The Curse Of Frankenstein
Baron Frankenstein lets his zeal get the better of him when he kills a scientist in order to obtain a brain for the macabre experimental creature he is stitching together. But when the creature comes to life it embarks on a rampage of terror for which Frankenstein is blamed and condemned to the guillotine. Read more
| Starring | Peter Cushing, Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Robert Urquhart |
|---|---|
| Director | Terence Fisher |
| Genres | Horror |
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The Curse Of Frankenstein
Baron Frankenstein lets his zeal get the better of him when he kills a scientist in order to obtain a brain for the macabre experimental creature he is stitching together. But when the creature comes to life it embarks on a rampage of terror for which Frankenstein is blamed and condemned to the guillotine.
| Starring | Peter Cushing, Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Robert Urquhart, Hazel Court, Michael Gough, Melissa Stribling, Yvonne Furneaux, Felix Aylmer |
|---|---|
| Director | Terence Fisher |
| Studio | WARNER HOME VIDEO |
| Certificate | |
| Collections | 100 Horror Films |
| Genres | Horror |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: not available |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (3)
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Hammer's stab at the werewolf legend may look tame compared to later computerised transformations, but this was shocking stuff in its day, and much horrid imagery (such as a shot of a dead goat!) was censored. Today the scenes with villagers muttering in the inn look like parody, and everything is so brightly lit there's not much atmosphere. There's also a long prologue that has little to do with the story of poor, cursed Leon (Oliver Reed), who goes on a killing spree every full moon. When Reed does appear, however, he gives a riveting performance.
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It set the trend in nasty horrors from which we have all suffered since, and launched Hammer Studios on a long and profitable career of charnelry. But it did have a gruesome sense of style.
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Most helpful member's review
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3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Excellent Hammer Entertainment!
Like most of the classic tales, Frankenstein has had a twist put on it by the fantastic Hammer studios. It has actually been done by Hammer many times, but this film is the one that sticks closest to the original source material. That's not to say that it sticks to it entirely, not by a long shot; as Terence Fisher has still found than enough room for changes to the classic tale, thus making this film a fresh take on the classic tale. Peter Cushing stars as Baron Frankenstein; a role which may well be his finest of all time. Cushing's Frankenstein is more malevolent than the character usually is, giving this film a different twist on the tale from the start. In the Universal classic, Frankenstein was a mad scientist that realised his mistake, and thus the audience was able to forgive him after he repented his sins. Here, we have no such luck; the Frankenstein in this film is a completely morally bankrupt character that seeks no redemption for his sins.
We follow Frankenstein from being a boy and taking control of the Frankenstein estate. It is then that he meets his tutor and later collaborator on his experiments, Paul Krempe. We then follow the two as they conduct experiments in an attempt to bring the living back to life, a la the classic story. This film, like most Hammer offerings, benefits from a lovely camp style. It's also a bonus to see Frankenstein in colour as most, if not all, of the Frankenstein films before this one were in black and white. Naturally, the inclusion of Peter Cushing in the lead role does this film no end of favours and despite his character being so awful, we are still able like him just because it's Peter Cushing. Cushing's co-star is Robert Urquhart, who plays his tutor. Urquhart does well with the role and it's a shame that the actor hasn't made more notable films because he's not bad at all. The cast is topped off by Cushing's long time collaborator and a man that would go on to become one of Hammer's biggest stars - the excellent Christopher Lee, who does a grand job in a campy turn as the monster itself.
The Curse of Frankenstein isn't Hammer's best production, and to be honest I preferred the excellent Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed, but this stands tall as a solid entry in their oeuvre and is recommended to horror fans. -
Most recent members' review
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Hammer House of horror
The very first of Hammer's colour retelling of the classic Universal monster movies from the 1930s. Although unable to use Jack Pierce's original make-up designs, the monster in this version is, visually at least, just as frightening. Christopher Lee doesn't quite measure up to Boris Karloff in the sympathy stakes though, but a creditable performance from Peter Cushing saves the day as the Baron.
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