The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)

[Neville]

Yet another of the Hammer films that a local theatre is running.

On the contrary than the recent adaptation by Kenneth Branagh, which is quite faithful to the book by Mary Shelley, this ones resolves right from the start around Dr. Victor Frankenstein. Played to perfection by Peter Cushing, Frankenstein here is a maquiavelic scientist (in Branagh's version he was just too naive to notice the consequences of his actions) who won't stop at anything to see his goals fulfilled. Cushing's Frankenstein is an amoral scientist who thinks nature (and therefore God) is unperfect, and that he can beat them in their own territory.

Cushing, as an aristocrat, is used to believe himself above all the rest (these Hammer films seem to have a social agenda, strongly criticising victorian values), and it is this pride wich fuels his madness and his will to push boundaries farer and farer, something that eventually also causes his destruction. The rest of the characters (a veteran scientist, his fiancee, his aid, etc.) appear only to be humiliated or utilised in Victor's machinations, and the scarier part of the creature's appearences are not its attempts at understanding its nature, but how Victor plays with him as if he was a pet. in one of the best scenes, he is shown to a colegue and Victor asks it to sit down and get up, as if he was a puppy.  

An amazing film, I'm dying to see the latter sequels.

[Yaddo 42]

Loved this one as a kid, the monster makeup on Lee scared the crap out of me as a kid.

I've only seen some of the other Frankenstein Hammer films but I'd definitely say be on the lookout for "Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed". Cushing does a great job continuing his performance as the arrogant, manipulative, and selfish doctor. Fantastic ending as well.

[Scott]

Both THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN and FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED are fine films.

[peter johnson]

Hey, this is the second time you've mentioned "a theatre in your area" showing Hammer on the Big Screen --
You do know you're incredibly blessed, don't you?  Are you in the Twilight Zone, or something?  I mean, no theatre out where I live would consider such a fine fine cultural contribution . . .
Anyway, no mention of this film would be complete without giving de props to Christopher Lee as the Creature -- note how he developed a squiggly way of walking, as if all his body parts were independently targeted.  He really worked on that for a long time, giving a lot of thought and practice as to how the Creature should be played.  A real professional artist, our Mr. Lee.
I would love to see this on the Big Screen . . .
In the series:  "Frankenstein Created Woman", despite its title, is a great example of a "Folk-tale" type of filmmaking.  Worth seeing, as Cushing continues his grand arrogance & looses a strange being of vengeance on a group of sniveling aristocrats.  Almost Edgar Allen Poe in its execution . . . And I do mean Execution!!
peter johnson/denny crane

[Neville]

I even mention it a third time. It is not that I want you all in the phorum green with envy, but that I didn't expect all the people reading one Hammer review to read the others, that's why I comment it.

I live in a small town, but we have this small cultural centre sponsored by a Bank (!) and they use to show foreign films with subtitles, often in cicles of 5-10 titles. For some reason they decided it was time for giving Hammer a small tribute. Even better, the tickets are only $1'5. The only con is that they won't allow you to eat popcorn in their inpolute premises, but hell, we're talking about Hammer in the big screen, here! Next monday they're showing "Dracula", and later, as a closure, the two last Frankenstein films by Fisher & Cushing. Can't wait.