The Horror of Frankenstein (1970)

User Rating:

5.3/10   

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:

Horror Movie Remake | Severed Head | Doctor Frankenstein | Sequel | 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:

Elstree Film and TV Studios, Borehamwood, 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)

A lesser entry in the Frankenstein saga

The Horror of Frankenstein shouldn't be considered as an official part of Hammer Horror's excellent Frankenstein series as it doesn't star the series' stand out actor - Peter Cushing and by all accounts is really just a re-run of the classic Mary Shelly, which Hammer already did with The Curse of Frankenstein some thirteen years earlier. This fact alone ensures that the film is never going to be as great as the other films in the series as, simply put, we've seen it all before. What made Hammer's Frankenstein sequels so brilliant was the way that they played around with the base story and created something fresh and exciting; whereas here it's just the base 'Frankenstein creates a monster' story. This was great in 'Curse' as we had an amazing Peter Cushing performance to delight over - but here we only have Ralph Bates to keep us entertained. Bates definitely is one of Hammer's better smaller stars, and he offers a worthy interpretation of the character for sure - but Peter Cushing is a hard man to follow, and Bates' just hasn't got what it takes.

One thing Bates does try his hand at, though, is the side of Frankenstein that Cushing did best - the egocentric confidence! Seeing Bates take the Mickey out of a number of people is always entertaining and his lines are surprisingly well written. Ironically, it's when the monster is introduced that the film really trips over as in the first two thirds, we've always got Bates' humour to revel in, but once the monster is introduced that all fades. Adding to the woe is the fact that the monster is really terrible, and doesn't even nearly compare to any of the monsters seen in the 'real' Hammer Frankenstein movies. It's surprising how much influence the Hammer Frankenstein movies have given Stuart Gordon's brilliant Re-Animator, and it's influence is evident in some parts of this film. While this movie isn't Hammer's best by a long shot, it's still definitely worth a shot as it features many elements that Hammer are famous for and, despite the fact that it was made in the 1970's, Hammer's eccentric camp style is still omnipresent. Not great...but certainly not all bad.