The Horror of Frankenstein (1970)

Director:

Jimmy Sangster

Writers:

Jeremy Burnham (writer)
Jimmy Sangster (writer)

Release Date:

17 June 1971 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Plot:

The brilliant but misunderstood scientist Frankenstein builds a man made up of a collection of spare body parts...

Plot Keywords:

Beautiful Woman | Frankenstein's Monster | Doctor Frankenstein | Remake | Obscene Finger Gesture

Cast

Ralph Bates	...	Victor Frankenstein
Kate O'Mara	...	Alys
Veronica Carlson	...	Elizabeth Heiss
Dennis Price	...	The Graverobber
Jon Finch	...	Lt. Henry Becker
Bernard Archard	...	Prof. Heiss
Graham James	...	Wilhelm Kassner
James Hayter	...	Bailiff
Joan Rice	...	Graverobber's wife
Stephen Turner	...	Stephan
Neil Wilson	...	Schoolmaster
James Cossins	...	Dean
Glenys O'Brien	...	Maggie
Geoffrey Lumsden	...	Instructor
Chris Lethbridge-Baker	...	Priest (as C. Lethbridge Baker)

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:M | Sweden:15 | UK:12 (video re-rating) (2002) | UK:15 (video rating) (1993) | UK:X (original rating) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

EMI Studios, Elstree, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

EMI Films

Trivia:

This Frankenstein film stands alone and is not a part of Hammer's six film Frankenstein series, starring Peter Cushing as Dr. Frankenstein. It was, essentially a remake of The Curse of Frankenstein (1957), and it is rumored that a younger actor, Ralph Bates, was cast to appeal to a younger audience.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the monster first leaves the castle it pulls the lock right out of the door. Shortly afterward it is in place again without anybody having the time to do the repair.

Movie Connections:

References Paranoiac (1963)

First two thirds is surprisingly entertaining. After that...

I'd heard nothing but bad things about 'Horror Of Frankenstein', but after watching it I was surprised at how entertaining it was (for the most part). The first two thirds are pretty damn good in my opinion. It's basically a remake of the first Hammer Frankenstein movie but with added humour, which in places reminded me of Stuart Gordon's 80s classic 'Re-Animator'. Ralph Bates, who was in a few Hammer movies during this period (like 'Lust For A Vampire', the disappointing sequel to 'The Vampire Lovers'), plays an intense young Frankenstein who isn't that far removed from Jeffrey Combs' Herbert West. Bates gives a strong performance and the supporting cast includes lovelies Kate O'Mara (the French governess in 'The Vampire Lovers') and Veronica Carlson, which certainly helps a lot, as well as Jon Finch ('Frenzy') and a great comic turn from Dennis Price ('Theatre Of Blood', 'Vampyros Lesbos') as an eccentric grave robber. So far so good, but unfortunately when we finally see Frankenstein's monster (played by David "Darth Vader" Prowse) it's very anticlimactic. Prowse's monster is the worst I've ever seen in any Frankenstein movie and things fall apart very quickly from then on. Oh well. Anyway, while this movie ultimately disappoints I think Bates and Price make it worth watching all the same, and O'Mara is extremely sexy as a saucy servant girl. But it must be said that 'The Horror Of Frankenstein' ties with 'Lust For A Vampire' and 'Dracula A.D. 1972' as the weakest Hammer movie I've seen to date.