CheerupSilver Very Cool!!!

Afouotos Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

TaryBiggBall It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

Patience Watson One of those movie experiences that is so good it makes you realize you've been grading everything else on a curve.

Parks "Frankenstein - The True Story" starts with the redoubtable James Mason introducing himself and explaining that what we are about to see is all from the imagination of 19 year old Mary Shelley. It really isn't, you know. This film is a hybrid of the novel, the 1930's movies and the 1950's Hammer version, all mixed up by Christopher Isherwood of "Cabaret" and "A Single Man". The result is a sumptuous Gothic tragedy with a literate script.In this version, Dr. Frankenstein brings a corpse back to life using power from the sun. This is no lumbering monstrosity but a good- looking young chap, eager to learn and with a love of opera. So Victor and his creation get along very well - Victor teaches the creature refined etiquette and takes him out and about. But then Victor realises his monster is degenerating as time passes, and turning back into a walking corpse. As the creature's once-fine features crumble, Victor turns his back on the monster who responds first with confusion and grief, then fury. What I really liked about this version is that it makes the motives of all the key players fall into place. You really sympathise with this creature, rejected by an indifferent creator as a failed experiment. And while the film is not particularly gory or scary, there are some genuinely unsettling moments - like the insinuation that the monster's soul is an amalgam of all the dead that went into making him.There's a terrific cast including James Mason as the malevolent Dr. Polidori (and no-one seems quite so delighted with themselves when being evil as good old JM). Michael Sarrazin as the creature, David McCallum as Victor's mentor and Jane Seymour Medicine Woman as Yokel With Cleavage. Lots of other familiar faces turn up too including John Gielgud, Ralph Richardson, Tom Baker, Agnes "Endora" Morehead and even Yootha "Mildred" Joyce. I've never been a Frankenfan before, but I really enjoyed this one.

brad_and_ethan What can you say about one of the best TV movies ever made? I want to apologize in advance because I wanted to talk about the novel, which although I read just a few short years ago – my memory is failing so I apologize in advance for inaccuracies. First of all, this has to be one of the greatest stories ever written. It's just so rich in themes, and I think when someone takes the novel on, the closer they adhere to Shelley – the better. The clichéd Frankenstein's creature – the lumbering, mindless killer – just can't hack it on a thematic level. This version's creature is not exactly verbose, but his emotions and feelings toward his creator are never in doubt, and vice-versa. To be honest, the novel was far from perfect, and curiously gave the creature a first-person dialogue in many chapters. In lieu of this, the novel I think begs to be adapted to the cinema because its premise is so strong – and the drama alone between Victor Frankenstein and his tragic creation effects a lot of dynamism. The only problem I had with the adaptation is Polidori. I don't recall him being in the novel (forgive me if I'm mistaken), and his motives are not that clear in the story. Hence, he really does feel like a fifth wheel in many respects. Witness the fact that he happens to be on the same ship bound for America as the Frankensteins. After the death of Prima, one could say that Polidori's role should come to an end. I think the disintegration of the creature in this version is a novelty, and I think it worked very well.

JoeKarlosi A two part television movie which claimed to tell, for the first time anywhere, the genuinely faithful tale of the man who made a creature, exactly as its writer, teenaged Mary Shelley, first concocted it. Well, it may be helpful going in to be forewarned that this isn't really the "true story," but it comes close and what matters most is that it's a good film, albeit one that's three hours long.In this version, young Victor Frankenstein (Leonard Whiting) is a medical student thirsting for knowledge, which he gets from the wildly eccentric Dr. Henry Clerval (David McCallum). Clerval has devised a method of restoring dead insects back to life, and his greatest achievement comes when he reanimates a man's severed arm. Frankenstein teams up with Clerval and they are just about to proceed with the ultimate experiment of assembling a complete man from dead bodies and making it live, when Henry dies and Victor is forced to work alone (I'll bet you never knew it wasn't all Frankenstein's idea). The final product is a perfectly attractive male creation (Michael Sarrazin) who has been given Clerval's brain and instantly bonds with Victor, his creator. Frankenstein begins to neglect his fiancé Elizabeth (Nicola Pagett) while taking the time to refine his new Adam. Unbeknownst to Victor, before Clerval died he tried to warn Frankenstein that the animation process performed on the first severed arm was actually reversing itself and the flesh was deteriorating. In a short period of time, the once-handsome creature begins to show signs of his skin rotting and upon witnessing this, Frankenstein suddenly loses all interest in his creation and abandons him. The rest of the film carries on with the scorned monster's journey to punish his master. He meets up with a nasty and cunning former associate of Clerval, the elder Dr. Polidori (James Mason), who blackmails Frankenstein into constructing a female named Prima (played by Jane Seymour).This is a lush and well-crafted Victorian period piece, and the story of unrequited love between the creature and his creator is at the core of it. For those who up till now have only been familiar with the classic Boris Karloff image of the flat-headed monster with big boots and bolts in his neck, this is something else entirely. It's touching but also horrifying at times, with a good cast. In addition to Michael Sarrazin's sympathetic work as the creature, David McCallum's obsessive Clerval and James Mason's unscrupulous Polidori (presumably the Ernest Thesiger character in this one) are the best performances. *** out of ****

kmcnelis I saw this movie when I was young and it made a great impression on me. I have been searching for this movie for years. I had remembered seeing a Frankenstein movie with James Mason in it. I had stayed up late at night on two different weekends, since it was such a long movie. I had asked different people at movie stores a few times, but no one could help me find this movie. I was so disappointed.I was so excited when I found this website and did a search on James Mason and finally found this movie. I have always enjoyed James Mason in movies, and am so happy to finally find one of my favorite movies with him! He was truly a great actor and was able to contribute much to film. Thank you!