History Film / TheCurseOfFrankenstein

* FrankensteinsMonster: A more murderous example.

Fascinated with CreatingLife, Baron Victor von Frankenstein starts conducting experiments of such with the help of his tutor Dr. Paul Krempe (Robert Urquhart). Unlike the well-meaning scientist from the Franchise/{{Universal|Horror}} movies, Frankenstein here is depicted as arrogant, womanizing, and deceitful, with no qualms against killing people for body-parts and having those who obstruct his work murdered.

The film that single-handedly launched the Film/HammerHorror brand, ''The Curse of Frankenstein'' was first released in 1957. Directed by Terence Fisher, the film stars Creator/PeterCushing as Baron Frankenstein and Creator/ChristopherLee as The Creature. Besides being Hammer's first horror outing, it is also notable as the studio's first colour release.

Fascinated with CreatingLife, Baron Victor von Frankenstein starts conducting experiments of such with the help of his tutor Dr. Paul Krempe (Robert Urquhart). Unlike the well-meaning scientist from the Universal films, Frankenstein is depicted as an unfaithful womanizer who has no qualms against killing people for body-parts and having those who obstruct his work murdered.

It was during this film when Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee met in person and struck a lifelong friendship.

The film that single-handedly launched the Film/HammerHorror brand, ''The Curse of Frankenstein'' was released in 1957. Directed by Terence Fisher, the film stars Creator/PeterCushing as Baron Frankenstein and Creator/ChristopherLee as The Creature. Besides being Hammer's first horror outing, it is also notable as the studio's first colour release.

* AmbiguousEnding: Played With. [[spoiler:According to Paul, Frankenstein was put on trial for a murder he committed, though he could lying and was sworn to secrecy.]] [[Film/TheRevengeOfFrankenstein The sequel]] clears things up but still has several continuity errors.

* CanonForeigner: Frankenstein, Elizabeth, Justine and the Creature are all from Mary Shelley's novel, but Paul is an original character created just for the movie to give Frankenstein someone to play off of in his lab, just like [[TheIgor Fritz]] in the first Universal film. The closest book equivalent would probably be Victor's friend Henry. Paul’s surname Krempe is shared with one of Victor’s university professors in Mary Shelley’s novel, but otherwise shares nothing in common with the character.

* CanonForeigner: Frankenstein, Elizabeth, Justine and the Creature are all from Mary Shelley's novel, but Paul is an original character created just for the movie to give Frankenstein someone to play off of in his lab, just like [[TheIgor Fritz]] in the first Universal film. The closest book equivalent would probably be Victor's friend Henry.

* HeroesWantRedheads: Elizabeth is a beautiful redhead with two suitors (albeit one seems only mildly interested).

* DawsonCasting: Peter Cushing (age 44) playing Victor Frankenstein (age 17) just might be the all-time winner of this trope.

* AdaptationalWimp: This version of the Monster [[spoiler: is KilledOffForReal]], normal weapons can kill him, and does not possesed superhuman strength (altrough he's strong) in comparison with his Universal counterpart, who was superhuman strong and almost invulnerable. He also isn't smart as his novel counterpart, and is most a mindless murderer.

* CanonForeigner: Frankenstein, Elizabeth, Justine and the creature are all from Mary Shelley's novel, but Paul is an original character created just for the movie to give Frankenstein someone to play off of in his lab, just like [[TheIgor Fritz]] in the first Universal film. The closest book equivalent would probably be Victor's friend Henry.

* ChekhovsGun: The acid pool.

* TheObiWan: This is the first adaptation to completely dispense with Igor or any variation of the subservient lackey assistant. The Baron has no real assistant in this film. In fact, his accomplice, Paul is the one who taught the younger Victor everything he knows about science and Victor respects him as an intellectual equal. Naturally, Victor would [[JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope be seduced the the dark side of science]] and take things too far. Paul is also a subversion of the trope as [[MentorOccupationalHazard not only does he survive the events of the story]], but he condemns his former pupil to execution for a murder that he knows happened somewhat differently from the way the public assumes.[[note]]Given Paul's role in the creation of the monster, this was probably warranted[[/note]]. Being the better man, he also gets the girl in the end.
* OffWithHisHead: Victor is charged to face the guillotine in the end.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: The old blind man has his grandson nearby when the creature kills him. It's never said what happened to the child - whether the creature killed him too or he ran for safety.
** The [[PreciousPuppy puppy]] chases a ball off screen shortly after it's resurrection and is not seen again.

* AdaptationalVillainy: Victor is depicted as much less sympathetic and well-meaning than in the original book or the earlier movies. The creature too, seems to be in a state of constant rage and appears to hate everyone. Although the poor bastard's brain WAS damaged by shards of glass, so he may simply be in a state of constant pain.

* AdaptationalJerkass: We get two examples. Frankenstein himself is totally blind to common concepts of morality, and the monster he creates doesn't need to be molded by a cruel upbringing, as he is just evil from the get-go. Though it might be less evil and more the damage to his brain.

* DarkerAndEdgier: To both the novel and its adaptions at the time, and the horror genre in general. The Creature is depicted as a mindless beast as opposed to a misguided teenager or an innocent child, Frankenstein is actively evil instead of merely irresponsible and negligent, and there is significantly more violence than nearly any other horror films at the time, resulting in a 16+ rating.

* AdaptationalJerkass: We get two examples. Frankenstein himself is totally blind to common concepts of morality, and the monster he creates doesn't need to be molded by a cruel upbringing, as he is just evil from the get-go.

* OpeningScroll

* NothingIsScarier: We are not shown how the monster [[InfantImmortality murdered the little boy]].

* AdaptationalUgliness: Oh, sweet Jesus, Christopher lee's take on the monster is EASILY the hardest to look at, even giving a [[Film/TheExorcist Pazuzu-possesed Regan]] a run for her money. The other actors even refused to sit near him in his make-up during the filming of this movie.

* AttentionDeficitOhShiny: Justine, searching Frankenstein's lab for evidence of his illegal experiments, is distracted by cages of cute mice and guinea pigs.

* YourCheatingHeart: Despite being engaged to Elizabeth, Victor has an on-going affair with Justine the maid.

* HateSink: The monster. He lacks the lonely and rejected side seen in other adaptations, and, subsequently, he has absolutely no interest in even attempting to befriend anyone, and takes glees in murdering innocent people. Frankenstein himself falls under this trope to a lesser extent.