The Horror of Frankenstein
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Actor: Dennis Price, Jon Finch, Kate O'Mara, Ralph Bates, Veronica CarlsonDVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Format: Anamorphic, Color, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 95 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2001-08-07
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
DVD Reviews of The Horror of Frankenstein
DVD Review: "You're tampering with forces we don't fully understand."
Summary: 4 Stars
Upon looking at the reviews on Amazon and The Internet Movie Database, it seems the general consensus regarding the Hammer release The Horror of Frankenstein (1971), originally released in the UK in 1970, is that it's a prime example of the decline of the work released by the once great studio that revitalized the horror genre, probably most famous for breathing new life into the old Universal horror standards like Dracula and Frankenstein, and making household names out of actors like Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. Sure, there are any number of better Hammer Frankenstein films (I think there were six or seven in all) like The Curse of Frankenstein (1957), The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958), The Evil of Frankenstein (1964), the latter to be soon released in a Hammer Horror Series DVD set, but I did enjoy this release, despite the fact the film disregards these previous releases, perhaps in an attempt to develop a new series...problem (one of a few) was, fans were so enthralled with Cushing as Frankenstein and Lee as The Monster, I don't think they were willing to buy off on a variance in the casting (or the humor within), and, subsequently, the film was ill received when released. Produced, co-written and directed by Jimmy Sangster (X the Unknown, The Curse of Frankenstein, Dracula), the film stars Ralph Bates (Taste the Blood of Dracula, Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde), one of a handful of male actors Hammer was grooming in the late 60s and early 70s to replace Cushing and Lee. Also appearing is Veronica Carlson (Dracula Has Risen from the Grave, Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed), Kate O'Mara (The Vampire Lovers), Dennis Price (Horror Hospital), Graham James (Blood from the Mummy's Tomb), Jon Finch (Frenzy), and David `Darth Vader' Prowse (Vampire Circus, Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell, Star Wars) as The Monster.
As the story begins we see a young Victor Frankenstein (Bates), listless with his studies, request from his father that he be sent to the university in Vienna so that he may actually further his studies. Pop says no, so victor arranges an `accident', and subsequently becomes the new Baron, to do as he pleases (Victor inherits not only his father's estate, but also the comely young housefrau/bedwarmer Alys, played by O'Mera...homina homina). Anyway, turns out the university is more of the same, so Victor returns home, his classmate Wilhelm (James) in tow, to engage in his own experiments which involve re-animation (since this is a Frankenstein movie, you'd kind of expect that, I suppose). After an initial success brings back to life a wee, small creature, Victor makes arrangements with a local graver robber (Price) to acquire `raw materials' for a full-blown human experiment. Wilhelm gets skittery and departs Hammer style. Victor continues on alone, sewing together his creation (or monstrosity, whichever you prefer), and we learn it takes 25 separate parts to make a whole man...go figure. Eventually Victor does bring back to life his assemblage of parts (looking a little like the monster played by James Arness from the 1951 film The Thing from Another World), but it has a serious flaw in that the brain was a bit damaged, and the creature has all the intelligence of a sponge...oh yeah, it also likes to kill...oh goody, a nearly seven foot, muscle bound behemoth (Prowse is 6'7'' in real life) with homicidal tendencies...that will go over real well with the locals...anyway, big, bald, and stitchy escapes a few times, some of the household staff attempt blackmail, local buxom blonde (Carlson) has the hots for Victor, and the town constabulary is sniffing around...
Despite its many flaws, I did enjoy this film. I was impressed with how much was actually going on (much of it unnecessary), how many characters flittering about, and the fact Sangster managed to keep everything coherent and in line. James character of Wilhelm and Carlson's character of Elizabeth (the buxom blonde) were both essentially useless...I did like Kate O'Mera as the jealous house maid and Price as the grave robber (who made his wife do all the actually digging), but the real treat here was Bates as Victor. His character is radically different from those versions of Frankenstein we've seen before as while those others often were portrayed as devoted scientists interested in their experiments for altruistic purposes, Bates' character was completely self-centered and only interested in doing what he was doing because he had the brains and talent to do so...his character is a suave, relatively vile, smarmy, entirely conceited, flippant individual always ready with a sly remark, completely uncaring of those around him. Even his own creation rates the kindness and affection on would bestow upon a stray, mangy, ill-tempered mutt. And then there's the monster...gone is any sense of empathy for the creature, one `born' into existence not knowing or understanding from whence he came, exhibiting the innocence and gentleness of naïve being encased in a powerful, hideous form, hated for no other reason that existing...this is replaced with a soulless, hulking automaton brute whose primary reaction to external stimuli is to destroy it...there is no question of morality of actions raised within this story, no pondering of who the real monster is (Bates and his `creation' are both monsters equally), no regret towards ones actions, but only nasty, unredeemable individuals doing naughty things unto others for their own, base purposes, some getting their comeuppance, some not...which I really didn't mind as much as I thought I would, specifically because how many times can one rehash as story and make it interesting? Hammer fans will notice the absence of two elements within this film, blood and nekkid women...there is a little bit of hemoglobin, but not nary enough to satisfy. And as far as the lack of skin, I don't require it within the films I see, but, by this time, it had become customary within Hammer horror films...a flash here or there would have been enough, especially given a pair of lovelies like Carlson and O'Mera...there's some really good cleavage on Ms. O'Mera's part, but that's about it...while the story may not have been up to par with other, better releases, at least the settings and props (the castle, laboratory equipment, and costumes) were up to snuff. All in all, an decent production which will probably be unsatisfying to an expectant many, but for what it was, the effort put forth (those involved all seemed to have fun making the movie), the morbid sense of humor throughout (check out how Victor suggests handling the Dean of the university's daughter after he knocks her up), and Bates' roguish, lecherous character, I enjoyed it nonetheless. The part I liked best was when Victor, busy searching for parts (which he has numbered on a scale drawing in his lab), envisions one of the numbers on a the head of a visiting man...it's the brain he be needing...
Anchor Bay Entertainment provides a sharp widescreen (1.85:1) print on this DVD, along with a suitable Dolby Digital mono audio track. Included is a commentary track with director Jimmy Sangster and Hammer historian Marcus Hearn, a 14 piece titled Frankenstein, Dracula, and Me: Interview with Veronica Carlson, two theatrical trailers, talent bios, a poster and still gallery, a Veronica Carlson photo gallery, a gallery of art by Ms. Carlson (which is pretty pointless, in my mind, all things considered), and liner notes by Travis Crawford, along with a reproduction of original poster art for the film, included on the DVD insert. A five star release of a 3 ½ star film, hence my four star rating.
Cookieman108
By the way, if someone named Frankenstein ever recommends you to take the shortcut through the woods, don't you do it...
Description of The Horror of Frankenstein
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