Frankenstein Created Woman (Ws)

Ironically, not only do we not have the traditional monster in "Frankenstein Created Woman," the mad doctor is also pretty much a secondary figure in the film, although the new twists on the character makes him much more sympathetic than he had previously been. Indeed, Victor is the film's "hero." This is arguably the best script in the series by Anthony Hinds (writing again as "John Elder") and the return of director Terence Fisher to the series is quite welcomed. The casting of former Playmate of the Month Susan Denberg as the, ah, creature did require her role to be dubbed because of her Austrian accent, a final irony since Hammer's Frankenstein films are always set in that lovely part of Central Europe that looks like Austria/Germany while everyone speaks with English/Cockney accents. "Frankenstein Created Woman" is probably the second best film in the series.


WARNING   June 21, 2002
O. Khan (Cambridge, England United Kingdom)
8 out of 10 found this review helpful

this Anchor Bay DVD appears to have serious flaws as almost all of the originally pressed discs no longer play correctly.....those of you who have these discs, Please check them in your dvd players as 9 out of 10 of them have suffered a form of corruption that doesnt allow them to work anylonger...........the worst news of all is that ANCHOR BAY dont apparently have the license to release this title again at the moment, so those of us who have dumped our Elite Laserdiscs are rather stuck with a dud dvd. Anchor Bay who are normally so excellent about handling themselves ought really to start something about refunding those of us who are stuck with a dud disc - clearly something they MUST have had some idea about.


poetic gothic mood piece....nothing more....nothing less   November 13, 2000
7 out of 9 found this review helpful

Most people shunt this film aside, or simply saying it's one of the lesser hammer frankensteins, just because it doesn't have any of the know-to-be qualites of any run-of-the-mill frankenstein film should have. But what most people don't realize that this isn't really a horror film at all, but more of a quirky, poetic, gothic mood piece. A film filled with a great quantity of intersting theamatics, which downplays horror, and plays more towards emotions, and tragides that haunt each one's personal pyche. Cushing's frankenstein this time around is'nt the center attention, but more or so light's the spark on what unfoldes during the film involving his fellow players. The film is beautifully directed by horror speacialist Terance Fisher, (with out doubt hammer's best)., who weaves a story of love, tragedy, and revenge, in such a restraint fashion. Scarificing gore, and the usual mechanics. The perfomances here are all superb, Thorely Walters, who plays frankenstin's assistant, the local town doctor, who appears to be lost and wasted on brandy most of the time in his last days of life, Gives a heart-felt and charming, and sometimes rather awe-inspiring performance, most notably his scences with susan deberg's character, with out question makes this Fisher's most touching of his masterful frankenstein films. Cushing is , and as always just such a joy to watch through every shred of diolouge, that he recites. Though his screen time is much more limited than usual, it has been said by many, myself included that this is probably one of cushng's best perfomances as the baron, though quit benign, not the ruthless SOB that he would be in the next entry in the series(FMBD). Though even me myself can't say that the film is without it's flaws. One of the things i felt worked agansit the film rather for it was(this may sound crazy) it's production design, the whole film felt rather cramped, and rather tacky, which makes the picture fell very clastrophobic, and small, not containing the great size and feel of the films , that were in the prevoius (curse of frankenstein& revenge of frankenstein), i mean don't get me wrong, the story is rather simple, but still rather cramped. the other thing was the whole premise of the film, felt rather flimsy this time around: the capturing and transplants of souls, drifting away form most frankenstein films. Though the whole point was to do something different with the character this time around, but i guess it's rather hard to get used to to the whole soul premise, after viewing other frankenstien films. Altold Frankenstein Created Woman is high hammer art, and not only one of hammer's best frankenstein's, but in my opinion the most itellegent treatment to any frankenstien movie. sO PLEASE DON'T TURN THIS FILM DOWN JUST BECAUSE IT'S DIFFERENT THAN MOST, BUT ADMIRE IT FOR IT'S POETRY.

RATING: 4 OUT OF 5 GRADE: B+ 91%


Will the real Soul please stand up   December 13, 2002
Ned (Eldersburg, Maryland United States)
6 out of 7 found this review helpful

At the beginning of the movie a murderer is guillotine and witnessed by his young son Hans. Years later Hans is working with Dr. Hertz and Dr. Bon Frankenstein (played by Peter Cushing). Frankenstein has himself frozen for exactly one hour, down to the second, where he is trying to prove that the soul does not leave the body. He is revived and to celebrate his success sends Hans out to get some champagne at one of the local pubs. Hans is in love with the owner's daughter (Christina played by Susan Denberg) and spends the night with her but when the owner is killed Hans is accused and refuses to tell where he was when the murder took place. Hans is found guilty and himself guillotined like his father. Christina sees this and jumps off a bridge and drowns.

Dr. Frankenstein retrieves Hans's body, captures his soul, and places it in Christina body. Among Frankenstein accomplishments he is a brilliant cosmetic surgeon and turns Christina into a beautiful blond with the aid of Dr. Hertz. Now with a new body and Hans's soul revenge is sought for Hans and Christina's father's deaths.

This is another excellent Hammer film and with Peter Cushing heading the cast. The quality of the DVD is excellent.


Frankenstein's spare time   April 12, 2000
Mark McKinney (Maryland)
5 out of 6 found this review helpful

Did you know that between creating his own people that Baron Victor Frankenstein also transplanted a soul from one body to another? Well that is what the Baron does in this film. The soul helps a crippled women turn beautiful, but the vengeful soul of her lover leads her to murder. This film contains enough action and terror to keep you interested, but the Baron seems out of character. Nothing against Cushing's performance at all, but he seems almost too casual here not the intense madman we had come to love. Instead he seems more like a man just tinkering around on the weekend. The ending was also very weak, when you see it you can't believe they really chose to end it like this. Still this is a very watchable film, with Peter Cushing and Susan Denberg how could it be bad.