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Just scanning through Ghost of Frankenstein on DVD (yes, not much of a life I'm afraid!), I thought I would add my thoughts on the key monster sequences:-


YGOR DIGS MONSTER OUT OF SULPHUR

It is essentially two shots from when Ygor approaches the dangling hand and starts pulling sulphur and rocks away to reveal the monster. First, the two-shot of Lugosi and the Monster, second a close-up of the monster opening eyes and moving as he is pulled away. There seems perfect continuity between these shots and the camera positions are sufficiently different that the whole scene could have been captured in real time with two cameras.

Chaney's face is quite visible through these shots and there is nothing to indicate a double.


MONSTER GETS RE-ENERGISED BY LIGHTNING

Several shots, quit well lit with consistent make-up and appearance. Looks like Chaney in each shot.


ENTRY INTO VASARIA, MEETS GALLOW, CLIMBS ROOF TO GET BALLOON

In all of the relevant sequences it appears to be Chaney. Close-ups on the roof are a studio set with the long shots being a stuntman and Gallow doll. The long shot of the villager being knocked off the roof seen in the trailer also appears to be the stuntman.


STRUGGLE WITH VILLAGERS, COURT SEQUENCE

All Chaney to my eyes,except the opening long shot of the court room. The monster as seen at the rear of the shot looks skinnier than Chaney appears in the following close-ups. This may be just my eyes but the difference is notable.


CREATION FLASHBACK

Assorted shots from Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein including Karloff on the table (so we can sort of say Karloff played the monster in this film as well.)

One new close-up of bandages being removed from the monster's face seemingly revealing Chaney. I personally do not feel that is a dummy - though the make-up looks a little waxier in that scene.


MONSTER ENTERS HOUSE AND KILLS KETTERING

The shot inside the house with the door bursting inwards and the monster stomping down the steps does NOT appear to be Chaney to me. The figure seems taller and again less bulky than Chaney. Given the scene involves forcing the door and the potential for injury, it is possible that a double was used here.

This is followed by a few shots of Chaney stomping about and Lugosi urging him to "Come away." There are a couple of views of the back of the monster seen from a distance carrying the corpse of Kettering and later the unconscious Elsa (Evelyn Ankers.) Given the way those bits are filmed with no view of the monster's face, the opportunity for doubling is clearly there, especially given the possibility of injury from bodily carrying actors around in the heavy costume and make-up.


MONSTER PASSING OUT FROM GAS

This is also seen from the rear with the monster falling face-forward and we do not get a clear view of his visage. Again the potential for a double for an awkward fall onto a hard floor.


MONSTER ON OPERATING TABLE, TRIES TO ESCAPE

Evidently Chaney in all shots, including the up-the-nose oddity that Ted Newsom mentioned. Same waxy look to make-up as in flashback sequence, so probably shot on the same day.


"BUILD UP THE VOLTAGE POTENTIAL TO ITS MAXIMUM!"

After Ygor proposes having his brain popped in and this is rejected by Frankenstein Jnr, the monster is re-charged. There is one long shot in which the creature is seen on the table and this does look a bit like a dummy but may just be a lighting issue.


MONSTER IN THE VAULT WITH YGOR

All Chaney.



MONSTER VISITS GALLOW

Pure Chaney-ness to my eyes.



MONSTER 'DOORS' YGOR, CONFRONTATION WITH FRANKENSTEIN AND DAUGHTER

Once again, looks to be all Chaney.



BEGINNING OF SURGERY

Hardwicke pulls back the sheet to reveal at a distance the monster's face. There is no up and down movement of the chest of the monster and the figure does not appear to be Chaney. I think in that shot alone it may be a dummy of some kind.


BANDAGED UP MONSTER IN BED

No idea, but it does not look like Chaney. A different make-up of course to show post operative swelling and the bandages do not help, so it could be anyone.


"I AM NOT DOCTOR KETTERING"

All Chaney, but vocals dubbed by Lugosi. So in a roundabout way we can say that Lugosi also plays the monster in this film.

Seems to be Chaney in all the shots leading up to the fire sequence.


FIRE SEQUENCE

Consists of the following shots that include the monster:-


(i) Monster staggers blindly about, knocks over racks of chemicals that explodes in flames.

(ii) Close-up on monster as he puts hands into flames, retreats mouth agape.

(iii) Overhead shot of monster staggering about, flames, etc, more explosions.

(iv) Lower level shot showing similar staggering around to (iii)

(v) Closer view of monster's face moving side to side in flames with some burn make-up.

(vi) After cut to flames, similar shot to (v) but with more severe burn make-up.

(vii) After cuts to external model of house, fleeing villagers, another close up with yet more severe burns.

(viii) Very elaborate shot as camera pulls back showing breaking window, flames, collapsing beams and monster being buried beneath debris.


In my opinion, shots (i), (iii), (iv) and (viii) are all stunt doubles, both due to faces being obscured and the obviously dangerous sequences involving fire.

The remainder - (ii), (v), (vi) and (vii) all appear to be Chaney in various make-up stages and the close ups are clear enough to verify this.


That leaves a bit of a mystery - the famous photo of Chaney (and it is clearly he) with burn make-up standing in front of the burning house. Is it possible that in the original cut, the monster makes it out of the house before collapsing from the damage wrought by the flame? Certainly, the make-up in that photo is consistent with that in shot (vii) though the monster is in the house at that point.


In summary, I think the following people played the monster in this film:-

(1) Lon Chaney Jnr.

(2) Boris Karloff - shots from Frankenstein only as incorporated.

(3) Bela Lugosi - voice dubbing only.

(4) A dummy during the surgical sequence and recharging scene.

(5) At least one stunt performer, though maybe more. There is no way to know if it was Parker or others in the fire sequences versus the roof top stuff.


Scenes in which a double seems to be used:-

(1) Roof top sequences - long shots.

(2) Court sequence, first long shot - but only a maybe.

(3) Monster knocking door down.

(4) Monster carrying Kettering and Elsa around.

(5) Monster passing out from the gas.

(6) Bandaged up monster in bed - but really could be anyone.

(7) Four shots of the climatic fire sequence.