Frankenstein (1973 film)
Frankenstein is a 1973 American television movie adaptation of Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus adapted by Sam Hall and Dark Shadows creator Dan Curtis, with Robert Foxworth in the title role and Bo Svenson as the Monster.
| Frankenstein | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Horror |
| Written by | Sam Hall Dan Curtis |
| Directed by | Glenn Jordan |
| Starring | Robert Foxworth Susan Strasberg Bo Svenson |
| Music by | Robert Cobert |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Dan Curtis |
| Cinematography | Ben Colman |
| Editor(s) | Dennis Virkler |
| Running time | 180 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Dan Curtis Productions |
| Distributor | ABC |
| Release | |
| Original release | January 16, 1973 |
Cast
- Robert Foxworth as Dr. Victor Frankenstein
- Susan Strasberg as Elizabeth Lavenza
- Bo Svenson as The Monster
- Robert Gentry as Dr. Henry Clerval
- Heidi Vaughn as Agatha DeLacey
- Philip Bourneuf as Alphonse Frankenstein
- Robert Gentry as Henri Clerval
- Jon Lormer as Charles DeLacey
- William Hansen as Professor Waldman
- John Karlen as Otto Roget
Production
The Robert Cobert score was not original to this film. Cobert used musical cues from Dark Shadows and Dan Curtis' adaptation of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.[1]
The film was shown over two nights on ABC's Wide World of Mystery.[2] Part 1 of the film was shown on the same night, and on the same network, as another of Curtis' productions, The Night Strangler.[3] The film was quickly overshadowed by the more lavishly budgeted Frankenstein: The True Story which premiered later that same year.[4][3]
Reception
At the time of its release, the film garnered praise. Variety called the film "extraordinary entertainment."[4] The Los Angeles Times said it was "quite a handsome show, with huge, foreboding sets and a splendid array of special effects."[4] Radu Florescu's In Search of Frankenstein declared it "probably the most faithful rendering the screen has yet seen."[4]
Modern reviews have been less effusive with CHUD.com saying "Ultimately, I can’t recommend Dan Curtis’ Frankenstein, but it was fun to watch....No, it's not good television and it doesn't make a good movie, but it's faithful to the text and reminds me of an era long gone."[5] Comingsoon.net said of the film "As a whole, “Frankenstein” is an admirable accomplishment but it's also unmistakably a work of its time with its shot on video, stage-bound look lending it the feel of a situation comedy or SNL sketch."[6]
References
- Thompson 2009, p. 96.
- Deal 2014, p. 69.
- Deal 2014, p. 71.
- Thompson 2009, p. 97.
- Van Dreason 2008.
- Allard 2007.
- Allard, Jeff (November 5, 2007), Dan Curtis' Frankenstein, Comingsoon.net, retrieved March 23, 2017
- Deal, David (2014), Television Fright Films of the 1970s, McFarland & Company, ISBN 9780786455140
- Thompson, Jeff (2009), The Television Horrors of Dan Curtis: Dark Shadows, The Night Stalker and Other Productions, 1966-2006, McFarland & Company, ISBN 9780786453375
- Van Dreason, Jeff (January 8, 2008), DVD Review: Dan Curtis' Frankenstein, CHUD.com, retrieved March 23, 2017