Revenge of Frankenstein, The (1958)
Starring: Peter Cushing, Michael Gwynn,, Francis Matthews, Eunice Gayson
Director: Terrence Fisher
Synopsis: Hammer's first and best sequel to the Curse of Frankenstein
Reviewed by: Ali Khan

The Revenge of Frankenstein was Hammer's first follow up to the hugely successful Curse of Frankenstein. The film sees Peter Cushing reprising his role as the single minded Baron. The story picks up from where the original concluded - with Frankenstein being led to his death - by guillotine. Of course the Baron escapes and reappears in a different village under the name of Dr. Stein. Here he starts off his own extremely successful practice rapidly displacing other doctors in the process.

Three years after his arrival, Frankenstein is discovered by one of the local doctors. But rather than unmask the Baron, the doctor joins him in order to learn from the world's most brilliant surgeon. Together the two restart Frankenstein's earlier flawed experiment in an effort to perfect the process. This time, Frankenstein seeks to transplant a 'live' brain into the body that he has sown together from different body parts. Everything works according to plan except that the brain once transplanted requires that it heal before being exposed to any risk. Sadly, Frankenstein's patient is severely beaten up causing the brain to become damaged thereby once again unleashing the unfortunate creature onto the public.

Revenge had much to live up to considering the success of its predecessor and Terrence Fisher, director of Curse and one of Hammer's finest talents does not disappoint in this second outing. There is a definite reduction in the scare factor as a result of Frankenstein creature being a much more refined product as compared to Curse. Gone is the horribly scarred Christopher Lee. Much of the more unpleasant parts of the film are not visual but in fact implied. We know for example that the creature may well turn to cannibalism if his brain is damaged before being allowed to heal and this is exactly what transpires. But while the film may have less overt shocks, the story is tightly knitted together from start to finish. It is also laced with some quite sharp wit. The films' opening is particularly strong and Frankenstein's reappearance after his apparent death is excellently executed.

Fisher's film also has all the vivid colours that characterised Curse of Frankenstein and much of this was apparently due to the work of Hammer's lighting expert, Jack Asher. Performance wise the film is dominated by the brilliant Peter Cushing. No matter how many times Cushing played Baron Frankenstein he always brought something new to the role. He also never gave in to complacency, always approaching the character with the seriousness and meticulousness that became his hallmark. In Revenge, Cushing explored the depth of the Frankenstein character. Here the Baron retains much of his single-minded pursuit of knowledge and his pursuit of the forbidden power to give life. But while this relentless side is a hang over from the Curse of Frankenstein, we also see the Baron as a more positive character - an anti -hero.
All in all The Revenge of Frankenstein is a worthy sequel to Hammer's mould breaking original. The scares may be less apparent but the story moves along at a good pace and is neatly put together.