Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell

Plot synopsis:
Baron Victor Frankenstein (Cushing) is housed at an insane asylum where he has been made a surgeon at the asylum, and has a number of privileges, as he holds secret information on Adolf Klauss, the asylum's corrupt and perverted director (John Stratton). The Baron, under the alias of Dr. Carl Victor, uses his position to continue his experiments in the creation of man.
When Simon Helder (Briant), a young doctor and an admirer of the Baron's work, arrives as an inmate for bodysnatching, the Baron is impressed by Helder's talents and takes him under his wing as an apprentice. Together they work on the design for a new creature. Unknown to Simon, however, Frankenstein is acquiring body parts by murdering his patients.
The Baron's new experiment is the hulking, ape-like Herr Schneider (Prowse), a homicidal inmate whom he has kept alive after a violent suicide attempt and on whom he has grafted the hands of a recently deceased sculptor (Bernard Lee). Since Frankenstein's hands were badly burned in the name of science (possibly in The Evil of Frankenstein or Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed), the shabby stitch-work was done by Sarah (Madeline Smith), a beautiful mute girl who assists the surgeon, and who is nicknamed "Angel". Simon tells the Baron that he is a surgeon and the problem is solved. The Baron reveals that Sarah is the daughter of the director and has been mute ever since he tried to rape her.
Soon new eyes and a new brain are given to the creature. When the creature – lumbering, hirsute and dumb – is complete, it becomes bitter and intent on revenge. It ultimately runs mad on a killing spree in the asylum, killing several individuals, including Klauss. Eventually, it is fully overpowered and destroyed by a mob of inmates. Simon is devastated by the loss of life and reports to Frankenstein; however, the Baron feels that it was the best that could happen to such a creature, and is already considering a new experiment with other involuntary donors. The three start tidying up the laboratory whilst Frankenstein ponders who should be first to "donate"...

Tags: violence, gothic, murder

Review:
"Frankenstein And The Monster From Hell" of 1974 is the final entry to Hammer's Frankenstein series, director Terence Fisher's last film, and arguably the goriest Hammer production (maybe along with "Scars Of Dracula" from 1971).
The last Frankenstein film from Hammer is a vastly underrated, grim, eerie and excellent finale to the fantastic series, and it is fun to see how Baron Viktor Frankenstein (brilliantly played by Peter Cushing) becomes more and more insane and ruthless throughout the series.
The setting in the insane asylum, the typical Hammer score, photography and atmosphere and Peter Cushing's great performance make this movie a must-see for a lover of Horror.
One day, Dr. Helder discovers Dr. Frankenstein's secret laboratory and accidentally releases a Monster (David Prowse) in the institution, bringing panic to the inmates and staff."Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell" is the last Frankenstein movie by Hammer once again with Terence Fisher and Peter Cushing.
Hammer's last Frankenstein outing is one of their best; despite the great sadness that went in its production (inherent in the film's overall effect but thankfully not swamped by it), the film emerges as a pretty solid and well-crafted chiller with a remarkable Gothic flavor (all the more impressive for being made on such shoddy finances - the film allegedly carried one of the companies' lowest-ever budgets!).Script and direction keep the action of the plot moving, despite the necessarily cramped settings.
JEKYLL AND SISTER HYDE (1971), DEMONS OF THE MIND (1972) and CAPTAIN KRONOS - VAMPIRE HUNTER (1974), this is one of the last great Hammer films.The Baron had evolved a great deal during his sixteen-year period at Hammer (producing seven films in all, only one of which did not feature Peter Cushing and only two were not helmed by Terence Fisher), reaching its zenith perhaps in FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED (1969) where virtually no trace of humanity could be detected in the character!
The rest of the cast is equally admirable: Shane Briant, one of Hammer's bright young hopefuls, building upon his achievements in both DEMONS OF THE MIND and CAPTAIN KRONOS - VAMPIRE HUNTER; Madeleine Smith graces the screen with her presence, managing to give her character (an abused mute inmate) an inner strength and compassion that would normally be difficult to communicate without words; Dave Prowse's monster is a memorably designed hulk (somewhat overdone in the style of Fredric March's Hyde persona in the 1931 version of DR.
However, Paramount really dropped the ball by opting to release the edited U.S. version: I have to agree with those who condemned them for it, because the missing footage (the artery clamping scene chief among them - as it stands now, the dialogue follows on too hurriedly, making the cut extremely obvious; the scene was not particularly graphic, but it certainly amplified the Baron's character and his dedication to his work) is certainly important and, if anything, helps keep the film's pace balanced as the 'stitching' together of scenes {sic} is awkwardly handled on more than one occasion (see also Bernard Lee's funeral, where Cushing suddenly appears beside the coffin when it is dropped to the ground); similarly, the climax is marred by the loss of footage where the inmates tear the monster apart (on the DVD it would seem that the monster was entirely made up of bits and pieces of flesh, so easily is he dismembered, when we know full well this isn't so!); interestingly, however, though all these bits of added gore are to be found on my murky full-screen VHS, one shot from the DVD is not in fact present - the slashed throat of the John Stratton character!
Acceptable Frankenstein entry with colorful photography ,thrilling as well as chilling musical score by James Bernard and Peter Cushing , as ever , does a top notch performance in the role which made him a terror movie legend , it still stands as one of the great screen acting .
In the insane asylum resides hidden the notorious Doctor Victor Frankenstein (Peter Cushing) who along with inmate Dr. Simon Helder (Shane Briant) , being attended by the dumb-mute Sarah (Madeline Smith , this character was first offered to Caroline Munro) carry out creepy experiments .
Followed by six sequels as ¨Revenge of Frankestein¨ by Fisher , ¨Evil of Frankestein¨ by Freddie Francis , Frankestein created woman¨ by Fisher , ¨Frankestein must be destroyed¨ by Fisher , ¨The horror of Frankestein¨ by Jimmy Sangster and this ¨Frankestein and the monster from hell¨ by Fisher ; all of them starred by Peter Cushing and one by Ralph Bates , besides similar artistic and technician team as the cameraman Jack Asher , Production designer Bernad Robinson , musician James Bernard and make-up by Philip Leaky .This ¨Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell¨ results to be the last of Hammer's Frankenstein movies , being compellingly directed by Terence Fisher , though inferior to previous installments .
I also liked the character of Angel, and the Director as well, the film has it's funny moments as well, not to much that i didn't like about the film,, the brain transplant scene, well could have been better, and a few other scenes , but hey that's minor stuff, all in all i thought this was a great film to end the Hammer Films collection of Frankenstein, and i would recommend this to all horror fans,, and Peter Cushing fans also..
British body builder and future Darth Vader David Prowse once again makes an appearance as "The Monster" (In here he looks like a big bulky hairy Neanderthal).A mild mannered doctor is working in a mad house.
Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell for me is one of the weaker films from the Hammer Frankenstein series- Horror's the weakest with Evil second weakest- but that is not meant to be disparaging, just that I preferred Curse, Revenge, Destroyed and Created Woman.Unlike the previous films the low-budget unfortunately does show in the production values especially with the Monster and the brains.
When Simon Helder (Briant), a gifted doctor himself and a follower of Frankenstein's work, is committed to the asylum on sentence of sorcery, the pair quickly form a partnership that will unleash Frankenstein's latest projectActually made in 1972 but released two years later, Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell came out as Hammer Horror was limping along on its last legs.
But what I have come to find is that staunch Hammer Horror fans have a kind regard towards the film, and I think that is fair given that it pretty much goes back to past glories, if not in scope, but in narrative and atmospheric toning.Yes it is viable to say that it's pretty much a re-jig of the earlier Revenge of Frankenstein, so in that it's a bit lazy, but I like to think that the return of Cushing, Fisher and Hinds suggests they were making one for the fans here, and it's not without merits in spite of familiarity and budgetary restrictions.
I love all Hammer horror films simply because they are a part of my childhood."Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell" is great-the acting is really good and the film is quite scary in a subtle way.Peter Cushing as a Baron Victor Frankenstein/Dr Claus Victor is as always amazing,and Dave Prowse is very believable as an ugly monster.There's a bit of gore,which is quite unusual for Hammer horror.Fans of "Scream" and similar teen-oriented garbage won't like this one-you have to be a true horror fan to fully appreciate this film.However if you like old-fashioned horror,give this one a look..
Last of the Hammer Frankenstein films, this one deals with the Baron (Peter Cushing) hiding out in an insane asylum, so that he may continue his experiments with reanimating the dead, along with inmate Simon Helder (Shane Briant), who has been institutionalized for conducting such experiments.This was directed by Terence Fisher and produced by Hammer Film Productions, so you know it is good.
Cushing is as great a baron as ever, and David Prowse (Darth Vader) makes an excellent "monster from hell" -- a hairy beast with the mind of a professor and violinist.Prowse, interestingly, went in cold to Hammer Studios hoping to play a monster and was initially turned down.
The last of Hammer's Frankenstein series, "and the Monster From Hell" once again stars Peter Cushing as Baron Victor Frankenstein, who, having faked his own death in an asylum, now works there as the resident doctor, continuing his experiments on the side.
When young surgeon Dr. Simon Helder (Shane Briant) is sentenced to five years in the asylum for following Frankenstein's ghoulish work, he recognises Victor and confronts him; before long, Simon is assisting the Baron in building another monster (played by Dave 'Darth Vader' Prowse) using spare parts from inmates who have conveniently passed away.
For once, Victor succeeds in creating a cognisant creature, one that can think, talk and do advanced mathematics, but eventually the body begins to take over the brain—not good news since it originally belonged to a violent ape-like man with a fondness for stabbing people with broken glass.This set up allows director Terence Fisher to explore some interesting themes, not least the emotional trauma of waking up with a face like a baboon's backside and more body hair than Tom Selleck: as Baron Frankenstein's creations go, this is one of the most pitiful, and is rightfully miffed at his predicament.
Fisher also makes great use of the film's harsh asylum setting, delivering plenty of atmosphere, with the gibbering inmates adding to the overall sense of madness and the sleazy director of the institution proving to be as much of a monster as Frankenstein and his creature.
The story is watchable and if you are a Peter Cushing fan, which I am,or you wish to view the complete Hammer Frankenstein series you will definitely want to watch "Monster from Hell" but if you are just wanting to see a chilling horror movie some dark and stormy midnight, you will probably want to find something else.
Sporting the ultra-camp title, 'Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell', this film is important for reasons other than the fact that it's a lovely slice of camp horror, as it also marks Terence Fisher's last film for the great Hammer studios.
In "Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell" (1974), the 7th and final entry of the Franky series from the legendary House of Hammer, we find the good Baron in what I believe used to be politely called "reduced circumstances." He has been committed to an asylum for the criminally insane, which institution he nevertheless lords over as head doctor while continuing his, um, extracurricular hobbies.
Upon the arrival of a crazed young doctor (Shane Briant) who becomes his assistant, Dr. F is back in the lab experimenting with body parts to create a hairy, flesh-munching ghoul.Fisher's attention to atmosphere and Cushing's patented mad doctor lay down a solid foundation, but John Elder's stilted script, cheapo production values (nice miniatures!) and poor make-up FX (the monster looks like Big Foot mixed with Cornelius from PLANET OF THE APES) kill its serious intentions.
In this last movie of Hammer Studios' Frankenstein,  Peter Cushing proves once again why he is perfect as the Baron.
Peter Cushing played Baron Frankenstein in every one of these except "The Horror of Frankenstein." The reason being "Horror" was a remake of the original story and they needed a much younger actor to play the role; they chose Ralph Bates (who superbly played the love-to-hate OTT satanist in "Taste the Blood of Dracula," released the same year).Anyway, "Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell" was the last hurrah for the series.
There he meets the thought-to-be-dead Baron Frankenstein, now going by the name Dr. Victor (Cushing), and they team-up to carry on his gruesome work, creating -- you guessed it -- a monster from hell!
Another plus is the beautiful Madeline Smith of "Live and Let Die" fame, who plays the Baron's mute assistant, Sarah.The story is basically a drama with horror trappings so those expecting the overt horror antics of most slasher films will be let down.BOTTOM LINE: "Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell" is a solid Hammer horror film and a fine way to end their Frankenstein series, but it lacks the color and pizazz of the previous two installments.
The movie is made with quite some skill and solid acting performances but the story doesn't ever really become interesting.What fun it was to see Peter Cushing as Baron Frankenstein and David Prowse as The Creature in this one together.
David Prowse was also convincing as the large powerful creature, it's too bad that his make-up makes him look like an over-sized monkey.The effects look fairly acceptable and there is actually quit some blood and gore in this one, so fans of those two things will also be fairly satisfied.Like most Hammer movies, it never gets scary but it has a brilliant atmosphere and some well placed British humor and crazy characters.
Although not the worst of the British Hammer Frankenstein films, it certainly isn't the best.Peter Cushing (looking gaunt and clearly affected from his wife's recent passing) again plays Baron Frankenstein with his usual cold, slightly mad authority creates another monster, this time from the pieces of dead inmates at the asylum he's been condemned to (but basically runs).David Prowse, who later played Darth Vader in the Star wars series, plays the monster who unfortunately looks like a unimaginatively realized half human, half ape mishmash and showed Hammer was at the end of the line creatively as well as financially.The movie has a sort of sad finality to it as it was to be one of Hammer's last horror films, and the declining budget shows in the cramped, claustrophobic sets.
Shane Briant as Simon Helder also became a well known face as did Madeline Smith just coming from To Live And Let Die 1973.Not a bad flick and excellent directing again by Terence Fisher but it shows painfully that they (Hammer) were trying to keep up with the Gothic feeling.
Terence Fisher directs(for the last time) this sixth and last entry in the Hammer studios Frankenstein series starring Peter Cushing as Dr. Frankenstein, now hiding out in an insane asylum conducting more experiments in life and death.
He is now helped by fellow inmate Dr. Helder(played by Shane Briant) and a mute girl(played by Madeline Smith) The Baron is building a new monster from the bodies of dead inmates, but of course it will all end tragically as it always does...
Where as the Monster was he focus with the Universal series here with the Hammer studio it was Baron Frankenstein who was the linking between the films .
Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell (1974) *** (out of 4) The final film in Hammer's Frankenstein series has a young doctor (Shane Briant) trying to do work that would make him the next Dr. Frankenstein but he's busted and sent to an asylum.
Peter Cushing makes all the difference in this final entry in Hammer Studios' cycle of Frankenstein films.
Naturally, the experiment is fraught with problems.Marking the swan song for prolific Hammer director Terence Fisher, "Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell" is good, not great, Hammer horror, that does remain watchable with its new twists on the familiar formula.
Luckily, he soon discovers a fellow inmate just happens to be Victor Frankenstein.Presumed dead, and working as the asylum's doctor under an assumed name, the Baron - Marquis de Sade-style - has been given virtual run of the institute and its patients, having blackmailed boozy, lecherous director Klauss (Stratton) to secrecy.Together with the Baron's mute, beautiful assistant, Sarah 'The Angel' (Smith), Helder becomes Frankenstein's collaborator in necromancy, filching body parts from dead inmates.
Inside the asylum, Simon realizes that Baron Victor Frankenstein(Peter Cushing, in perhaps his finest performance as the mad scientist)is actually running things as the director(John Stratton, playing him with twitches, almost as loony as the patients under him, overcome by his vices for drink and sex)sits idly by allowing him to secretly have almost total control.
David Prowse plays Frankenstein's Monster for the second time, becoming the only actor to do so in a Hammer film.
The first film in the British Hammer (Horror) Studios series of Frankenstein movies is the best, the second was worth watching, the third was terrible, the fourth was alright, the fifth was good, the sixth entry (more a remake) was rubbish, this seventh and last entry I hoped would be a fitting end, directed by Terence Fisher (Dracula, The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Mummy).
Cushing just about remains sinister, despite his ridiculous wig, the monster played by Prowse to too absurd looking, I don't know fully why critics consider this a fitting final film for either the series of the career of director Fisher, it is predictable, there is no creepy atmosphere throughout compared to the previous films (the good ones), and I was not that happy with the unresolved ending, they could have just left it at the last one where the mad scientist was meant to have been burned alive, there are moments I liked, overall I found it an average horror.
Madeline Smith is also a very engaging "Angel"; Dave Prowse, who'd played him in Horror, does much better as the monster here - shows you what a good director can do with actors - but it's Cushing's movie of course.
"Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell" is a fitting end to Hammer's Frankenstein series in some ways, with Peter Cushing's Baron continually following the same pattern throughout the series, but now from the confines of an insane asylum.
This is Hammer's last Frankenstein film (the 7th in a brilliant series) and it's a good one albeit the monster has seen better days.
The great Peter Cushing playing Dr. Frankenstein for the last time in a Hammer film.
I believe this was the last feature film that Mr. Fisher directed and the last time that Peter Cushing played the Baron in the series.