FRANKENSTEIN
MUST BE DESTROYED (1969)Director: Terence Fisher
Warner Home Video
FRANKENSTEIN
MUST BE DESTROYED (1969)Beginning with 1957's CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, Hammer Films' Frankenstein series had always centered on the doctor rather than his creation. Peter Cushing's personification of Baron Frankenstein was so well-identified by the public by the late 60s, that 1967's FRANKENSTEIN CREATED WOMAN no longer required the lumbering monster. For 1969's FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED, Cushing's characterization was more intense than ever, helping to deliver the most unique entry in the series, and arguably the best. If there had been acting honors for horror films that year, Mr. Cushing certainly would have garnered the top award.
FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED
was Hammer's fifth Frankenstein film, and the fourth one to be directed by Terence
Fisher, who often regarded this as his favorite work. Baron Frankenstein (Cushing)
is introduced hiding out and conducting his bizarre experiments in an abandoned
villa. He lops of the head off of a colleague and later confronts a 
prowler
who runs to the police covered in blood after a fight in his lab. Knowing he's
got to get away, he hides the evidence and makes his way to the boarding house
of young Anna Spengler (Veronica Carlson), using the name "Mr. Fenner."
When Frankenstein learns that Anna's boyfriend Karl (Simon Ward) is dealing
drugs pinched from the asylum that he works at, he blackmails the couple into
aiding him with his experiments while keeping his identity a secret from the
public.
As the bumbling police further their search for the culprit of the first murder, Karl unintentionally kills a night watchman while he and Frankenstein steal medical supplies. Frankenstein and Karl kidnap Dr. Brandt (George Pravda), a basket case asylum inmate who happens to be the Baron's ex-partner and solely possesses scientific information vital to his research. In order to gain the knowledge, the brain from his dying body is transformed into another doctor (allowing for an overdose of trademark Hammer blood), and the resulting "creature" is brilliantly played by Freddie Jones. Brandt awakens to see the shaven, surgery-scarred face of another man and manages to escape, wounded and in utter horror. He makes his way to his home, but his wife Ella (Maxine Audley) ultimately rejects him and he swears fierce revenge on Frankenstein, even if it means his own life.
FRANKENSTEIN
MUST BE DESTOYED is not only one of the finest of Hammer movies, it's also one
of the finest that the genre has to offer. Fisher's direction is masterful,
at times evoking tension worthy of Alfred Hitchcock. The screenplay by Bert
Batt and Anthony Nelson Keys presents one of the most original Frankenstein
premises, full of dark melodrama, anti-heroes forced to do the villain's bidding,
and two coinciding doomed romances. Veronica Carlson's tragic heroine makes
her one of Hammer's most remarkable and talented leading ladies. Simon Ward,
Maxine Audley, and Thorley Walters all get high acting nods, but Freddie Jones--as
the pathetic yet love torn and vengeful creature--is most impressive. Most impressive
that 
is
next to Cushing, who plays the Baron more wicked and determined than ever. Frankenstein
is a murderous, conniving, chauvinistic, raping mad genius who can turn on the
charm when the moment calls for it, and this film gives Cushing his all-time
best genre performance. From his opening scenes as a rubber-masked assassin
to the fiery "cat and mouse" climax, FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED
is a gothic masterpiece and a must-see/must-own title for any serious horror
film fan.
Warner Home Video has done a terrific
job preserving another Hammer title on DVD. FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED is
presented in its original 1.85:1 ratio with anamorphic enhancement. The image
is quite sharp and offers an impressive level of detail. Colors are very strong
and vibrant, and far less muted than they were in previous VHS and laserdisc
versions. The mono audio maintains James Bernard's memorable score full-bodied
despite occasional hiss during dialog. There's also a secondary French dialog
track, as well as optional English, French and Spanish subtitles. The theatrical
trailer is included, and note that this is the complete version of the film,
including the notorious rape scene that was originally removed from the U.S.
version (the film is now rated "PG-13" for "violence and horror
images"). (George
R. Reis)