The Evil of Frankenstein (1964)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Freddie Francis

Writer:

Anthony Hinds (writer)

Release Date:

8 May 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Horror

Tagline:

He's never been more shocking! shocking! shocking!

Plot:

Penniless, Baron Frankenstein, accompanied by his eager assistant Hans, arrives at his family castle near the town of Karlstaad...

Plot Keywords:

Baron | Police | Frankenstein | Priest | Beggar

Cast

Peter Cushing	...	Baron Frankenstein
Peter Woodthorpe	...	Prof. Zoltán the Hypnotist
Duncan Lamont	...	Karlstaad Chief of Police
Sandor Elès	...	Hans, Frankenstein's Assistant
Katy Wild	...	Beggar Girl
David Hutcheson	...	Burgomaster of Karlstaad
James Maxwell	...	Priest
Howard Goorney	...	Drunk
Anthony Blackshaw	...	Policeman
David Conville	...	Policeman
Caron Gardner	...	Burgomaster's Wife
Kiwi Kingston	...	The Creature

Runtime:

84 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

France:-12 | Australia:M (2008) | Finland:(Banned) (1965) | Sweden:15 | UK:X | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Bray Studios, Down Place, Oakley Green, Berkshire, England, UK

Company:

Hammer Film Productions

Trivia:

Hammer stalwart Terence Fisher was originally slated to direct the film, but had to bow out after an automobile accident, leaving cameraman Freddie Francis at the helm.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Baron Frankenstein first sees the monster frozen in the ice, he calls out to his assistant. At first he calls out what sounds to be Alex, or more likely Elès (the name of the actor playing Hans). When he calls the name out the second time, he calls out "Hans" (the actual character name).

Quotes:

Baron Frankenstein: [upon discovering a hanged effigy of himself inside his ransacked home] Why can't they leave me alone? Why can't they *ever* leave me alone?

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Svengoolie: The Evil of Frankenstein" (2006)

Not up to Hammers' Standards

I've watched this movie a few times and although Peter Cushing gave his usual great performance this film falls a bit short of the mark in Hammers' Frankenstein cannon. First and foremost, there is no continuity between this film and it's predecessor, the very well done,"The Revenge Of Frankenstein" This has a lot to do with Freddie Francis being Director instead of Terence Fisher. Kiwi Kingston looks like a 3rd rate Boris Karloff, however, being an ex wrestler, and not an actor, also, wearing very bad makeup he does his best with the material handed to him. The supporting cast, Sandor Eles, Peter Woodthorpe, Duncan Lamont, and David Hutcheson, do an OK job, it's just that with the very good "Curse Of Frankanstein" and the excellent "The Revenge Of Frankenstein" i was expecting a lot more. It's still a film worth seeing. Grab that popcorn and enjoy. John R. Tracy