The Evil of Frankenstein *** (1964, Peter Cushing, Peter Woodthorpe, Sandor Elès, Duncan Lamont, Katy Wild, Kiwi Kingston) – Classic Movie Review 2775

Director Freddie Francis’s 1964 Hammer Film horror movie stars Peter Cushing again as Baron Frankenstein, who this time returns to his derelict castle, finds his home-made Creature preserved in a glacier and naturally melts him into life, with reasonably chilling results. Peter

Having returned to Switzerland with a new assistant, Hans (Sandor Elès), Frankenstein begins work on a new Creature (played by New Zealand wrestler Kiwi Kingston). Woodthorpe plays an evil hypnotist named Zoltan, who interferes, resulting in the expected kind of horror chaos.

Though Christopher Lee is much missed as the Creature, Cushing keeps the film on the rails, despite a rickety script by producer Anthony Hinds, who wrote it under his usual pseudonym of John Elder.

Hammer’s third Frankenstein film has a shot in the arm thanks to a new film distribution deal with Universal Pictures, makers of the 30s and 40s Frankenstein films. This means Hammer is able to use of the original 1930s movie plots and make a copies of the distinctive laboratory sets and Boris Karloff’s original makeup for the Monster. Previously, for copyright reasons, Hammer had to be careful to avoid any similarities with Universal’s vision, like the flat-headed look of Jack Pierce’s iconic monster make-up.

Duncan Lamont plays the Chief of Police, Sandor Elès is Hans, Katy Wild is Rena the Beggar Girl, David Hutcheson is the Burgomaster of Karlstaad and James Maxwell is the Priest.

Also in the cast are Caron Gardner, Howard Goorney, Timothy Bateson, Anthony Blackshaw, David Conville and Alaister Williamson.

Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2775

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