Frankenstein

Lugosi really needed a better agent. As horror fans (or Ed Wood fans) know he turned down the role of the monster because it wasn't a speaking part. Karloff went on to ride that role to fame. But it should be noted, Karloff wasn't exactly a creative genius himself. He didn't like the fact that the monster talked in Bride of Frankenstein. As we all know, Bride is the best of the series. Possibly the best of all the Universal Monsters films (I sure think so, but there's a strong Wolf Man fanbase out there that thinks otherwise). Karloff only agreed to do the third film, Son of Frankenstein, if the monster became mute again. This ended up diminishing the monster's presence. Ironically, Karloff spent the entire film in the shadow of Bela Lugosi's superior Igor performance. But at least he had that cool furry vest.
Lugosi and Lon Chaney Jr both played the monster role with disasterous results. Poor Bela got his wish to play the talking monster in Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man, but his delivery was so bad and his accent so thick they ended up removing all his dialogue in post. There are still a few scenes where you see his mouth moving. Chaney's monster in Ghost of Frankenstein is a bit better, but he just doesn't have the face for it. The only other person who managed to pull it off was television stuntman Glenn Strange. Just like Lugosi said, Strange's monster required no acting, just walking and growling. And yet he made it work.
A toast to the House of Frankenstein!

This is a good question. Where's Scott Standridge when you need him?
Maybe Lugosi was hopped up on goofballs at the time.

Yes. Yes it is.
That's not to say Frankenstein sucks. But Bride has more going for it- a musical soundtrack, better production values, better story, Dr. Pretorious, gay subtext, Elsa Lanchester.
Just zoom past the scene with the little people. That's the film's Achille's heel.

Nope.