It was originally broadcast on NBC-TV in late 1973 in two 90-minute parts, but is often seen edited into a single film. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is possibly most perfect example of this. He arrives to find that Victor has left and the laboratory is now occupied by Dr. Polidori (James Mason), Clerval's former mentor. I was impressed by how many well known actors were in it. He is confronted by Polidori, who blackmails him into assisting with his procedure. The film stars Leonard Whiting as Victor Frankenstein, Jane Seymour as Prima, David McCallum as Henry Clerval, James Mason as Dr. Polidori and Michael Sarrazin as the Creature. A notable feature of the production is that, instead of being ugly from the start, the Creature is portrayed as physically beautiful, but then becoming increasingly hideous as the film progresses. After Victor's younger brother, William, drowns, Victor renounces God and declares he would join forces with the devil if he could restore his brother to life. A handsome period piece, Frankenstein: The True Story actually treats Mary Shelley’s themes and plot developments rather liberally. The crew members flee in a lifeboat and the Creature takes Victor below deck to care for him. This FAQ is empty. In the meantime, Victor has abandoned his experiments and has married Elizabeth. He soon befriends an elderly blind peasant (Ralph Richardson). Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Polidori locks the Creature in the laboratory and sets the building on fire, resulting in a series of huge explosions. Victor Frankenstein witnesses his creation turn uncontrollable after he’s duped by his associate, Dr. Polidori. Add the first question. Victor admits to fashioning the Creature from bodies, but Elizabeth convinces the constable that her husband is deluded and the police leave. Frankenstein: The True Story is a 1973 English made-for-television horror film loosely based on the 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley. I recommend this movie highly, it is very well done. I rented this movie the other night. Victor leaves the Fanshawe estate for further medical training. He suggests that this is where Mary Shelley is buried, which is incorrect (she is in fact buried in the family plot in Dorset), despite standing beside a gravestone bearing her name. Frankenstein: The True Story is a fascinating, rewarding take on the much-reworked Shelley classic. Title: The performances are uniformly fine, and the production is appropriately lush for the epic dimensions. The enraged Creature throws one of the assistants into the acid bath as the others make their escape. L. Adam Mekler Prof. Mekler English 102:111 April 17, 2014 Lawrence Lipking’s Analysis of Frankenstein In his article, “Frankenstein, the True Story; or, Rousseau Judges Jean-Jacques,” Lawrence Lipking provides a detailed analysis, not only of Mary Shelley’s novel itself, but also of the criticism of the novel that has appeared over the last quarter century. It works on so many levels – as horror film, as a psychological portrayal of a particular form of relationship, as a period piece… It’s a deeply complex story, and every time I watch it I notice something I hadn’t seen before. Find out in this gruesome, heart-pounding thriller created by legendary talents such as screenwriter Christopher Isherwood and makeup artist Roy Ashton. He then flees the laboratory and jumps into the sea. While Victor and Elizabeth are away, Polidori persuades Elizabeth's family to take Prima in as a house guest. It features some glorious location shooting while having very impressive and almost feature film worthy sets on display. The vampire count leaves his Transylvanian home to wreak havoc across the world. The acting was very good. Page 18 of 25 - About 242 Essays Power Of Love Essay. While mainland Britain shivers in deepest winter, the northern island of Fara bakes in the nineties. View production, box office, & company info, Nicola Pagett, Actress in ‘Upstairs, Downstairs,’ Dies at 75, March 24th Blu-ray & DVD Releases Include The Grudge (2020), April Fool’S Day (1986) Collector’s Edition, The Passion Of Darkly Noon, Best Horror Movies on Prime Video in October 2020, Favorite TV Movies / Miniseries / Documentaries / Anthology Series, IMDb Poll Board Top 5 Horror Movies for Halloween, Title Role Performances — Last Name Titles. The Creature takes Agatha's body back to the laboratory, intent on asking Victor to restore her to life. Shortly thereafter, Victor discovers the now-repulsive arm in Clerval's laboratory cabinet and realizes there is a flaw in the process. Victor unlocks the door and as the ship's captain and crew become involved, the conflict moves to the upper deck. Clerval is shocked to discover that a previously reanimated arm from weeks earlier has become unsightly and deformed. The monster didn't seem to be all that evil until people started being mean to it. Its DVD debut date was September 26, 2006. FRANKENSTEIN: A TRUE STORY was also exceptionally graphic and gory for a 1973 film and included amputations, animated severed limbs, a decapitation, and suggested nudity, which shocked television audiences and left an indelible impression on a generation of young horror fans. Frankenstein: The True Story is expertly acted by Mason, Leonard Whiting (Victor), Nicole Padget (Elizabeth), Michael Sarrizan (Creature), Jane Seymour (female creature) and the rest of a fine cast. He also knows that, upon his death, the Creature will be utterly alone, cursed with an "iron body" that will keep him alive against his will. Baron Frankenstein works with a mental patient to reanimate the dead. Frankenstein: the True Story is one of my all-time favorite Frankenstein films. The character of Dr. Polidori, who did not appear in the original novel, was based on the character of Dr. Pretorius from Universal Pictures Bride of Frankenstein, but named after the real-life John Polidori, an acquaintance of author Mary Shelley who was part of the competition that produced her novel. Absorbing the rays of the sun, the hand responds, flower-like, and slowly begins to open. Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. In the 1973 NBC-TV miniseries Frankenstein: The True Story, James Mason portrays a Pretorius-like figure named Dr. Polidori (named for Lord Byron's real-life physician, John William Polidori, who was part of the 1816 gathering that produced Mary Shelley's novel and also the author of the story "The Vampyre"). As tons of ice begin to fall upon them both, the Creature (in Clerval's voice) forgives his creator, who laughs as he realizes that their ordeal is at an end. When the brilliant but unorthodox scientist Dr. Victor Frankenstein rejects the artificial man that he has created, the Creature escapes and later swears revenge. Victor Frankenstein (Leonard Whiting) is a newly trained doctor, engaged to Elizabeth Fanshawe (Nicola Pagett). I think the movie tried to show us that beauty is only skin deep. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. The Frankenstein Theory is a 2013 American horror film directed by Andrew Weiner and stars Kris Lemche, Joe Egender, Timothy V. Murphy, and Eric Zuckerman. A prospector and his drunkard half-brother must fight a rancher and his sadistic son after they seize control of his farm. Victor attaches Agatha's head to a new body and they reanimate a female creature, whom Polidori names Prima. After some damning evidence was uncovered, it was found that Shelley had actually tried many of the experiments on her pet dog, Richard. When the brilliant but unorthodox scientist Dr. Victor Frankenstein rejects the artificial man that he has created, the Creature escapes and later swears revenge. Here are the movies we're most excited for in 2021. Victor soon introduces his creation (Michael Sarrazin) into high-class London society, passing him off as a friend from a far-off country with little grasp of English. Victor soon realizes the degeneration is irreversible. Action, Certificate: Passed In Victor's cabin, Elizabeth cruelly repudiates the Creature, who (his mind now that of Clerval) then strangles her. The doctors quickly dig up the bodies and stitch together pieces from them, producing a physically perfect body. The script also contains an epilogue following the avalanche:[4] the season changes and the northern ice begins to break apart. Victor Frankenstein's medical experiments result in the shocking discovery that he can revive the dead. It was directed by Jack Smight, and the screenplay was co-written by novelist Christopher Isherwood. Whether you watch weekly or want to join in for the big finish, get ready for these big Spring TV and streaming finales. It was directed by Jack Smight, and the screenplay was written by novelist Christopher Isherwood and his longtime partner Don Bachardy. Scientist Victor Frankenstein builds a man from spare body parts; the monster comes alive and wreaks havoc. It is dramatically engaging, thoroughly engrossing for its entire three hours, intellectually stimulating, and gorgeously filmed. Unbeknownst to all, the Creature has stowed away and soon emerges from a lifeboat, looking for Victor. In this re-imagining of the classic tale, Dr. Victor Frankenstein (Leonard Whiting) meets Dr. Henry Clerval (David McCallum), who is experimenting with reanimating bodies. It also contains nods (deliberately or otherwise) to other filmic versions and yet presents its … 12 of 14 people found this review helpful. The great Biblical romance between Jacob and Rachel provides the basis of this costume drama. One wouldn’t guess it DIDN’T have a chance at silver screen glory. He destroys the deformed arm, but sees the same problem affecting the Creature. The Gruesome, True Inspiration Behind 'Frankenstein' 02/05/2013 10:44 am ET Updated Apr 07, 2013 On January 17, 1803, George Foster sat in a … Victor assumes the Creature is dead and realizes that perhaps it is for the best. FRANKENSTEIN: THE TRUE STORY attempted to elude the more traditional or exploitive ways of Frankenstein-themed films did in the past, and did succeed at reinventing the classic story for a new generation. Learn how and when to remove this template message, List of films featuring Frankenstein's monster, Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein, Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter, Frankenstein vs. the Creature from Blood Cove, Presumption; or, the Fate of Frankenstein, Frankenstein: Through the Eyes of the Monster, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Frankenstein:_The_True_Story&oldid=1020693346, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using infobox television with editor parameter, Wikipedia articles with plot summary needing attention from February 2012, All Wikipedia articles with plot summary needing attention, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 30 April 2021, at 14:51. Write a review. Some shots in the film indicate that at least part of this prologue may have been filmed. He created the perfect man—then something went wrong. I … Certain details seem lifted from earlier adaptations, particularly those of Hammer Film Productions. After his brother's tragic death by drowning, Dr. Victor Frankenstein (Leonard Whiting) leaves for London to continue his medical studies. Frankenstein: The True Story is a 1973 English made-for-television horror film loosely based on the 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley. Prima delights the guests, and Polidori reveals his plan to use her as a courtesan to gain international political influence. Weeping, Victor asks the Creature why he has done this. FRANKENSTEIN : THE TRUE STORY throws most of the book out the window. 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