THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1957) The original horror pairing of Lee and fellow genre legend Peter Cushing usually finds the majority of praise being given to the latters performance. However, as well as Cushings excellent turn as Frankenstein, Lees portrayal of the doctors creation is as equally accomplished. Merging a dangerous but distinctly human nature within the character, Lee manages to provide some genuinely unnerving moments as well as some touching instances where its apparent that he is a victim of Frankensteins madness rather than his own. Whilst the horrific makeup that is used gives the creature a grotesque look thats there to shock audiences, Lees powerful performance helps elevate the role out of the drudgery of a supporting character, filling the monster with misguided life and erroneous morality. Combined with his performance as Kharis the mummy and his repeated portrayal of Dracula, this role cements Lees position of one of the great horror actors, in league with Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi and Lon Chaney Jnr.
The original horror pairing of Lee and fellow genre legend Peter Cushing usually finds the majority of praise being given to the latters performance. However, as well as Cushings excellent turn as Frankenstein, Lees portrayal of the doctors creation is as equally accomplished. Merging a dangerous but distinctly human nature within the character, Lee manages to provide some genuinely unnerving moments as well as some touching instances where its apparent that he is a victim of Frankensteins madness rather than his own. Whilst the horrific makeup that is used gives the creature a grotesque look thats there to shock audiences, Lees powerful performance helps elevate the role out of the drudgery of a supporting character, filling the monster with misguided life and erroneous morality. Combined with his performance as Kharis the mummy and his repeated portrayal of Dracula, this role cements Lees position of one of the great horror actors, in league with Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi and Lon Chaney Jnr.