The Curse of Frankenstein Trailer12A82 min
Synopsis
It would be hard to underestimate the impact of Hammer Studio’s first full-blown foray into the genre with which it would become synonymous. Hammer had been a modest British studio since the 1930s, and after scoring big successes in the 1950s with the sci-fi/horror hybrids The Quatermass XPeriment (1955) and X The Unknown (1956) the studio elected to embark upon a new screen adaptation of Mary Shelley’s gothic tale. Written by Jimmy Sangster, the film stars Peter Cushing in his first major film role as Baron Victor Frankenstein. As envisaged by Sangster and Cushing, Victor is no misguided scientific genius, but an arrogant aristocratic sociopath happy to kill anyone who can either help his experiment by dying or who dares to get in the way. Cushing is magnetic in the role, ably supported by Christopher Lee who brings both a terrifying potential for violence and a deep sense of pathos to Frankenstein’s creation. Director Terrence Fisher uses the over-saturated Technicolor palette to underscore the atmosphere and to revel in blood red. The film is a wild, flamboyant treat which subtly and projects the fracturing nature of post-empire British society in the 1950s. Upon its release The Curse of Frankenstein was castigated by the critics who were appalled by its revelling in sex, horror and moral corruption, while audiences queued around the block. Screening in a sparkling new restoration, this is a rare chance to see this landmark film in horror history on the big screen, and to marvel at Peter Cushing in all his youthful rebellious glory.