The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)

Director:

Terence Fisher

Writers:

Jimmy Sangster (writer)
Mary Shelley (novel)

Release Date:

25 June 1957 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Horror | Drama

Tagline:

(...) will haunt you forever!

Plot:

Victor Frankenstein builds a creature and brings it to life. But his creature behaves not as he intended.

Plot Keywords:

Dismemberment | Guillotine | Scientist | Frankenstein's Monster | Doctor Frankenstein

Cast

Peter Cushing	...	Baron Victor Frankenstein
Hazel Court	...	Elizabeth
Robert Urquhart	...	Paul Krempe
Christopher Lee	...	The Creature
Melvyn Hayes	...	Young Victor
Valerie Gaunt	...	Justine
Paul Hardtmuth	...	Prof. Bernstein
Noel Hood	...	Aunt (Sophie)
Fred Johnson	...	Grandpa
Claude Kingston	...	Little boy
Alex Gallier	...	Priest
Michael Mulcaster	...	Warder
Andrew Leigh	...	Hermann (burgomeister)
Anne Blake	...	Burgomeister's wife
Sally Walsh	...	Elizabeth, as child

Also Known As:

A Maldição de Frankenstein (Brazil) [pt]
Frankenstein s'est échappé! (France) [fr]
Frankensteini needus (Estonia) [et]
Frankensteinin kirous (Finland) (TV title) [fi]
Frankensteins Fluch (West Germany) [de]
Maldición de Frankenstein, La (Spain) [es]
Maschera di Frankenstein, La (Italy) [it]
Maska tou Frankenstein, I (Greece) [el]
Przeklenstwo Frankensteina (Poland) [pl]

Runtime:

82 min | Japan:83 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Warnercolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #18481) | West Germany:18 (VHS) | West Germany:16 (DVD re-rating) | Finland:(Banned) (1957) | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (video rating) (1989) | UK:X (original rating) | Sweden:(Banned) (1957-1965) | UK:12 (video re-rating) (2003) | Australia:M | Canada:PG (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Black Park, Iver, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Clarion Films

Trivia:

Christopher Lee's monster make-up was almost literally done at the "last minute". After previous attempts to design a monster make-up using a cast of Lee's head had failed, make-up artist Philip Leakey made the final design the day before shooting began, directly onto Lee's face, using primarily cotton and other household materials. Since he didn't use any latex or molds, the make-up had to be recreated from scratch every day.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Dr. Bernstein hits the floor after being pushed by Frankenstein, the floor wobbles.

Quotes:

Baron Frankenstein: I've harmed nobody, just robbed a few graves!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Opera Ghost: A Phantom Unmasked (2000) (V)

One of the greatest horror movies of all time.

What more can be said? A milestone in horror movie history with gore, great acting, atmosphere, direction and music. I just can't understand how a monumental film such as this only rates a 6.6. Unbelievable. Undoubtly the ones who voted low on this movie were looking for sex or crappy rap music. Those people should stick to looking for their brains under a moss-covered rock.

Truly great performances by Lee and Cushing as well as the other actors and actresses.

10 out of 10. Watch this horror movie, it's a must.