Classic sequel looks great on DVD
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...
More Good Stuff From Hammer
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...
Hammer's Stylish Sequel To Their Original Frankenstein Horror Classic
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...
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