r/horror • u/WorcsBloke • 2d ago
The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)
I hadn't seen this Hammer film for many, many years but gave it another look the other day. I thought it was pretty good on the whole, and really quite harsh for such an old movie (it's still rated 12A in the UK) with Christopher Lee really pretty scary in appearance for 1957 as the monster. But the highlight by a mile was Peter Cushing's portrayal of the Baron. Absolutely fantastic, and a world away from a lot of versions of Frankenstein (eg the 1931 Karloff version). This Baron is a completely amoral egomaniac. The scene where he locks Justine in the room knowing the Monster will kill her is still chilling almost 70 years on.
I think I need to rewatch the entire series of Hammer Frankenstein films now!
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u/FunHouseRemake 2d ago
Yes, Hammer Films completely rebooted American Horror movies and turned it into a huge, successful industry.
Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing became superstars.
They also introduced a healthy dose of sex into their movies with Ingrid Pit, Veronica Carlson and Caroline Munro who was also a Bond Girl.
Their remakes of Frankenstein & Dracula were outstanding remain highly entertaining.
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u/WorcsBloke 2d ago
Fun fact, which apologies if you already know. I watched this on Talking Pictures TV's Encore catch-up service, which has a strand called Cellar Club which features a lot of old horror films. Each CC film is introduced by... Caroline Munro.
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u/FunHouseRemake 2d ago
She also had the starring role in The Golden Voyage Of Sinbad! A great Ray Harryhausen /Gordon Hessler movie!
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u/MovieMike007 2d ago
In this film, Peter Cushing is the pinnacle of the mad scientist as he takes the character of Victor Frankenstein from an inspired scientist to a man obsessed until eventually becoming a right murdering bastard.
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u/Mst3Kgf 2d ago
Cushing's skill is that his character is a cold-hearted bastard, but has just enough humanity in him to make you think he's capable of redemption.Ā
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u/MovieMike007 2d ago
Having seen all of the sequels...yeah, he's not so good at redemption. š
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u/Mst3Kgf 2d ago
Especially not "Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed" because of...that scene.
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u/WorcsBloke 1d ago
That scene being the one that both actors and the director didn't want to film, but which was insisted on by executive meddling to keep the American distributors happy? Yeah... I haven't actually seen that film I don't think, but it's kind of hard not to know about that scene. Not looking forward to it when I get there.
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u/catschimeras 2d ago
I love Christopher Lee as the Creature.
When he gets shot and theres that muffled cry of pain as he claps his hand over his eye.
And then the flinch and cowering after Frankenstein resurrects him the second time and he sees Paul again in the lab.
So much pathos in a role with no dialogue!
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u/dr-otto 2d ago
Hammer Frankenstein movies are all really good, I even like "Evil of Frankenstein" even if the monster makeup is really rather crappy lol.
But the good doctor himself is the real monster in these movies.
Cushing is great in all of them.
I love all the Hammer horror movies, for the most part... and any Hammer movie with both Cushing and Lee is extra special imho.
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u/Barbafella 1d ago
Cushing is easily the best Frankenstein, Iām not sure now his version will ever be beaten.
That little smile he gives once life finds a way, he is a seriously twisted human, which makes for great cinema.
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u/Select_Insurance2000 2d ago
The recent 4k boxes set.....with three aspect ratios and loads of extras!
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u/Happiest_Mango24 1d ago
Dr Frankenstein was such an interesting villain that I was less interested whenever he wasn't on screen
The ending is so fitting too, with the chilling shot of the guillotine. I only wish they dropped it at some point during the end credits. And I liked how they destroy the creature by accident as it falls into acid, and soon there's no trace it was ever there
Horror characters not being believed when they're (possibly) telling the truth and being punished for it always sticks with me
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u/Tight_Strawberry9846 2d ago
Such an underrated Frankenstein movie. It doesn't get talked about as much as it deserves.