- Actors: Peter Cushing, Hazel Court, Robert Urquhart, Christopher Lee, Melvyn Hayes
- Directors: Terence Fisher
- Writers: Jimmy Sangster, Mary Shelley
- Producers: Anthony Hinds, Anthony Nelson Keys, Max Rosenberg, Michael Carreras
- Language English
- Classification: 15
- Studio: Warner
- VHS Release Date: 1 May 2000
- Run Time: 82 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00004CIM8
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 7,348 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Britain's Hammer Studios had been making films for decades before they suddenly redefined themselves with this lurid remake of the Universal Studios horror classic. Prohibited by Universal from copying their blocky make-up (and their script, for that matter), Hammer returned to Mary Shelley's novel for inspiration and then went in its own direction. Peter Cushing plays Dr. Frankenstein as the rational scientist turned cold-blooded criminal in his campaign to discover the secret of life, committing murder to further his ends or to remove an inconvenient mistress. Christopher Lee is the pitiable creature, a terrified behemoth more innocent new-born than malevolent monster. His pale, pallid, grotesquely scarred face was so thickly applied that he emotes almost exclusively with his eyes and his awkward, stumbling gestures. The not-so-good Dr. Frankenstein is the true monster, a ruthless scientist whose rejection of superstition extends to all moral considerations. Shot in blood-red colour by Hammer stalwart Terence Fisher, the stylish, often salacious film became Hammer's biggest success to date, made horror stars out of the classically trained Cushing and Lee, and transformed the B studio into the Hammer we know and love today: the house that dripped blood. The Horror of Dracula immediately followed, reuniting the winning team of Cushing and Lee, and Cushing returned in four of six Frankenstein sequels. --Sean Axmaker
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Hammer's initial gothic horror film, and though by no means the best movie the company produced, it is a perfect introduction to the work of director Terence Fisher and actors Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, here working together on the first of their six collaborations. After several years as one of the top actors in the BBC, Cushing's performance as the effete, super-intelligent sociopath Baron Victor Frankenstein was his first leading role in a movie, and it tied him to the horror genre, virtually for the rest of his career. In his one and only appearance as the Creature, Lee is also effective, portraying a brain-damaged abomination full of frustration and hatred with skill. Though not as assured as in some of his later films, Fisher's direction is suitably bold, and the talent that would later become known as the Hammer `house team' (Asher, Robinson, Bernard) all contribute impressive work.
Like the other Warner releases of Hammer films, this edition of The Curse of Frankenstein does not boast a particularly juicy selection of extras, which is both odd and frustrating since it is a well-known and important film that ushered an entirely new breed of horror movie into the cinema. One can't imagine, for example, movies with similar legacies, such as The Exorcist, or Halloween, being released on this kind of vanilla edition; nor do I expect their fans would put up with it. Like the Warner release of the superior Horror of Dracula, this DVD does contain a restored trailer, and a very limited cast and crew rundown, but that's about it. Of course, there is a ton of information on this movie available in a dozen different books should anyone require it, but surely it wouldn't have been too much to ask for Lee, in particular, to do a commentary for this DVD; if DD Video can get the star to record one for something far less important, like the mediocre sci-fi flick Night of the Big Heat, I'm sure Warner Bros. can do the same for a classic like this.
Like the other Warner releases of Hammer films, this edition of The Curse of Frankenstein does not boast a particularly juicy selection of extras, which is both odd and frustrating since it is a well-known and important film that ushered an entirely new breed of horror movie into the cinema. One can't imagine, for example, movies with similar legacies, such as The Exorcist, or Halloween, being released on this kind of vanilla edition; nor do I expect their fans would put up with it. Like the Warner release of the superior Horror of Dracula, this DVD does contain a restored trailer, and a very limited cast and crew rundown, but that's about it. Of course, there is a ton of information on this movie available in a dozen different books should anyone require it, but surely it wouldn't have been too much to ask for Lee, in particular, to do a commentary for this DVD; if DD Video can get the star to record one for something far less important, like the mediocre sci-fi flick Night of the Big Heat, I'm sure Warner Bros. can do the same for a classic like this.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
The first hammer horror in colour - what a film! The acting is sublime (Cushing's obsessional lust for body parts making him the greatest screen villian ever), the set design and photography first class, and the story played out with a real sense of pathos and suspense. The body parts themselves are tame by today's standards, but the real horror comes in watching the professor lose all kind of perspective in the interest of "science". This is a far scarier vision of the future than Schwarzenegger's "Sixth Day".
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a film that will go down in history. The first on screen pairing of Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing, script by Jimmy Sangster and direction by Terence Fisher, this is the film that put Hammer productions on the map. It pretty much singlehandedly defined the genre of technicolour Gothic Horror.
This really is a great film, the first in a whole series of Frankenstein features starring Cushing as the mad scientist. And on the basis of this it's easy to see why the series, like the various monsters, had so much life. Intelligently scripted (even if it does take very little from Mary Shelley's book), we are given a nice character study as scientific curiosity becomes an obsession for Frankestein, and his final descent into madness as he tries to realise his goals. In addition there are lots of shocks and plenty of tension. Finally there is the great ending, where, in a wonderful twist, the Baron is forced to face the consequences of the monster's crimes.
As well as a cracking script, there is superb direction from Terence Fisher, who manages to realise all the possibilities for shock and suspense. There is some wonderful set design, with a brilliant laboratory set, full of weird and wonderful gizmos. Finally, there are the central performances of Cushing and Lee as the Baron and monster respectively. Cushing gets lots to do, and carries the film with his depiction of a man driven by the best of motives into the darkest regions of science and to brutal acts to reach his aims. His performance is totally believable, and thoroughly chilling. Like Karloff before him, Lee is restricted by the monster's muteness, yet still manages to convey a strange pathos so you feel almost sorry for the poor brute. Classic performances from the Masters of Horror.
This release is pretty basic, the film is presented in the original 1.85:1 widescreen format. The sound is mono. There appears to have been little or no remastering, but the picture looks pretty good for its age, with the all important bright colours still shining through. The only extra is the theatrical trailer. A decent budget release.
A classic film that should be in the collection of any serious movie lover!
This really is a great film, the first in a whole series of Frankenstein features starring Cushing as the mad scientist. And on the basis of this it's easy to see why the series, like the various monsters, had so much life. Intelligently scripted (even if it does take very little from Mary Shelley's book), we are given a nice character study as scientific curiosity becomes an obsession for Frankestein, and his final descent into madness as he tries to realise his goals. In addition there are lots of shocks and plenty of tension. Finally there is the great ending, where, in a wonderful twist, the Baron is forced to face the consequences of the monster's crimes.
As well as a cracking script, there is superb direction from Terence Fisher, who manages to realise all the possibilities for shock and suspense. There is some wonderful set design, with a brilliant laboratory set, full of weird and wonderful gizmos. Finally, there are the central performances of Cushing and Lee as the Baron and monster respectively. Cushing gets lots to do, and carries the film with his depiction of a man driven by the best of motives into the darkest regions of science and to brutal acts to reach his aims. His performance is totally believable, and thoroughly chilling. Like Karloff before him, Lee is restricted by the monster's muteness, yet still manages to convey a strange pathos so you feel almost sorry for the poor brute. Classic performances from the Masters of Horror.
This release is pretty basic, the film is presented in the original 1.85:1 widescreen format. The sound is mono. There appears to have been little or no remastering, but the picture looks pretty good for its age, with the all important bright colours still shining through. The only extra is the theatrical trailer. A decent budget release.
A classic film that should be in the collection of any serious movie lover!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
frankenstein
this film is hammers first horror and the first time pairing of cushing and lee.it is based on mary shelleys novel and does the book some justice,just as a side note i have been to... Read more
Published 3 months ago by jed
The legend starts
This is where it all started: the gothic background, the flashing technicolor picture, the unparalleled pairing of Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, the attractive babes, all of... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Autonome
The Curse Of Frankenstein Review
I enjoyed this film very much so. It is a hammer classic from the company's very beginnings, in terms of horror. The first hammer colour film, is a great film. Read more
Published 4 months ago by gls
Hammer horror
'The Curse of Frankenstein' was Hammer Film's first venture into Gothic horror territory, and followed on from their successful attempt at science fiction/horror with 'The... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Andrew Banks
Even if we dared to omit its landmark importance; it's still a...
The Curse Of Frankenstein is out of Hammer Film Productions and based on the novel Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Spike Owen
NOT A REVIEW OF THE MOVIE!
This film is not currently available in the UK on DVD.
There are alot of import copies being sold by various sellers for very high prices. Read more
There are alot of import copies being sold by various sellers for very high prices. Read more
Published 19 months ago by A. Lloyd
Frankie Goes To Bray Studios
Cinema audiences familiar with the creaky old black and white "Frankenstein" films of the 1930s and 1940s, made by Universal, must have been in for a huge shock when this film came... Read more
Published 24 months ago by Jeremy W. Newbould
Recommended
Horror at its most camp and gothic best. Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee! Superb in all its creepy late Friday night horror fest. Great colours and superb over the top acting. Read more
Published on 7 July 2009 by Mr. N. Buckham
first and best of hammer gothic
the film that was solely responsible for sparking new interest in old gothic horror, this is hammer studios at their finest. Read more
Published on 26 Sep 2005 by Mr. A. E. Ward Davies
A classic
Who can fault the 1950's in the horror sector. The decade that brought us 'the fly' and this fine conribution can't be all bad even if it did include crap hair and shit... Read more
Published on 23 Nov 2000 by bwickins@deerpark.gloucs.sch.uk
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