With
terrific direction by Terence Fisher and an outstanding performance by
Peter Cushing, FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED ($20) is undoubtedly
one of the premiere entries in the Hammer Frankenstein series. While
Cushing’s Baron Victor Frankenstein is as cold, calculating and
murderous as he has ever been, this film is the first time since CURSE
OF FRANKENSTEIN that the character’s carnal side surfaces. In one of
the film’s most shocking sequences, Frankenstein displays the kind of
unthinking animal lust that one would normally associate with one of his
earlier failed creations. The plot of FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED
finds the Baron’s scientific experiments heading in a new direction,
since he has already mastered bringing life to bodies he has assembled
from bits and pieces of various corpses. Vital to the Baron’s latest
research is the work of collaborator, Dr. Frederick Brandt (George
Pravda), who has become hopelessly insane.
Blackmailing
his new landlady Anna Spengler (Veronica Carlson) and her fiancée Dr.
Karl Holst (Simon Ward) into helping him, Frankenstein retrieves Dr.
Brandt from the asylum where he is incarcerated. However, before
Frankenstein can cure Brandt’s insanity, he suffers a heart attack,
necessitating that the dying scientist’s brain is transplanted into the
body of Professor Richter (Freddie Jones). Once cured of his insanity,
Brandt awakens to the horror of seeing a face he does not recognize in the
mirror and the heartbreak of losing his devoted wife Ella (Maxine Audley),
who believes him to be dead at Frankenstein’s hands. The cast of FRANKENSTEIN
MUST BE DESTROYED also includes Thorley Walters, Geoffrey Bayldon and
Colette O'Neil.
Warner
Home Video has made FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED available on DVD
in a 1.78:1 wide screen presentation that has been enhanced for playback
on 16:9 displays. This is a truly fine looking presentation of a classic
Hammer film from the folks at Warner. The image appears sharp and provides
a good level of detail. Colors are very solid, appearing better saturated
than they have in past video incarnations. For the most part, the lurid
hues seem representative of how an original Technicolor print would have
looked. Blacks are deep, while the whites appear stable and the contrast
is smooth. The film element used for the transfer is in great shape,
showing few signs of age, although a grain structure is noticeable during
much of the presentation. Digital compression artifacts are nicely
camouflaged throughout.
FRANKENSTEIN
MUST BE DESTROYED comes with a perfectly respectable Dolby Digital
monaural soundtrack. There is a bit more background hiss than one may
like, but for the most part, it isn’t terribly bothersome. There are the
expected limitations in musical fidelity, but James Bernard’s score does
come across reasonably well. Dialogue is always understandable, although
voices can seem a bit raspy at times. A French monaural track has also
been provided on the DVD, along with English, French and Spanish
subtitles. Music underscores the basic interactive menus, which provide
access to standard scene selection and set up features, as well as a
theatrical trailer for FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED.
FRANKENSTEIN
MUST BE DESTROYED is indeed one of the best outings in the entire
Hammer Frankenstein series. Warner’s DVD looks great and offers adequate
sound. Despite the sonic imperfections, Hammer fans will want to own this
DVD based on the film’s significance and the quality of the visual
presentation.
With
terrific direction by Terence Fisher and an outstanding performance by
Peter Cushing, FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED ($20) is undoubtedly
one of the premiere entries in the Hammer Frankenstein series. While
Cushing’s Baron Victor Frankenstein is as cold, calculating and
murderous as he has ever been, this film is the first time since CURSE
OF FRANKENSTEIN that the character’s carnal side surfaces. In one of
the film’s most shocking sequences, Frankenstein displays the kind of
unthinking animal lust that one would normally associate with one of his
earlier failed creations. The plot of FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED
finds the Baron’s scientific experiments heading in a new direction,
since he has already mastered bringing life to bodies he has assembled
from bits and pieces of various corpses. Vital to the Baron’s latest
research is the work of collaborator, Dr. Frederick Brandt (George
Pravda), who has become hopelessly insane.
Blackmailing
his new landlady Anna Spengler (Veronica Carlson) and her fiancée Dr.
Karl Holst (Simon Ward) into helping him, Frankenstein retrieves Dr.
Brandt from the asylum where he is incarcerated. However, before
Frankenstein can cure Brandt’s insanity, he suffers a heart attack,
necessitating that the dying scientist’s brain is transplanted into the
body of Professor Richter (Freddie Jones). Once cured of his insanity,
Brandt awakens to the horror of seeing a face he does not recognize in the
mirror and the heartbreak of losing his devoted wife Ella (Maxine Audley),
who believes him to be dead at Frankenstein’s hands. The cast of FRANKENSTEIN
MUST BE DESTROYED also includes Thorley Walters, Geoffrey Bayldon and
Colette O'Neil.
Warner
Home Video has made FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED available on DVD
in a 1.78:1 wide screen presentation that has been enhanced for playback
on 16:9 displays. This is a truly fine looking presentation of a classic
Hammer film from the folks at Warner. The image appears sharp and provides
a good level of detail. Colors are very solid, appearing better saturated
than they have in past video incarnations. For the most part, the lurid
hues seem representative of how an original Technicolor print would have
looked. Blacks are deep, while the whites appear stable and the contrast
is smooth. The film element used for the transfer is in great shape,
showing few signs of age, although a grain structure is noticeable during
much of the presentation. Digital compression artifacts are nicely
camouflaged throughout.
FRANKENSTEIN
MUST BE DESTROYED comes with a perfectly respectable Dolby Digital
monaural soundtrack. There is a bit more background hiss than one may
like, but for the most part, it isn’t terribly bothersome. There are the
expected limitations in musical fidelity, but James Bernard’s score does
come across reasonably well. Dialogue is always understandable, although
voices can seem a bit raspy at times. A French monaural track has also
been provided on the DVD, along with English, French and Spanish
subtitles. Music underscores the basic interactive menus, which provide
access to standard scene selection and set up features, as well as a
theatrical trailer for FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED.
FRANKENSTEIN
MUST BE DESTROYED is indeed one of the best outings in the entire
Hammer Frankenstein series. Warner’s DVD looks great and offers adequate
sound. Despite the sonic imperfections, Hammer fans will want to own this
DVD based on the film’s significance and the quality of the visual
presentation.
