Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell (1974)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Terence Fisher

Writer:

Anthony Hinds (writer)

Release Date:

2 May 1974 (UK)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

His brain came from a genius. His body came from a killer. His soul came from hell!

Plot:

Last of the Hammer Frankenstein films, this one deals with the Baron hiding out in an insane asylum...

Plot Keywords:

Sequel | Doctor Frankenstein | Blood | 1800s | Gore

Cast

Peter Cushing	...	Baron Victor Frankenstein / Dr. Carl Victor
Shane Briant	...	Simon Helder
Madeline Smith	...	Sarah
David Prowse	...	Monster
John Stratton	...	Asylum director
Michael Ward	...	Transvest
Elsie Wagstaff	...	Wild One
Norman Mitchell	...	Police sergeant
Clifford Mollison	...	Judge
Patrick Troughton	...	Bodysnatcher
Philip Voss	...	Ernst
Christopher Cunningham	...	Hans (as Chris Cunningham)
Charles Lloyd Pack	...	Prof. Durendel
Lucy Griffiths	...	Old hag
Bernard Lee	...	Tarmut

Runtime:

99 min | USA:93 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Netherlands:16 (DVD rating) | Norway:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | UK:X (original rating) | UK:15 (video rating)

Company:

Hammer Film Productions

Trivia:

Peter Cushing claimed that the wig he was required to wear made him look like Helen Hayes.

Quotes:

Baron Victor Frankenstein aka Dr. Carl Victor: [after operating eyeballs onto the creature] Now, in approximately one hour, when the narcosis wears off... we shall see.
Simon Helder: [jokingly] Let's hope it's he who sees!
Baron Victor Frankenstein aka Dr. Carl Victor: ...”he who sees"?
Simon Helder: Sorry...
Baron Victor Frankenstein aka Dr. Carl Victor: [begins to laugh maniacally] "He who sees"! I like that!
Simon Helder: I didn't think it was that funny, I must say...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Empire of Dreams: The Story of the 'Star Wars' Trilogy (2004) (TV)

The final movie in Hammer's Frankenstein series could well be the best of them all.

'Frankenstein And The Monster From Hell' is an important Hammer movie for two reasons. First it was the last in the series which began back in 1957 with 'The Curse Of Frankenstein'. Secondly, it was the final movie for Terence Fisher, who directed all but two of the Hammer Frankenstein movies as well as other Hammer classics like 'Dracula: Prince Of Darkness' and 'The Devil Rides Out'. The previous entry in the series 'The Horror Of Frankenstein' had been a failed experiment. Fisher didn't direct it, Peter Cushing didn't play Frankenstein (Ralph Bates did), and it jumped the story all the way back to the beginning. So in watching 'Frankenstein And The Monster From Hell' we can just pretend it never happened. Shane Briant plays Simon Helder, a young doctor attempting to duplicate Frankenstein's experiments. He is charged with sorcery and is sentenced to an asylum by a judge who had previously done the same thing to the Baron himself. When Helder arrives at the asylum he is told by the director (John Stratton, who gives a wonderfully slimy performance!) that Frankenstein is dead, but Helder immediately suspects that "Dr Victor" (Peter Cushing) is in fact Frankenstein. Of course he is right and he soon becomes Frankenstein's assistant. Sarah, a beautiful mute girl known to the inmates as "Angel" (Madeline Smith) has been helping the Baron (who has injured hands), but she is just an amateur. Now that he has Helder he can continue with his life's work - creating another monster. Cushing plays an older and slightly nutty Frankenstein in this one, and Stratton is very good as his idealistic assistant. Madeline Smith is as beautiful as ever, but in case you're wondering, keeps her clothes on, so you'll just have to watch 'The Vampire Lovers' again, won't you. The supporting cast also includes Dr Who #2 Patrick Troughton and Bernard Lee (M from the Bond films). David "Darth Vader" Prowse once again plays the Monster, but unlike his silly one in 'Horror Of Frankenstein', this monster is very scary and repellent looking, being closer to a caveman than anything we've seen in the previous movies. It's an inspired touch and very effective. In fact the whole movie is inspired and could well be the best in the series in my opinion. While it's sad that it was Terence Fisher's epitaph at least he went out on a high note. I highly recommend 'Frankenstein And The Monster From Hell'.