The Horror of Frankenstein (1970)

Scientist Victor Frankenstein builds a man from spare body parts; the monster comes alive and wreaks havoc.

Director:

Jimmy Sangster

Writers:

Jeremy Burnham (screenplay), Jimmy Sangster (screenplay)

Stars:

Ralph Bates, Kate O'Mara, Veronica Carlson

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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)

Storyline

The brilliant but misunderstood scientist Frankenstein builds a man made up of a collection of spare body parts. The monster becomes alive but he has mental capabilities much below par. The monster is aggressive and wreaks havoc outside the laboratory.

---

Plot Keywords:

reanimation | grave robbing | maid | hunting accident | womanizer | 

---

Genres:

Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi

---

Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Writer Jeremy Burnham assumes he got away with giving the story a comic edge because none of the producers actually read the script.

---

Goofs

When the completed monster is seen there are no stitch marks where his limbs have been joined together.

---

Quotes

Victor Frankenstein: I'm going to make a person!

---

Connections

Referenced in A History of Horror with Mark Gatiss: Home Counties Horror (2010)

User Reviews

one person's junk is another person's treasure

To clarify, it's really no treasure, but, neither do I agree with the consensus. As of this writing, other comments are overwhelmingly negative. But I don't think that this flick is all that bad. Sure - it's a temptation to compare it to other Hammer films and Frankenstein movies in general. But, because Peter Cushing and Boris Karloff aren't in it, THAT shouldn't be held against Horror of Frankenstein. (They weren't in Citizen Kane, either, but THAT'S a pretty good pic.) I'm guilty of too much comparing, myself, but, for some reason, I did not do it here. Maybe that's why I rated it "respectable". I'm satisfied with most aspects of this production, although, admittedly, the outset is a bit dialogue-heavy and action-starved. It takes a long, mundane time, but, through it all, we meet (among others), sociopathic med student, Victor Frankenstein; his straight-as-an-arrow classmate, Wilhelm; destitute-destined neighbor, Elizabeth; the buxom housekeeper (but lousy cook), Alys; the one-step-behind police lieutenant, Henry Becker; the good-at-what-he-does body and parts supplier and his widow; and, of course, the towering, impetuous monster. It has an easy-to-follow story, with enough Hammer cleavage... urrr, diversions... to make it interesting. This attempt is okay, in my book.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 June 1971 (USA)

Also Known As:

Horror of Frankenstein

Filming Locations:

EMI-MGM Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

EMI Films, Hammer Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1