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. John Polidori: What a model parent you've been! You loved your creature so long as it was pretty but when it lost its looks, Hah! That was another matter! So much for your dainty conscience.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Frankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbook (1991)

Mesmerizing!

I first saw this film on television at age 12 or 13, in black-and-white (we didn't have a color television at the time). I recall it being shown in two parts, but even in black and white and at a young age I could see it was a rather lavish production. The cast is excellent. I found the entire story fascinating and I was mesmerized by it. As with most television films of that era (prior to home video recording technology) I was afraid I'd never see it again. I was oh-so-pleasantly surprised when it was run on a premium cable network in 1997 while I was living in California! Watching it in color made it even more fascinating than before. It is certainly a departure from more "traditional" treatments of this story, which makes it even more of a true gem captured on film! The viewer receives a more graceful, romantic treatment of a fascinating story.