Entertaining if not also flawed monster horror film that excels in large part for Peter Cushing and Robert Urquhart, with the gothic atmosphere. Dialogue is a bit lackluster but liked the change up with the classic story and fun to see Christopher Lee as the "Creature". **3.5/5**

Even if we dared to omit its landmark importance; it's still a terrific movie.

The Curse Of Frankenstein is out of Hammer Film Productions and based on the novel Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley. It's directed by Terence Fisher, written by Jimmy Sangster and stars Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Hazel Court & Robert Urquhart. Jack Asher is the cinematographer and James Bernard scores the music.

The first Hammer film in colour, The Curse Of Frankenstein began the second wave of cinematic horror some 25 odd years after the Universal heyday of the 30s. Where Hammer's version differs from the Universal offerings, who were carefully watching what Hammer were doing, is by focusing on the Baron himself rather than the actual iconic creature. This approach threw many critics and observers at the time, with some either calling it too talky, or worse still, depressing and degrading. But the box office tills rang, both in Britain and America, and now the film is revered by film makers and horror historians alike. Rightly so.

Plot basically sees Baron Victor Frankenstein in prison for murder, where faced with the guillotine, he tells to a priest an amazing story of how he and his mentor successfully resurrected a dead body. The resulting creation being the one who committed the murder for which the Baron is now charged. The first masterstroke from Hammer was appointing Fisher and Sangster, the former shoots in lurid Eastmancolor; thus setting the marker for the Gothic style of Hammer to come, the latter produced a crackling script that make the scientist of the piece the actual monster. The second masterstroke was in the casting of Cushing as the driven Frankenstein. Then just a classy actor on TV, Cushing plays it in turns as cold blooded and elegantly charming. Lee, only getting the gig after Bernard Bresslaw's agent demanded too much money, actually doesn't have to do much, but his marionette movements coupled with the fleshy patchwork make up of his face make it totally memorable. Both men of course went on to become horror legends from here.

It's far from the best Hammer Horror film, in fact it's not the best of the Universal Creature reinventions. But it adds grit and intelligence to the Gothic atmospherics, its visuals striking as the character based narrative propels eerily forward. 8/10

Not one Hooptober can be complete without a Hammer Horror movie directed by Terence Fisher and starring Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee! This year round I thought it would be nice to rewatch "The Curse of Frankenstein" and I must say, it was a very enjoyable rewatch!

First things first, I'm so happy they don't try to be like the Universal James Whale masterpiece. They did their own thing. Which is very well done. It's also Hammer's first color horror movie and they try to show it. The sets, the colors, it all looks great, especially Frankenstein's lab.

Hammer also brought out the big guns in director Terence Fisher and iconic horror duo Cushing and Lee. I like Cushing as Victor Frankenstein. He really grows into the character over the 6 films. Christopher Lee doesn't have much to do as the Creature but he his presence alone is enough.

Robert Urquhart plays Paul, he is Frankenstein's mentor and basically teaches him everything and tries to reason with him numerous times. But Frankenstein is on a mission! We also have the lovely Hazel Court as Elisabeth, Frankenstein's bride and a lady Paul really likes.

The Curse of Frankenstein is right up there with Hammer's best. If you like horror movies but haven't seen any of the classic Hammer ones, this a great one to start with.

This ended up being one of my favourites, both of Hammer Films in general, and of the works of both Sir Peter Cushing and Sir Christopher Lee. It still works cinematically, three generations later, as my 13-year-old son really enjoyed it as well. Though the filmmakers were forced to use other makeup rather than that copyrighted by Universal Studios in James Whale's masterpiece, that isn't problematic in the slightest for your enjoyment of the picture. Worth a purchase and rewatches either for fans of the genre in the slightest, of period pieces in general, or of the Mary Shelley novel. A fine work which is one of the best of director Fisher's career.