Yes! I finally obtained one of the "missing" Frankenstein films of the Cushing-Fisher era. I saw some of them a few months ago, but the filmotheque showing them only got space for three Frankenstein movies in their schedule, so they ditched "Revenge..." and this one.
This one is so far (I still have to see "Revenge of Frankenstein", the second in the series) my favourite Cushing-Frankenstein film. The Baron appears very now and then, true, but the story resolving about doomed lovers Hans and Christina, who will become his victims, is absolutely wonderful.
As for Fisher, he directs as beautifully as ever, providing the film with his usual social and poetic touches. Shots featuring young Hans and the guillotine, thus advancing his future troubles with the law, or the amazing last image of Christina pop up in my mind when I think of it.
And, needless to say, Cushing makes a wonderful Baron Frankenstein. Following with the evolution that will flourish in the last two films of ther series, Frankenstein is here as arrogant and careless as one could imagine, playing with innocent victims just for the sake of "science". The scenes at the trial, where he toys with a Bible as he had never read one, or his answers to the lynching mob or the police when they interrupt his work so they can stop the killings in the village are priceless.
I loved the constant returns to the gallows -- it was really a very old-fashioned type of film: Could easily have worked as a silent movie -- and I don't mean that as a cutdown. Very moral and allegorical -- the rich scum get their Just Rewards!!
The small scenes of the English countryside are exquisite and alien. Really best seen late at night through a haze of whatever ingested . . .
The title came from the Bridget Bardot/Richard Vadim film, And God Created Woman. Some claim it's a parody of the God film, but I don't get that at all -- Just the title is being parodied.
peter johnson/denny crane
I bought this DVD a year or two ago and it is definitely the most unique of the Cushing/Frankenstein movies. I had all of the Cushing/Lee Frankenstein and Dracula movies on VHS, but I sold them on Ebay. I'm still working on replacing them with DVDs. So far, I only have:
* FRANKENSTEIN CREATED WOMAN
* FRANKENSTEIN AND THE MONSTER FROM HELL
* HORROR OF DRACULA
* SCARS OF DRACULA
* SATANIC RITES OF DRACULA
Most of the others are available and I intend to buy them soon. Unfortunately, a few titles like THE EVIL OF FRANKENSTEIN and BRIDES OF DRACULA (with David Peel playing the vampire instead of Christopher Lee) don't seem to be available. I see that DRACULA, AD 1972 is being released soon.
Post Edited (09-18-05 02:36)
If you don't mind a French bootleg or 2, you can get all of these on DVD from the backs of British magazines (Fortean Times) or Psychotronic Review.
peter johnson/denny crane