 |
Quad movie poster for
Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell, a 1974 British horror film produced by Hammer Film Productions. It is historically significant as the final entry in Hammer's iconic Frankenstein series and the last film directed by veteran director Terence Fisher.
Key Film Details
Starring: Peter Cushing (as Baron Victor Frankenstein), Shane Briant (as Simon Helder), Madeline Smith (as Sarah), and David Prowse as the Monster.
Release Date: It premiered in London on May 2, 1974, and later in the United States in June 1974.
Plot Synopsis: The story follows a young surgeon, Simon Helder, who is sentenced to an insane asylum for "sorcery" (experiments with the dead). There, he discovers Baron Frankenstein is secretly alive and acting as the asylum's doctor under the alias "Dr. Carl Victor". Together, they attempt to create a new creature from the body parts of inmates.
Star Connection: The film notably features Peter Cushing and David Prowse (as the creator and monster), who would famously work together three years later as Grand Moff Tarkin and Darth Vader in the original Star Wars.
Production Notes
The "Helen Hayes" Wig: Peter Cushing insisted on designing the wig he wore for this film but later regretted it, jokingly remarking that it made him look like American actress Helen Hayes.
Cushing's Dedication: Despite being 59 and in poor health during filming, Cushing performed his own stunts, including leaping from a tabletop onto the monster's back.
Monster Legacy: David Prowse is the only actor to play a Frankenstein monster more than once for Hammer, having also appeared in The Horror of Frankenstein (1970). |
|
|
