Frankenstein: The True Story
Frankenstein: The True Story is a 1973 American made-for-television horror movie. It is loosely based on the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.
| Frankenstein: The True Story | |
|---|---|
| Distributed by | NBC |
| Directed by | Jack Smight |
| Produced by | Ian Lewis Hunt Stromberg Jr. |
| Written by | Don Bachardy Christopher Isherwood Mary Shelley (novel) |
| Starring | Leonard Whiting Jane Seymour David McCallum James Mason Michael Sarrazin Clarissa Kaye |
| Music by | Gil Melle |
| Cinematography | Arthur Ibbetson |
| Editing by | Richard Marden |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Original run | November 28 – 30, 1973 |
| Running time | 182 minutes |
| Preceded by | |
| Followed by | |
The movie added the character of Dr Polidori. He was not in the original novel. He was based on the character of Dr. Pretorius from Bride of Frankenstein. He was named after the real-life John Polidori.
A notable part of the movie is that instead of being ugly from the start, the Creature is portrayed as physically beautiful. He becomes more ugly as the movie goes on. The make-up was by Hammer horror veteran artist Roy Ashton.
It was first broadcast in two 90-minute parts. It is often seen edited into a single movie. The first DVDwas released on September 26, 2006. Included at the beginning is a short intro. It has James Mason wandering through St John's Wood churchyard, London. He suggests that this is where Mary Shelley is buried. This is incorrect as she is in fact buried in the family plot in Dorset. The intro shows Mason standing beside a gravestone bearing her name.
Cast
- James Mason as Dr. Polidori
- Leonard Whiting as Dr. Victor Frankenstein
- David McCallum as Dr. Henry Clerval
- Jane Seymour as Agatha/Prima
- Nicola Pagett as Elizabeth Fanshawe
- Michael Sarrazin as The Creature
- Michael Wilding as Sir Richard Fanshawe
- Clarissa Kaye-Mason as Lady Fanshawe
- Agnes Moorehead as Mrs. Blair
- Margaret Leighton as Francoise DuVal
- Ralph Richardson as Mr. Lacey
- John Gielgud as Chief Constable (Police)
- Tom Baker as Sea Captain
- Dallas Adams as Felix
- Julian Barnes as Young Man
- Arnold Diamond as Passenger in Coach