John Chard
November 4, 2017
8
I fancy that I am the spider and you are the fly, Frankenstein.
Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed is directed by Terence Fisher and written by Bert Batt. It stars Peter Cushing, Veronica Carlson, Simon Ward and Freddie Jones. Music is by James Bernard and cinematography by Arthur Grant.
The fifth entry in Hammer Film's Frankenstein series is one of the best. Playing as a variant on the original Frankenstein sources, story finds Cushing's Baron Victor Frankenstein as an utterly repugnant individual who is prepared to do whatever it takes to achieve his medical goals. Morally and ethically bankrupt, Frankenstein blackmails young lovers Anna and Karl into helping him achieve his ultimate goal - with disastrously ghoulish results for all concerned.
Steered strongly by the hands of the under valued Fisher, pic is not just hauntingly elegant as per being a Gothic mood piece, but it is filled out with macabre shocks, and even gallows humour. Some scenes are striking in their ability to gnaw away at your senses, including the infamous sexual predator scene that has divided opinions (personally I think it's great in showing how low Frankenstein has gotten). It builds to a terrific climax, where Freddie Jones (turning in a super emotionally driven turn as one of the better "creatures" in the series) and Frankenstein indulge in spider and fly bluster.
Despair, degradation and disintegration unbound, Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed is high-end Hammer Horror. 8/10
_**One of the best Frankenstein films**_
Hammer did 7 Frankenstein films in 17 years from the late 50s to early 70s:
1. The Curse of Frankenstein (1957); 2. The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958); 3. The Evil of Frankenstein (1964); 4. Frankenstein Created Woman (1967); 5. Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969); 6. The Horror of Frankenstein (1970); and 7. Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell (1974).
Peter Cushing played Baron Frankenstein in every one of these except "The Horror of Frankenstein" because it was a remake of the original story and they needed a much younger actor to play the role; they chose Ralph Bates (who superbly plays the love-to-hate satanist in "Taste the Blood of Dracula," released the same year).
We all know the basic Frankenstein tragedy: A brilliant scientist is obsessed with creating life and eventually succeeds, but his creation goes on a killing spree, although the creature is nice to kids 'cause they're innocent. Ultimately the monster must be destroyed (and the Baron usually goes with him).
I like how "Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed" deviates from this overdone original plot. The story involves Baron Frankenstein as a fugitive going by a different name yet still intent on continuing his gruesome work. He cunningly manipulates a young couple into assisting him wherein they apprehend a patient from the local asylum to conduct experimental surgeries.
This is one of the best Frankenstein flicks I've seen. It's creative, labyrinthian and full of pizazz. Being a sequel, the film retains the essential elements of the original story but is a natural progression. The REAL monster in this picture is Baron Frankenstein himself; he's no longer a basically decent, brilliant person obsessed with creating life. His obsession has defiled him to the point of enmity, hate, arrogance, violence, rape and murder.
Speaking of the brief rape sequence, I always felt it was forced into the script to make the series more 'cutting edge' at the height of the counterculture movement (1969). In other words, it was out of character for Baron Frankenstein but producers didn't care because they wanted to keep the series 'hip' and profitable in the late 60s. That said, I suppose it can be defended on the grounds that Victor got morally worse as the series proceeded and his arrogance increased; and this was the second to last film (discounting “The Horror of Frankenstein” which, again, was a redo of the original story with a different actor).
The film is highlighted by Veronica Carlson, who looks a lot like Ursula Andress, but possibly even more beautiful (if you can imagine that).
The movie runs 1 hour, 41 minutes, and was shot just northwest of London at EMI Studios, Elstree, and nearby Tykes Water Lake, as well as Stanmore Hall Lodge, Middlesex (Victor’s hiding place).
Another great Frankenstein film from this same period is the Italian "Lady Frankenstein," which likewise puts a creative spin on Shelley’s basic plot. It was released in 1971 and stars Rosalba Neri (aka Sara Bey) as the Baron's daughter who overtakes his work after his death. See my review for details.
GRADE: A
