Frankenstein: The True Story (1973) (TV)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Jack Smight

Writers:

Don Bachardy (writer)
Christopher Isherwood (writer)
(more)

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
Arnold Diamond	...	Passenger in Coach
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
David Boyce	...	A Thug
Yootha Joyce	...	Hospital Matron
Peter Sallis
Norman Rossington	...	Seaman (uncredited)

Directed by
Jack Smight

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Don Bachardy		writer
Christopher Isherwood		writer
Mary Shelley		novel

Produced by
Ian Lewis	....	associate producer
Hunt Stromberg Jr.	....	producer

Original Music by
Gil Melle

Cinematography by
Arthur Ibbetson

Film Editing by
Richard Marden

Production Design by
Wilfred Shingleton

Art Direction by
Fred Carter

Costume Design by
Elsa Fennell

Makeup Department
Roy Ashton	....	makeup artist
Harry Frampton	....	makeup artist: Michael Sarrazin

Production Management
Brian Burgess	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Terry Pearce	....	third assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Ken Barker	....	sound
Gordon Everett	....	sound
Don Sharpe	....	sound
Graham V. Hartstone	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Roy Whybrow	....	special effects

Music Department
Philip Martell	....	music supervisor

Other crew
Sally Gilpin	....	choreographer
Maurice Landsberger	....	production accountant
Sally Nicholl	....	assistant to producer
Jacque Shelton	....	assistant to producer

Production Companies

• Universal TV

Distributors

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1973) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• GoodTimes Home Video (1995) (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)

Runtime:

182 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Universal TV

Trivia:

The last film of Michael Wilding.

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:

Featured in Frankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbook (1991)

Star-studded, literate adaptation

It's a shame that this spectacular TV movie (which originally ran in two 2-hour parts) is only available in a much abbreviated 2 hour version (actually this is the version released in theatres in the UK and abroad, while the full version played on US TV) from the cheapie distributor Goodtimes. Hopefully, the full version will one day make it onto DVD (the way it took quite a while for the original SALEMS LOT two-part TV movie to get released on tape and dvd, when it also was only available as a 2-hour abridgement). Written by Christopher Isherwood, this literate, beautifully filmed retelling of the Mary Shelley classic is a must see.