5. Baron Victor Frankenstein The Curse Of Frankenstein (1957)
The other iconic franchise to utilise the public domain Frankenstein characters and setting is Hammers series of films, beginning with The Curse Of Frankenstein and ending with Frankenstein And The Monster From Hell in 1973. In these films, Baron Victor Frankenstein (played by Peter Cushing for the most part we dont count Ralph Bates in 1970s satirical remake The Horror Of Frankenstein, and neither should you) is exactly as youd expect Dr. Frankenstein to be: a thoroughgoing bast*rd. Cold, sinister and despicable, Cushings Frankenstein doesnt have the patience to wait for the right bits and pieces to come along, and simply murders a kindly old professor for his enormous brain. When his creation is discovered to be a monster, he uses it to his advantage, having the creature kill for him. In later movies, Frankensteins character oscillates depending on the role hes required to play: sometimes that of an anti-hero, sometimes that of a complete villain. In The Curse Of Frankenstein, hes a contemptible murderer.
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