The Revenge of Frankenstein

Rating:
Summary: golden age hammer
Review: Superb film from Hammer.Peter Cushing is, as usual on top form as the notorious baron.The transfer looks amazing with the old,vibrant colours really glowing.If you want to see Hammer at their very best this is one that shows exactly why no one else could touch them.Brilliant.

Rating:
Summary: Superior To "Curse"!
Review: Superior sequel to "Curse of Frankenstein" delivers in this Hammer Technicolor gem. This one is a bonafide sequel as it picks up right where "Curse" left off.Story involves brain transplants(which became a staple plot ingredient in other Hammer Frank films to follow-also check out Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed!)This is a beautifully produced film with great sets, music, and wonderful 19th century atmoshpere. Handsome Hammer production that deserves a high rating in this Hammer genre.Interesting ending as well.

Rating:
Summary: An original approach to the Frankenstein myth
Review: The second film in Hammer's Frankenstein series, "The Revenge of Frankenstein" is much superior to the initial film, "The Curse of Frankenstein." The film picks up right where the last one left off, with Baron Victor Frankenstein (Peter Cushing) escaping execution by sending the priest who was hearing his confession as his substitute for the guillotine. A few years later the mad doctor is working as "Dr. Stein" in Carlsbruck, where he treats the cream of society while running a free clinic for the poor. Of course at night he is back to pursuing his experiments, and if he needs a arm then amputating that of a pickpocket does not seem all that wrong.

The big twist this time around is that Victor has someone who actually WANTS to donate his brain: Karl (Oscar Quitak), the cripple who helped him escape execution. Victor's new partner is the idealistic Dr. Hans Kleve (Francis Matthews), who used his knowledge of Stein's true identity to get his post. Karl is successfully transplanted into his new body (Michael Gwynn), at which point he learns Victor wants to exhibit him to the medical community. Poor Karl just wants to lead a "normal" life. However, when he tries to escape he is beaten by the sadistic janitor (George Woodbridge). His brain injured, Karl not only starts killing people, he has some cannibalistic impulses as well. In the climax, Karl outs Victor, who is then attacked by his outraged charity patients. Even though he is beaten to death, there is that spare body in the basement that looks a lot like Victor and Dr. Kleve does know the procedure...

"The Revenge of Frankenstein" presents both Victor and the "monster" as more complex and sympathetic characters than the first Hammer film. Certainly Jimmy Sangster's script is much, much better, with the idea that the former owner of all those body parts find out what has happened to them being a wonderful touch of irony. This is one of the most thoughtful explorations of the "Frankenstein myth." The only serious shortcoming in the film is that it is short on the violence. But Cushing and Gwynn turn in fine performances that are hard to match in the Hammer films to come.

Rating:
Summary: An original approach to the Frankenstein myth
Review: The second film in Hammer's Frankenstein series, "The Revenge of Frankenstein" is much superior to the initial film, "The Curse of Frankenstein." The film picks up right where the last one left off, with Baron Victor Frankenstein (Peter Cushing) escaping execution by sending the priest who was hearing his confession as his substitute for the guillotine. A few years later the mad doctor is working as "Dr. Stein" in Carlsbruck, where he treats the cream of society while running a free clinic for the poor. Of course at night he is back to pursuing his experiments, and if he needs a arm then amputating that of a pickpocket does not seem all that wrong.

The big twist this time around is that Victor has someone who actually WANTS to donate his brain: Karl (Oscar Quitak), the cripple who helped him escape execution. Victor's new partner is the idealistic Dr. Hans Kleve (Francis Matthews), who used his knowledge of Stein's true identity to get his post. Karl is successfully transplanted into his new body (Michael Gwynn), at which point he learns Victor wants to exhibit him to the medical community. Poor Karl just wants to lead a "normal" life. However, when he tries to escape he is beaten by the sadistic janitor (George Woodbridge). His brain injured, Karl not only starts killing people, he has some cannibalistic impulses as well. In the climax, Karl outs Victor, who is then attacked by his outraged charity patients. Even though he is beaten to death, there is that spare body in the basement that looks a lot like Victor and Dr. Kleve does know the procedure...

"The Revenge of Frankenstein" presents both Victor and the "monster" as more complex and sympathetic characters than the first Hammer film. Certainly Jimmy Sangster's script is much, much better, with the idea that the former owner of all those body parts find out what has happened to them being a wonderful touch of irony. This is one of the most thoughtful explorations of the "Frankenstein myth." The only serious shortcoming in the film is that it is short on the violence. But Cushing and Gwynn turn in fine performances that are hard to match in the Hammer films to come.

Rating:
Summary: Another fine creation
Review: The second of hammer's frankenstein films picks up directly after the first with Victor Frankenstein being led to the guillotine, but he escapes with the help of a man named Karl. The good doctor then flees to another town and sets up medical practice as Dr.Stein. Here he is popular because he will give help to the poor, but he's colllecting any parts he amputates. He has also agreed to take Karl's brain from his twisted body and place it into a new body made from collected parts. In the new body, Karl flees and the other local doctors are beginning to wonder about Dr.Stein's real identity. This is a tight, excellant film from beginning to end. The story deals more with human emotions than the first did, we have more of a creation than a creature in this film. The acting is first rate, Peter Cushing is as cold as ice and very sharp in an exceptionally strong performance. The sets, costumes and visuals are of the usual fine Hammer quality. This film is just slightly better than the first, and I think it is due to the acting and the way it just flows along.

Rating:
Summary: The best of Frankenstein.
Review: This is a wonderful film, and Cushing is brilliant as always. I think it's actually the best of Hammer's tales about Frankenstein. It's got everything going for it; all the things we love the most about Hammer. -The ones that followed all had their very own charm, but they did not surpass this one in any way. A true classic from their golden days.

Rating:
Summary: Cushing is Fantastic
Review: This movie along with the Curse of Frankenstein are the two the propelled Peter Cushing to the top of the genre. I have always liked the Hammer Frankenstein movies much better than the universal versions and this one is sure to please fans of gothic horror. The DVD version is great with wonderful picture and sound quality.

Rating:
Summary: Dr. Stein
Review: We pick up at the end of The Curse of Frankenstein where Dr. Frankenstein had been sentenced to death and is being led to the guillotine. He escapes with the aid of a cripple, Carl, which he has promise a new body for helping him escape. Later a Dr. Stein has opened a clinic where he treats the poor. He continues his experiments in a secret lab where he has assembled a body for Carl.

As Dr. Stein practice flourishes, the local medical council is offended that he will not join their "group." The council visits Dr. Stein and tries to persuade him to join but he refuses. One of the council members Hans recognizes him at Dr. Frankenstein and decides to assist him. Dr. Stein and Hans give Carl a new body but when his brain becomes damage in a brawl, he turns into a cannibalistic monster.

We have another wonderful performance by Peter Cushing as Dr. Frankenstein/Stein.

The transfer to DVD is excellent.

Rating:
Summary: "One of Hammer's best, and most exciting productions."
Review: With the success of The Curse of Frankenstein (1957), Hammer, not wasting anytime, went into production, with this witty and thoughtful sequel, and which would set the pace for the following entries to come. The three main stars of this film, are, Peter Cushing, of course. Who reprises his role as Baron Victor Frankenstein. Cushing retains the warpish charm and sublime arrogance of Victor's first outing, but here he's allowed to deepen the character, bringing intresting new angles to light. The second star is the masterful, yet somewhat stately direction of Horror meserto' Terence Fisher, who returns to the director's chair , yet to bring another exellent Frankenstein film. Fisher imbues the film with his usual flair, and in a way trys to remake his classic orginal (but in a way lacks the pure poetry that it's predecesor achieved soo well.) Yet the film makes up for it, all too well. With what is the film's third, and main attraction: Jimmy Sangster's script, which is his most thoughtfuly written--and his best. Sangster's script for ROF is better in every way than his previous effort, with nice touches of black humor and some wry social commentary on the self-satisfied burghers of Carlsbruck. Sangster also manages to weave some neat ironies into his tale, not least that Victor literally becomes his own monster( note: also that his own transplant is the sole truly sucessful experiment in the entire Frankenstein series) Most satisfying of all is the thoughtful way, in which the film explores the real-world implications of Frankenstein's activites. Most previous Frankenstein movies treated the brain as if it were merely another organ, like a pancreas, without exploring the idea that these spare parts might have their own memories and agendas. The Revenge of Frankenstein meets this imminently logical concept head on, using it to develop a fresh, orginal approach to a myth cycle that badly needed it. With all the good to aside, I have to express on how sickly I have become on how Overrated this film is (most notably , the critics). Too many times have people and critics alike have stated this being the best of the Hammer Frankenstein series, not giving an ounce of respect to any of the other "Better entries" (yes, you heard me, better entries.) In my own estimation, critics have either bashed, or ignored the other entries , in calling them decidely weak and (oh, this is my favorite, "Uneven." And only paying homage, to "that almighty Revenge of Frankenstein." Clearly, this is not the best of Fisher, nor is it one of his personal works. I would place "Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969) ", at the top, followed by The Curse of Frankenstein in second, and Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell (1973), being equal, if not slightly better than "Revenge", puting Revenge in 4th place, and finnally Frankenstein Created Woman (1967), in 5th, being "slighlty" inferior to "Revenge"(marred down by the fact of the budgetary problems Hammer was having at the time(tacky looking sets). Though one could surely understand people Bashing the Non-Fisher entries, (The evil of Frankenstein & Horror of frankenstein) Lastly, these past comments concerning this film being overated does not mean I dislike the film. The film is "Exellent" indeed! But Im just soo discusted on how the other entries in the series are treated by critics, and people who don't show a fondness for Hammer, or merely the Horror film for that matter. (All in all, I highly recommend "The Revenge of Frankenstein, and without question, Hammer at it's best.

Rating: 4 1/2 out of 5

Grade: A- 93%