How do you top Frankenstein (1931)? The answer is you can’t. Hammer Studios tries with The Curse of Frankenstein. It launched their attempt at recreating Universal Studios classic monsters. It is a full color version of Mary Shelley’s classic horror tale. The audience is given a version of Victor Frankenstein, (Peter Cushing), that blends perfectly with the tale. There is nothing likable about him. He will not listen to his friend, Paul Krempe, (Robert Urquhart). He tries to tell Frankenstein, that what he is doing is wrong. Frankenstein has no moral conscience. He even kills Professor Bernstein, (Paul Hardmuth), to give his creation a great brain. He even has a fling with his maid, Justine, (Valerie Gaunt). This is despite being engaged to Elizabeth, (Hazel Court), who loves him deeply.
Frankenstein creates his monster, not by electricity, but by chemicals. His monster, (Christopher Lee), of course, doesn’t adhere to society’s norms, and kills. The deranged doctor and Paul go after it. Paul shoots him in the head. Victor can’t accept the monster’s demise, and revives him. This results in a bad future for Frankenstein and his creation.
The movie isn’t bad for what it is. The creation of the monster doesn’t use an elaborate set, to bring the monster to life. It is a small laboratory. The color gives this movie a different look. The horror feel is there, but it loses something. The color would later be a standout for the studio’s vampire films that starred Christopher Lee. These movies would make him a star. The Curse of Frankenstein, was his first major role. He didn’t speak, but does well as the lumbering and confused monster. Peter Cushing does very well as the amoral Frankenstein. He is the main reason, that the film is watchable. He starred in many Hammer films, including the Frankenstein sequels.
The Curse of Frankenstein, has something in common, with the 1931 version. Neither is very faithful to the book. It is a common thing in the movie industry. The book poses major philosophical questions, about life and of course death. Some of the more terrifying things in the novel, certainly couldn’t have been used in either version.The makeup for the monster is done well by Philip Leakey. The monster has scars all over his face, giving a good impression of death. It is original and a departure from the makeup of the original, for legal reasons.
Terence Fisher was a struggling director. until this film. He managed like James Whale, to make horror mainstream. He was successful with The Curse of Frankenstein. Fisher continued with updates of Dracula and The Mummy. He even explored werewolves and remade The Phantom of the Opera. It isn’t easy to direct, especially horror, when makeup and effects, can take center stage, but Terence Fisher succeeded.
The importance of The Curse of Frankenstein, isn’t the catchy title. It isn’t another actor-Lee, becoming a film monster. It’s clearly that Hammer Studio’s brought horror to a different level. That was gore and monsters who could terrify. This brought a new cycle of horror film. This gave the genre a sorely needed boost.