Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell
| Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell | |
|---|---|
| File:Bri10021.jpg Movie Poster | |
| Directed by | Terence Fisher |
| Written by | Anthony Hinds |
| Produced by | Roy Skeggs |
| Starring | Peter Cushing David Prowse Shane Briant Madeline Smith John Stratton Bernard Lee Charles Lloyd Pack Patrick Troughton |
| Cinematography | Brian Probyn |
| Edited by | James Needs |
| Music by | James Bernard |
| Distributed by | Hammer Studios |
Release dates | May 2, 1974 |
Running time | 99 min./USA: 93 min. |
| Country | UK |
| Language | English |
Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell is a 1974 British horror film from Hammer Film Productions. It was directed by Terence Fisher and starred Peter Cushing and David Prowse. It was the final chapter in Hammer's Frankenstein series of films, and director Fisher's final feature.
It was filmed in 1972 at Elstree Studios, but was not released until 1974.
Production
This was Hammer's final Frankenstein entry. Some fans of the genre and of Hammer films in particular think it's masterful and others deem it a real low point.
The ultra low budget does show in Scott MacGregor's claustrophobic sets, unconvincing miniatures, and the monster's get-up is obviously a pull-over mask designed by Eddie Knight (though the monster is unique in the annals of Frankenstein cinema). But Fisher's direction and Cushing's consummate performance (adding complete madness this time to the character) display a true dedication to this kind of cinema, and the confinement of the asylum only adds to the doomed, somber mood. Prowse, who is now universally better known as the man who played (but did not voice) Darth Vader and who essayed the role of the monster in The Horror of Frankenstein, is able to give the part some empathy.
Plot summary
In this final film in the series, Baron Frankenstein (Cushing) is housed at an insane asylum. He has been made a surgeon at the asylum, and has a number of privileges, as he holds secret information on the asylum's corrupt director (John Stratton). The Baron uses his position to continue his experiments in creating mankind.
When Simon Helder (Shane Briant), a young doctor and fan of the Baron's work, arrives as an inmate, the Baron takes him under his wing as an apprentice. Together they work on a new creature. Unbeknownst to Simon, however, Frankenstein is acquiring body parts by murdering his patients. When the creature - lumbering, hirsute and dumb - is complete, it is bitter and intent on revenge.
The Baron's new experiment is the hulking, ape-like Herr Schneider (David Prowse), a homicidal inmate whom he has kept alive after a violent suicide attempt and has grafted on the hands of a recently deceased sculptor (Bernard Lee). Since Frankenstein's hands were badly burnt in the name of science, the shabby stitch-work was done by Sarah (Madeline Smith), a beautiful mute girl who is nicknamed "Angel" who assists him. When Simon tells the Baron that he is a surgeon, the problem is solved.
Soon new eyes and a new brain are given to the creature in horror gore fashion. The creature ultimately runs amuck in the insane asylum.
Cast
- Peter Cushing (Baron Victor Frankenstein)
- Shane Briant (Dr. Simon Helder)
- Madeline Smith (Sarah, "the Angel")
- David Prowse (Monster)
- John Stratton (Asylum director)
- Michael Ward (Transient)
- Elsie Wagstaff (Wild one)
- Norman Mitchell (Police Sergeant)
- Clifford Mollison (Judge)
- Patrick Troughton (Bodysnatcher)
- Philip Voss (Ernst)
- Chris Cunningham (Hans)
- Charles Lloyd-Pack (Professor Durendel)
- Lucy Griffiths (Old hag)
- Bernard Lee (Tarmut)
- Sydney Bromley (Muller)
- Andrea Lawrence (Brassy girl)
- Jerold Wells (Landlord)
- Sheila Dunion (Gerda)
- Mischa de la Motte (Twitch)
- Norman Atkyns (Smiler)
- Victor Woolf (Letch)
- Winifred Sabine (Mouse)
- Janet Hargreaves (Challer)
- Peter Madden (Coach driver)
Credits
- Directed by Terence Fisher
- Screenplay by John Elder (Anthony Hinds)
- Produced by Roy Skeggs
- Director of photography: Brian Probyn, B.S.C.
- Music by James Bernard
- Musical supervisor: Philip Martell
- Edited by James Needs
- Art direction by Scott MacGregor
- Production manager: Christopher Neame
- Make-up by Eddie Knight
Trivia
- Two of this film's stars went on to play major roles in George Lucas's science fiction saga Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Dave Prowse played the malific Darth Vader, while the magnificent Peter Cushing appeared as Grand Moff Tarkin.
