Frankenstein (1973)

Such a frustrating disappointment

Nice effects though.

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Among the myriad 'offsprings', I have watched a dozen direct adaptations of the Mary Shelley horror tale (1910, 1931, 1935, 1952, 1957, 1958, 1970, 1973, 1977, 1985, 1994, 2004); this new addition to the list is an average production, not too bad in itself but hardly inspired. The best thing about it is the reasonably strong presence of creator (Robert Foxworth) and creature (Bo Svenson) – the former is as engrossed in his Great Experiment as he is detached from his home life, while the latter handles the character' essentially guileless nature, developing into (and alternating between) brute strength and pathos, quite well. The rest of the cast hardly matters – John Karlen (from Harry Kumel's arty vampire flick DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS {1971}) as one of the Baron's (technically, he is not one since his father is still alive!) associates is killed off early (his inadvertent death at the monster's hands effectively replacing the celebrated one of the little girl from James Whale's seminal 1931 version!) and Susan Strasberg is wasted as Elizabeth.Interestingly, when the film begins, Frankenstein is already a pariah among his own peers – yet, nothing is subsequently made of this, with Dr. Waldman barely figuring in the narrative at all! Again, however, the creation scene being disrupted by the arrival of Frankenstein Senior, Elizabeth and his clueless old colleague (not to mention the harnessing of natural electricity, i.e. lightning, to this end) shamelessly rips off the classic Colin Clive/Boris Karloff picture! The famous educational scenes with the blind hermit from BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1935) are there (except the visually-impaired one is a girl) but these have none of the poignant beauty of that film. However, there is no malevolent figure like Ernest Thesiger's Dr. Praetorius from Whale's even better sequel or James Mason's Polidori in the rival (and decidedly superior) production to the film under review, FRANKENSTEIN: THE TRUE STORY (1973). The death of Young Frankenstein{sic}'s kid brother and Elizabeth herself are ported over from the original source…but the finale is rather tame, bafflingly eschewing a decent final confrontation between monster and mad scientist by having Foxworth slip and impale himself on a spike(!) and Svenson conventionally expiring to bullet wounds fired by the conveniently-arriving Police!! Incidentally, despite being part of a TV series called "Wide World Mystery" and originally shown in 2 segments, the film has been released on DVD as DAN CURTIS' FRANKENSTEIN – even if he only served as Producer/Co-Writer on it. For the record, this was the third of his TV adaptations of literary horror classics: the others were THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE (1968), THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY (the only one I have not watched and do not own yet!), Dracula (both 1973) and THE TURN OF THE SCREW (1974).

For all those asking whether this film is available on DVD - I bought it two weeks ago at the local (German) Woolworth. KSM 22486, German dub only, no subtitles, (c) 2003 Best Entertainment AG. Price: 1 euro.It's really remarkable what hidden gems one can find in the bargain bin. Of course, this is a 1973 TV movie (evident from "place commercial here" fade-outs at crucial moments), and the younger men's hairdo appeared to me rather like "hairdon't"...Also, I haven't read the Shelley novel, so I can't judge how true to it it was (but others have testified to that before). What I can say is that this version, compared to the classic 1931 Karloff's, goes to much greater depths. Mostly because here the monster goes to hide under a shack where a Spanish woman is patiently taught English, and he acquires quite a command of language by just listening. As others said, the focus is mostly on the monster's feelings, which he thus can express quite well.Seen in 2008, most "horror" elements weren't exactly horrific. I found it mostly touching, and in a good sense, to watch a very "other" person experience, struggle with, and discuss life. Oh, and he very almost gets a bride as well...All in all, a good experience. Except for the hairdos, but I cared less for them as the drama picked up speed.

What a great portrayal! Bravo to Bo Svenson for his realistic creature. Finally, someone has played the damned story of this unfortunate from the book. What a wonderful job of acting. The scene with the mirror: "Who's hand, please?" Or when Svenson says, "I cry," in almost bewilderment that he is able to even do so ... priceless acting. I remember watching this on TV and being in tears at the plight of the terrible tragedy of this child-like giant through no fault of his own. No other cinematic telling of the Shelley classic has ever even come close. I remember that the acting across the board was excellent, but Svenson was simply incredible. If this is available anywhere, I'd sure like to have a copy.

In some ways, this was the best of the Frankenstein monster sagas.Bo Svenson, a terribly underrated actor, gave surely the best performance of anyone as the monster.Svenson gave a humanity to the creature that no one else ever has achieved.It's a good movie, but the Svenson performance was great!