Taylor
The Munsters' Scary Little Christmas 1996 Sam McMurray Ann Magnuson Sandy Baron Bug Hall Elaine Hendrix

References
  1. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Munsters-Video-Edward-Herrmann-Veronica/dp/B007OTHC6A/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1374267216&sr=1-1&keywords=here+come+the+munsters
  2. Dana Harris (2004-08-23). "Wayans pact with U on modern 'Munsters'". Variety. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
  3. Molly Yanity (2006-09-08). "Talkin' Sports With Shawn Wayans". Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
  4. John Wenzel (2007-07-27). "Wayans' way-out laughs come of age". The Denver Post.
  5. Scott Hoffman. "Interview: EXCLUSIVE 1 on 1 with Shawn Wayans". Movie Picture Film. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
  6. Brian Jacks (2008-11-11). "Wayans Brothers 'Munsters' Adaptation Nearing Starting Gate". MTV.
  7. Alex Zalben (2011-11-17). "The Munsters Heads Back To TV With Pushing Daisies' Bryan Fuller". MTV.
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