Stars:
Peter Cushing, Hazel Court, Robert Urquhart, and Christopher Lee
Writer:
Jimmy Sangster
Director:
Terrence Fisher
Feature
length: 83 minutes
Extras:
Theatrical Trailer
Languages:
English and French Language Monaural Sound
Subtitles:
English Captions and Closed Captions and French, Spanish, and Portuguese
Language Subtitles
Packaging:
Snap Case
Chapter
Stops: 25
Sound:
Monaural Sound
Year
of Theatrical Release: 1957/DVD Release: 2002
Theatrical
Distributor: Warner Brothers
Home
Video Distributor: Warner Home Video
MPAA
Rating: Not Rated
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
In
1957 the Hammer Studios released through Warner Brothers the first of what would
become a series of some of the most popular horror films ever produced in the
last 50 years. These films would make actors like Peter Cushing and Christopher
Lee into international genre film icons. The first of these was “The Curse Of
Frankenstein.” Inspired by the James Whale classic, this loose remake stars
Peter Cushing as the brilliant, but ill-fated scientist and Christopher Lee as
the creation that defies the laws of nature.
The
film was so successful that not only did a sequel follow, entitled “The
Revenge Of Frankenstein,” but also other films featuring Lee and Cushing
in classic gothic roles were produced quickly and released. Warner Brothers
would go onto release “Horror Of Dracula,”
the first Hammer feature to star Lee as the fearsome Count, and “The
Mummy.” All three of these films are available on DVD-Video now through
Warner Home Video and are sold separately.
“The
Curse Of Frankenstein” is presented on DVD with an amazing matted anamorphic
widescreen (1.78:1) aspect ratio with a picture quality that is rich and clear
without any visible grain or anomalies. The colors never bleed and everything
regardless if it is a bright or bland color just jumps off of the screen,
proving what preservation and restoration of films can accomplish. I doubt
“The Curse Of Frankenstein” has ever looked this good on home video before
this DVD. The English Monaural Sound is just right without any analogue hissing
or background noise. A French Language Monaural Soundtrack and English Captions
and Closed Captions and French, Spanish, and Portuguese Language Subtitles.
A
list of cast and crewmembers, notes on the Hammer Frankenstein Film Series, and
the theatrical trailer, which has also been impressively preserved and presented
are the only additional features beyond the film that are included on the DVD.
The menus are standard interactive still frames that are easy to navigate. If
you are a Hammer film fan and want to complete your DVD collection than you have
got to buy “The Curse Of Frankenstein” as well as “Horror
Of Dracula” and “The Mummy,” which
are all available now and sold separately on DVD-Video from Warner Home Video.
©
Copyright 2002 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.