Customer Reviews

Revenge of Frankenstein [VHS]

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Few sequels live up to the expectations of the original. By taking a completely different approach (dropping the monster in favor of following the much more interesting Dr)than the Universal series of films, Hammer actually kept the series from becoming routine... What matters most, though, is the sharp writing, performances and intelligent direction.

Jimmy Sangster's script abandons all the history attached to the previous films and focuses on many of the issues that drove Mary Shelly's classic novel. He also focuses on the driven, obsessed Baron Frankenstein. Clearly this script (or film) had an impact on Christopher Isherwood's Frankenstein: The True Story filmed two decades later. Peter Cushing gives a skilled, sharp performance and, as usual, he is the film's secret weapon. He could play the phone book and make it interesting. This is one of his best performances in a genre film. Francis Mathews also gives a sharp performance as a doctor that becomes Dr. Stein's pupil.

The DVD looks stunning given the age of the negative. The colors are rich and the wide screen image has been preserved. The extras include the original trailer and production stills from the film. A running commentary from a Hammer film historian or someone involved in the production of the film would have been interesting. Perhaps that will happen when the next generation of high definition DVDs are available. Regardless, this is a fine film that has finally become available again for the first time in years. Snap it up while you can before this disappears as so often happens to Hammer films on video.

Halloween is a good time to dip into the classic horror library, and there are few classics better than the Hammer horror films. Revenge of Frankenstein is the sequel to Hammer's successful Curse of Frankenstein. Peter Cushing returns as the good doctor. Having escaped the gallows 3 years prior, Dr. Frankenstein is living and practicing medicine in Germany under the name Dr. Stein. He splits his time between a successful practice and treating the poor. Of course he has not abandoned his research in creating life. His work with the poor serves as a good source of "materials". In this film he transports the brain of a disfigured assistant into a new body. Unfortunately, all does not go smoothly and Dr. Frankenstein once again becomes a wanted man.

I like the course Hammer took with the Frankenstein films. They focused on the "real monster" instead of resurrecting the same creature over and over. Cushing is always a pleasure to watch and he plays the role perfectly. The picture quality on the DVD is very good and is presented in widescreen format. There are some very minor scratches, etc. visible here and there, but they are minor and I doubt the film has ever looked this good. Colors are fairly sharp and clear, though not quite as good as the Warner release of "Curse". The sound is crisp and audible with virtually no hissing. There are virtually no extras on the disc save for a couple of stills and a trailer.

If you are looking to start a Hammer library, this disc should be high on your list just behind the aforementioned "Curse of Frankenstein" and "Horror of Dracula".

1958's "The Revenge of Frankenstein", really achieves that rare feat of being a movie sequel every bit as good, if not better than the original movie which in this case was Hammer's groundbreaking "The Curse of Frankenstein", from 1957. That film not only changed forever the fortunes of Britian's small Hammer Studios but also made full fledged stars of both Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. Obviously produced to build on the huge success of the first film "The Revenge of frankenstein", is a stylish, thoughtful and well conceived horror story in it's own right with Peter Cushing really making the character of Baron Frankenstein, which he was destined to play six times, his own. With an obviously bigger budget than the first film this effort has the trademark Hammer look, (with some of the sets admittedly recycled from "Horror of Dracula"), and atmosphere including rich technicolour, great period flavour and a sympathetic "creature", in actor Michael Gwynne who fulfills much the same role here as Christopher Lee did so wonderfully in the original film.

The second of hammer's frankenstein films picks up directly after the first with Victor Frankenstein being led to the guillotine, but he escapes with the help of a man named Karl. The good doctor then flees to another town and sets up medical practice as Dr.Stein. Here he is popular because he will give help to the poor, but he's colllecting any parts he amputates. He has also agreed to take Karl's brain from his twisted body and place it into a new body made from collected parts. In the new body, Karl flees and the other local doctors are beginning to wonder about Dr.Stein's real identity. This is a tight, excellant film from beginning to end. The story deals more with human emotions than the first did, we have more of a creation than a creature in this film. The acting is first rate, Peter Cushing is as cold as ice and very sharp in an exceptionally strong performance. The sets, costumes and visuals are of the usual fine Hammer quality. This film is just slightly better than the first, and I think it is due to the acting and the way it just flows along.

With the success of The Curse of Frankenstein (1957), Hammer, not wasting anytime, went into production, with this witty and thoughtful sequel, and which would set the pace for the following entries to come. The three main stars of this film, are, Peter Cushing, of course. Who reprises his role as Baron Victor Frankenstein. Cushing retains the warpish charm and sublime arrogance of Victor's first outing, but here he's allowed to deepen the character, bringing intresting new angles to light. The second star is the masterful, yet somewhat stately direction of Horror meserto' Terence Fisher, who returns to the director's chair , yet to bring another exellent Frankenstein film. Fisher imbues the film with his usual flair, and in a way trys to remake his classic orginal (but in a way lacks the pure poetry that it's predecesor achieved soo well.) Yet the film makes up for it, all too well. With what is the film's third, and main attraction: Jimmy Sangster's script, which is his most thoughtfuly written--and his best. Sangster's script for ROF is better in every way than his previous effort, with nice touches of black humor and some wry social commentary on the self-satisfied burghers of Carlsbruck. Sangster also manages to weave some neat ironies into his tale, not least that Victor literally becomes his own monster( note: also that his own transplant is the sole truly sucessful experiment in the entire Frankenstein series) Most satisfying of all is the thoughtful way, in which the film explores the real-world implications of Frankenstein's activites. Most previous Frankenstein movies treated the brain as if it were merely another organ, like a pancreas, without exploring the idea that these spare parts might have their own memories and agendas. The Revenge of Frankenstein meets this imminently logical concept head on, using it to develop a fresh, orginal approach to a myth cycle that badly needed it. With all the good to aside, I have to express on how sickly I have become on how Overrated this film is (most notably , the critics). Too many times have people and critics alike have stated this being the best of the Hammer Frankenstein series, not giving an ounce of respect to any of the other "Better entries" (yes, you heard me, better entries.) In my own estimation, critics have either bashed, or ignored the other entries , in calling them decidely weak and (oh, this is my favorite, "Uneven." And only paying homage, to "that almighty Revenge of Frankenstein." Clearly, this is not the best of Fisher, nor is it one of his personal works. I would place "Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969) ", at the top, followed by The Curse of Frankenstein in second, and Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell (1973), being equal, if not slightly better than "Revenge", puting Revenge in 4th place, and finnally Frankenstein Created Woman (1967), in 5th, being "slighlty" inferior to "Revenge"(marred down by the fact of the budgetary problems Hammer was having at the time(tacky looking sets). Though one could surely understand people Bashing the Non-Fisher entries, (The evil of Frankenstein & Horror of frankenstein) Lastly, these past comments concerning this film being overated does not mean I dislike the film. The film is "Exellent" indeed! But Im just soo discusted on how the other entries in the series are treated by critics, and people who don't show a fondness for Hammer, or merely the Horror film for that matter. (All in all, I highly recommend "The Revenge of Frankenstein, and without question, Hammer at it's best.

Rating: 4 1/2 out of 5

Grade: A- 93%

I'm reworking my way through the Frankenstein movies,beginning with 1957's "The Curse of Frankenstein". This 1958 sequel (running time approx 89 minutes) takes off directly from its predecessor, where Frankenstein (the great Peter Cushing) has been sentenced to death by guillotine, but manages to escape with the help of the crippled Karl (Oscar Quitak). Three years later, Frankenstein has assumed a new identity, that of Dr. Stein, a benign and philanthropic doctor who tends to the needs of the wealthy by day and ministers to the poor by night. But of course, our dear baron has not forgotten his old experiments or desire to play God, taking the various amputated body parts for his own infernal experiments. This time, he has an able and willing helper/conspirator, Dr. Hans Kleve (Francis Matthews, from Dracula: Prince of Darkness) whom Stein grooms and takes under his wing. Before long, the crippled Karl finds a new 'lease of life' in a nicer looking body, but his mind unfortunately is not all that wholesome, and the cycle of violence continues. Karl finds a benefactress in an attractive and wealthy young lady (Eunice Gayson) who actually shines in her small role. With violence unleashed in the town, the medical council whose members are already jealous of Stein's success start digging into Stein's past and make a startling discovery which may cause our 'good' doctor to be on the run again.

Peter Cushing is simply amazing as Baron Frankenstein aka Dr. Stein. He portrays a 'softer' side to Stein in this movie compared to Curse as in Curse he was all evil, there really was no redemptive feature to him in his pursuit of 'manufacturing' life and playing God. In Revenge, Cushing still manages to credibly portray the determination and ambition that is Frankenstein's pervasive characteristic, but he also manages to imbue the character with a semblance of sensitivity as when he acts as Hans' mentor and also in caring for the poor. There is a bit more depth to Frankenstein's character here than in the earlier movie.

This DVD release has the movie in the Eastman color version and not the Technicolor version which results in a rather muted tone, not altogether pleasing but acceptable. I found the audio quality (2.0 mono) to be excellent. Not much in the way of extras, just a picture gallery and trailers of "The Revenge of Frankenstein", "Earth Vs. The Flying Saucers', and "The Bride" . Final verdict - an excellent sequel to Curse of Frankenstein and with Peter Cushing in the lead, one can hardly go wrong. A must-watch for classic horror fans.

Direct follow-up to Hammer's mega-success of The Curse of Frankenstein(1957) finds the Baron(Peter Cushing) surviving the gullotine with the aid of a hunchbacked jailor who aids Cushing in his experiments in the hope that the doctor can repair his back. Through blackmail opposed on him, Frankenstein also has the aid of a young doctor(Francis Matthews) in creating a body for the unfortunate Jailor, Karl. The experiment is a success and Kral has a new body in the form of Michael Gywnn, but there are defects that become apparent....

Macabre sequel to the original features a slightly more human, but no less determined, Cushing as Frankenstein who gives one of his best performances. Michael Gwynn arises much sympathy as Karl and his transformation as the film progresses is very tragic.

The film is laced with some wonderful Gothic humor, including Michael Ripper as a graverobber and the "patients" of Cushing's Frankenstein, whom the Baron obtains his "spare parts" add a suitably dark touch.
Expertly directed by Terence Fisher and as fast paced as his masterpiece,"Horror of Dracula"(1958), this is one of the genre's essential films.

The DVD is presented nicely with a good Letterbox transfer, but is unfortunately bare bones save for a Trailer. Commentary would have been very welcome on this Classic Horror film and I do hope future editions feature something more.

What a beautiful dvd!Wonderful print, great colour, proper ratio - bliss!
Having been priviledged to know many cast and crew members it is also a wonderful memoriam for those who have left us.Arrived swiftly and safely.
Thanks to all concerned

Right up there with Horror of Dracula(my fave Hammer) and The Hound of the Baskervilles, this Hammer gem has all of the lovely technicolor Victorian atmosphere and macabre tendencies exhibited by title character. Cushing, as always, plays the Doctor wonderfully. Ol Peter could always be counted on to make even the worst Hammer film tolerable.
Film is right on cue with regard to continuity. We are taken to the guillitione(its as if Terence just kept filiming right after "Curse") and the good doctor cheats death only to continue brain experiments while working as a doctor for the filthy rabble by day. SEQUEL:THE EVIL OF FRANKENSTEIN

The second film in Hammer's Frankenstein series, "The Revenge of Frankenstein" is much superior to the initial film, "The Curse of Frankenstein." The film picks up right where the last one left off, with Baron Victor Frankenstein (Peter Cushing) escaping execution by sending the priest who was hearing his confession as his substitute for the guillotine. A few years later the mad doctor is working as "Dr. Stein" in Carlsbruck, where he treats the cream of society while running a free clinic for the poor. Of course at night he is back to pursuing his experiments, and if he needs a arm then amputating that of a pickpocket does not seem all that wrong.

The big twist this time around is that Victor has someone who actually WANTS to donate his brain: Karl (Oscar Quitak), the cripple who helped him escape execution. Victor's new partner is the idealistic Dr. Hans Kleve (Francis Matthews), who used his knowledge of Stein's true identity to get his post. Karl is successfully transplanted into his new body (Michael Gwynn), at which point he learns Victor wants to exhibit him to the medical community. Poor Karl just wants to lead a "normal" life. However, when he tries to escape he is beaten by the sadistic janitor (George Woodbridge). His brain injured, Karl not only starts killing people, he has some cannibalistic impulses as well. In the climax, Karl outs Victor, who is then attacked by his outraged charity patients. Even though he is beaten to death, there is that spare body in the basement that looks a lot like Victor and Dr. Kleve does know the procedure...

"The Revenge of Frankenstein" presents both Victor and the "monster" as more complex and sympathetic characters than the first Hammer film. Certainly Jimmy Sangster's script is much, much better, with the idea that the former owner of all those body parts find out what has happened to them being a wonderful touch of irony. This is one of the most thoughtful explorations of the "Frankenstein myth." The only serious shortcoming in the film is that it is short on the violence. But Cushing and Gwynn turn in fine performances that are hard to match in the Hammer films to come.