Frankenstein: The True Story (1973) (TV)

Director:

Jack Smight

Writers:

Don Bachardy (writer)
Christopher Isherwood (writer)

Release Date:

30 November 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Plot:

A more psychological telling of the Mary Shelley story has a different kind of monster... |

Plot Keywords:

Monster | Gothic | Frankenstein's Monster | Doctor Frankenstein | Based On Novel

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

James Mason	...	Dr. John Polidori
Leonard Whiting	...	Dr. Victor Frankenstein
David McCallum	...	Dr. Henry Clerval
Jane Seymour	...	Agatha / Prima
Nicola Pagett	...	Elizabeth Fanschawe
Michael Sarrazin	...	The Creature
Michael Wilding	...	Sir Richard Fanshawe
Clarissa Kaye-Mason	...	Lady Fanschawe (as Clarissa Kaye)
Agnes Moorehead	...	Mrs. Blair
Margaret Leighton	...	Francoise DuVal
Ralph Richardson	...	Mr. Lacey
John Gielgud	...	Chief Constable (Police)
Tom Baker	...	Sea Captain
Dallas Adams	...	Felix
Julian Barnes	...	Young Man

Runtime:

182 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Universal TV

Trivia:

The footage of the 'Figaro' opera singer receiving applause is actually a shot of Susannah Foster's curtain call from the 1943 version of The Phantom of the Opera.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Victor is talking to Elizabeth outside the church at his brother's funeral, he is holding his right hand on her shoulder. The shot switches to Elizabeth's face, and his hand is still on her shoulder. In the next wide shot, Victor's hand is down by his side. The following closeup of Elizabeth shows Victor's hand back on her shoulder.

Quotes:

Dr. Victor Frankenstein: The process is r... R? Ready to begin!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Frankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbook (1991)

Fabulous re-telling of the original story

Although this film may digress in many ways from the book, it is nonetheless superb. A fine cast, including Leonard Whiting, Nicola Padgett and guest appearances from many others, rounds out the experience. One empathizes with the monster, who begins his new life as a beautiful, sensitive creature only to physically and aesthetically deteriorate as time goes on. An interesting twist is the subplot of Prima, the second creature, created by Dr. Polidori (Victor's nemesis) with the assistance of Victor...I first saw this movie on television when I was about 9 or 10, I seem to remember it being shown in two parts, the second part beginning with Polidori's attempt to bring Prima into elite society, followed with the downfall of Victor, the monster and Polidori. Really one of my favorite re-tellings of the Frankenstein story.