Rent The Horror of Frankenstein (1970)

Spoilers follow ... - The Horror of Frankenstein review by NP

I have for years bored people rigid with my belief that some of Hammer’s most interesting films came during the last few years of their existence as purveyors of horror, as they attempted to boost their fading market. This lead to experimentation, which worked beautifully with some of their output. As always, there were exceptions – and this curio is one.

Peter Cushing, apparently now too old to play the Baron, is superseded by Ralph Bates in a bid to bring sex appeal to the role of Frankenstein. He is surrounded by a bevy of beautiful young women, including Elizabeth (Veronica Carlson) and Alys (Kate O’Mara). Bates is always enjoyable and nicely intense, although inevitable comparisons with ‘how Cushing would have done it’, would never be kind – after all, Bates is playing a philanderer, a young stud. A different take on the Baron.

The jokes are very familiar to audiences of the time – everyone is horny, and the prospect and consequences of sex is tip-toed around for comedy effect, that and an amputated arm giving Victor a two-fingered salute. Dennis Price, a hugely talented and respected actor in his younger days, is much fun here as a lackadaisical grave-robber and gives the best performance in the film.

The resultant story is not that different from ‘Scars of Dracula’, with which it was released, and which also disappointed at the box office. If anything, ‘Scars’ went further into later ‘Carry On’ territory than this – at least there are a few amusing asides here other than skin-flick slapstick.

Dave Prowse’s lumbering, bald-headed creature has a hulking effectiveness about him. The sound of his heavy, chain-crunching footsteps presses at least a few of the required horror buttons, although he is entirely devoid of any personality. Whenever he appears, Malcolm Williamson’s soundtrack echoes H.J. Salter’s music heralding Lon Chaney’s monster in 1942’s ‘Ghost of Frankenstein’ from Universal.

The story itself shadows that of the 1958 Hammer original in a sedate style. This isn’t a bad film (although the budget limitations are as obvious here as many Hammer films from this period), just rather under-whelming. As if aware of this, director (and co-writer) Jimmy Sangster seems deliberately to end the story in the most downbeat way possible.

You'll Never Get Away With It. - The Horror of Frankenstein review by Steve

Hammer's attempt to reboot their Frankenstein series is usually called a comedy, which may be misleading. Really there is just a layer of irony applied to the gothic grotesquery. The story begins again, so the younger Ralph Bates replaces Peter Cushing as Baron, but he's up to the same old tricks.

Bates is actually fine, playing the mad scientist as a decadent feudal aristocrat who likes to swing. Maybe he's a bit crazier than usual, but mainly it would be just weird if Cushing was so sexually switched on.  Plus the leading women are now more ostentatiously cast for their body type...

Though there is no nudity. During the decline of the British film industry, actors took what work was available, so odd things happen like Dennis Price in his sad alcoholic decline is cast next to Jon Finch, soon to play Macbeth for Roman Polanski. Obviously the old souse is much more fun.

This remake might sound like a desperate throw of the dice from a studio on its uppers, but actually it's surprisingly good for an hour, and only drags during the usual rampage towards the end. David Prowse's monster is a skinhead, a feral hooligan. Maybe an attempt at social commentary?