Frankenstein (1973)

Dreadfully Boring

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Having said that, being closer to Mary Shelly's book does not in it's self make the movie good or bad. I love the Karloff version but it is nothing like the book. From the many Frankenstein based movies I gave this one a 5. Bo Svenson's height was perfect for the role of the creature and he played it with sensitivity.The book is a first person account with Victor Frankenstein narrating the story to the captain of a ship who rescued Victor from freezing on the same ice that the ship is locked in.The only movie that I have seen that is really close to the book is the 2004 Hallmark version. While the creature is more good looking than described in the book, the characters are correct, the chronology is correct and the changing disposition of the creature is correct. It is available on DVD and I recommend it to all fans of the book and/or the movies.

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.

I first saw this movie when it was first shown on TV, months before the other TV version from ' 73, the famous James Mason / Michael Sarrazin one. So to me, it's always the "early" one, and I'm partial to it, partly because I'm that way about all those Dan Curtis TVMs (and of course, Dark Shadows itself). As good as everyone in it is, Robert Foxworth and Bo Svenson were really great as Victor and the Creature. I really agree with Michael Morrison - Bo Svenson has to be the most underrated actor ever to play that part. Just about everything he did was so believable, including the "De Lacey" scenes - this might be the only version that shows that whole family from the book (though, strangely, it made the daughter the blind character in place of the father), and it might be the only one that shows the Creature spying on them at any real length, which makes the next thing that happens that much sadder.

The production values are not great and Foxworth is a barely capable actor but Svenson is remarkable. Despite claims to the contrary neither the 70s TV extravaganza with Michael Sarrazin nor Kenneth Branagh's adaptation even come close to the Frankenstein novel. This modest little adaptation is completely faithful to it's source material. It's a pity that's it is not available on tape or DVD. I saw this on late night television in the early seventies and since I was familiar with the novel I enjoyed seeing it and was surprised by how effective Svenson was as the monster. Dan Curtis (Dark Shadows) who produced and adapted this also did a wonderful version of Dr Jeckyl and Mr Hyde with Jack Palance. I'd like to see that again as well.