Review of Frankenstein And The Monster From Hell

Introduction

This was Hammer`s last outing for the good Baron and his patchwork creation. The old-style horror films were going out of fashion, and the taste for splatter-horror would rise too late to do Hammer Films any good. In 1973, when the film was released, Hammer`s market had dwindled to the fast-stagnating home market, and much of the company`s output was tv-related. By a quirk of fortune, Hammer boss Michael Carreras managed to secure financing and a distribution deal with Paramount when Rank passed on the script.

Peter Cushing returned to play Frankenstein. Following the death of his wife Helen at the beginning of 1971, Cushing had thrown himself into any job he could get his hands on as his way of coping. The copious notes accompanying the disc detail how seriously Cushing took his work and his involvement in both the script and the artistic development of the movie.

Co-starring was Shane Briant, a young Hammer discovery who had featured in a number of the company`s recent movies. He would play Dr Simon Helder, literally being Frankenstein`s hands after a laboratory accident.

Madeline Smith (a regular Frankie Howerd beauty) was cast as Sarah, the mute heroine, after the original choice Caroline Munro was vetoed by Michael Carreras on the technicality that Paramount intended to run Monster From Hell in a double-bill with "Captain Kronos", which Munro had co-starred in. Maddy, who would also play Roger Moore`s first Bond Girl that year, brought a doll-like fragility to her performance as Sarah - possibly her best movie role in her entire career.

As the Monster, unrecognisable under a mountain of latex, was Darth-Vader-to-be Dave Prowse.

It`s almost redundant to go over the storyline here as the cover blurb is quoted above, but suffice to say it is one of the darkest entries in the Hammer Frankenstein canon. Curiously, however, the box intimates that the print used for the transfer is the uncut UK copy, and the booklet that comes with the disc describes a scene that was cut in the US print but left intact in the UK print. The scene plays out in the cut form.

Video

Technicolor blood is the most vivid red stuff you can imagine and there are lashings of it in this movie. Presented in the original 1.85:1 aspect ratio, the movie is a little grainy and defocussed at times, but that adds to the nightmarish air of the piece. There is a little wear and tear, but I don`t think the movie has looked as good in an age.

Audio

A very basic DD2.0 Mono mix.

Features

Again, there`s a hefty viewing notes booklet that was invaluable writing this review. There is also an original trailer and a World of Hammer episode about the work of Baron Frankenstein that`s a lot of fun. No HOH subtitles sadly.

Conclusion

A bit of a sad last entry to the Hammer legacy, although I think they always did the Dracula pictures better. The movie has a very impressive cast list, with people like (second Dr Who) Patrick Troughton, and (007`s M) Bernard Lee popping up in bit parts. There`s plenty of fun with other bits and parts as well, not least when the inmates of the asylum get hold of the monster.