Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell (1973)

Director:

Terence Fisher

Writer:

Anthony Hinds

Release Date:

2 May 1974 (UK)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

His brain came from a genius. His body came from a killer. His soul came from hell!

Plot:

Last of the Hammer Frankenstein films, this one deals with the Baron hiding out in an insane asylum...

Plot Keywords:

Insane Asylum | Murder | Gothic Horror | Secret Laboratory | Blood Splatter

Cast

Peter Cushing	...	Baron Victor Frankenstein / Dr. Carl Victor
Shane Briant	...	Simon Helder
Madeline Smith	...	Sarah
David Prowse	...	Monster
John Stratton	...	Asylum director
Michael Ward	...	Transvest
Elsie Wagstaff	...	Wild One
Norman Mitchell	...	Police sergeant
Clifford Mollison	...	Judge
Patrick Troughton	...	Bodysnatcher
Philip Voss	...	Ernst
Christopher Cunningham	...	Hans (as Chris Cunningham)
Charles Lloyd Pack	...	Prof. Durendel
Lucy Griffiths	...	Old hag
Bernard Lee	...	Tarmut
Sydney Bromley	...	Muller
Andrea Lawrence	...	Brassy girl
Jerold Wells	...	Landlord
Sheila D'Union	...	Gerda (as Sheila Dunion)
Norman Atkyns	...	Smiler
Mischa De La Motte	...	Twitch
Victor Woolf	...	Letch
Winifred Sabine	...	Mouse
Janet Hargreaves	...	Chatter
Peter Madden	...	Coach driver
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Hugh Cecil	...	Inmate (uncredited)
Ron Eagleton	...	Inmate (uncredited)
Lianne Gilmore	...	Inmate (uncredited)
Beatrice Greek	...	Inmate (uncredited)
Toni Harris	...	Inmate (uncredited)
Peter Macpherson	...	Inmate (uncredited)
Gordon Richardson	...	Aggressive (uncredited)
Nicholas Smith	...	Death Wish (uncredited)

Directed by
Terence Fisher

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Anthony Hinds		(as John Elder)

Produced by
Roy Skeggs	....	producer

Original Music by
James Bernard

Cinematography by
Brian Probyn

Film Editing by
James Needs

Casting by
James Liggat

Art Direction by
Scott MacGregor

Makeup Department
Eddie Knight	....	makeup artist
Maude Onslow	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Christopher Neame	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Derek Whitehurst	....	assistant director
Chris Carreras	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
Roy P. Stevens	....	third assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Arthur Banks	....	construction manager
Don Picton	....	assistant art director

Sound Department
Maurice Askew	....	dubbing mixer
Leslie Hammond	....	sound recordist (as Les Hammond)
Roy Hyde	....	sound editor
Lionel Strutt	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Les Bowie	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Chic Anstiss	....	camera operator (as Chick Anstiss)
Cedric James	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Malcolm Vinson	....	focus puller (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Dulcie Midwinter	....	wardrobe supervisor

Music Department
Philip Martell	....	music supervisor
Hugh Bean	....	musician: violin solos (uncredited)
Philip Martell	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)

Other crew
Kay Rawlings	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Hammer Film Productions

Distributors

• AVCO Embassy (1974) (UK) (theatrical)
• Paramount Pictures (1974) (USA) (theatrical)
• Anolis Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• DMEG (2004) (Sweden) (VHS)
• Leisureview (2003) (UK) (DVD)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1996) (UK) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

99 min | USA:93 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Norway:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | UK:X (original rating) | UK:15 (video rating) | Netherlands:16 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

EMI Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Hammer Film Productions

Trivia:

The role of Sarah was first offered to Caroline Munro.

Quotes:

Baron Victor Frankenstein aka Dr. Carl Victor:[after operating eyeballs onto the creature] Now, in approximately one hour, when the narcosis wears off... we shall see.
Simon Helder:[jokingly] Let's hope it's he who sees!
Baron Victor Frankenstein aka Dr. Carl Victor:..."he who sees"?
Simon Helder:Sorry...
Baron Victor Frankenstein aka Dr. Carl Victor:[begins to laugh maniacally] "He who sees"! I like that!
Simon Helder:I didn't think it was that funny, I must say...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Empire of Dreams: The Story of the 'Star Wars' Trilogy (2004) (TV)

Cushing Is Obsessed With Artificial Life in Hammer's Goriest Film

"Frankenstein And The Monster From Hell" of 1974 is the final entry to Hammer's Frankenstein series, director Terence Fisher's last film, and arguably the goriest Hammer production (maybe along with "Scars Of Dracula" from 1971). The last Frankenstein film from Hammer is a vastly underrated, grim, eerie and excellent finale to the fantastic series, and it is fun to see how Baron Viktor Frankenstein (brilliantly played by Peter Cushing) becomes more and more insane and ruthless throughout the series. While he was just a dedicated scientist who had to use some macabre methods to achieve his goals intended for common welfare in the first features, Baron Francenstein is absolutely obsessed with the idea of resurrecting the dead, and has hardly any scruples in the pursuit of his objectives in this final feature of the Frankenstein series. Still, Frankenstein could not be described as a 'villain'. Some of his goals are still noble, he hates unnecessary cruelty, and he is certain to act in common interest of mankind. His obsessions, however have increased and become more extreme...

Doctor Simon Helder (Shane Briant) is an enthusiastic reader of the works of ingenious scientist Baron Victor Frankenstein. When he gets caught with snatched body parts, which he needs for his own attempts to create a human being, he is sentenced to imprisonment in an insane asylum, managed by an incompetent and perverted director and a bunch of sadistic guards. The only kind-hearted person in the asylum seems to be Sarah (Madleine Smith), a young woman who doesn't speak, and who is referred to as 'Angel'. Soon after Simon's arrival, however, the guards' sadistic practices are brought to an end by the mysterious Doctor Victor. And you can take a hard guess what Dr. Victor's real name is...

Peter Cushing once again delivers a wonderful performance as Baron Victor Frankenstein. Beautiful Madleine Smith also fits very well in her role of Sarah, and Shane Briant plays his role of Simon well. Observant Hammer-fans might recognize the man who plays the bodysnatcher, Patrick Throughton, for his role of Christopher Lee's vassal in "Scars Of Dracula".

"Frankenstein And The Monster From Hell" is a great, vastly underrated Horror flick that should not be missed by a Hammer-fan. The setting in the insane asylum, the typical Hammer score, photography and atmosphere and Peter Cushing's great performance make this movie a must-see for a lover of Horror. Highly recommended!