Hammer 2022: Revenge of Frankenstein

Meant for Letterboxd, once again I got write-happy and perhaps put together too much of a novelization I had to segment. Here it will be in full as I close out October 2022:

I like how while this is a follow-up to "Curse", Frankenstein (going by Dr. Stein) is somewhat different in how Cushing portrays him from the Baron of the previous Hammer success. The murdering adulterer willing to stoop to certain scummy levels seems a bit less hideous in personality. Though he's perfectly fine with a priest replacing him at the guillotine, assisted by Karl (Quitak), wanting his brain placed in a body put together piecemeal by Frankenstein and out of a disabled shell he finds cumbersome and ugly, "Dr. Stein" isn't as psychopathic, setting up a practice at Carlsbruk, three years developing his reputation even as he serves as a "voluntary charity doctor" for the poor and destitute (many of whom are criminals). Dr. Stein does take parts from them, surgically excusing these procedures as needful for the patients who are unaware otherwise.

Matthews was in a few Hammer productions, this time as Dr. Stein's assistant, a very intelligent doctor and brilliant mind capable of being a protege to such a brilliant (if often morally questionable) mind. Woodbridge might be the standout as a nosy janitor who tells a minister's daughter (Gayson) he likes to be dirty as others in the charity hospital.

The "eye and hand" apparatus Dr. Stein shows Matthews' Dr. Kleve, although taking up a lot of space and machinery, produces quite a creative scene, especially when flame is introduced to show how a living brain is important in "creating life". It was inevitable, though, that the sore medical counsel (losing clients to Dr. Stein!) would be breathing down his neck, eventually finding some "error in character" to create a problem. Not to mention, once Frankenstein does transfer Karl's brain to the body of Gwynn, certain unforeseen issues arise (a head injury and cannibalism, with eventual behavioral and physical change).

While it's on my mind, there was never an actual followup to this specific concluding story. Dr. Franck in London with his colleague, Kleve. The hair style or head scar, the look of the "new" Frankenstein. I like the little touch with Frankenstein's penchant for fresh flowers in his lapel. I guess besides "Evil of Frankenstein", this is as close to a decent Frankenstein as you get. "Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed" would take us back to the bastard scumbag scientist in "Curse of Frankenstein".