It isnt scary in a way like an action movie is, or even in the way that we expect frankenstein movies to be, for its about hubris, and its consequences. Frankensteins leonard whiting creation is no monster, but a handsome young man of high intelligence michael sarrazin. The true story way back in the seventies and i was really hooked to it. It was directed by jack smight, and the screenplay was written by novelist christopher isherwood and. From the title, and perhaps the three hour running time, you would think that this may be a concerted effort to produce a faithful adaptation of the.
By the early 70s, gothic horror had begun to lose ground to more contemporary and familiar settings, but nevertheless, an ambitious. The first vampire story i first encountered the name dr. Hes waiting around for a ride to the port of archangel, where hes going to hire some hardy russians to go sailing off to the north pole. A comedic stage adaptation, frankenstein s monster, was written by sally netzel and produced by the dallas theater center. The true story experience all the horror and suspense of the timeless frankenstein story, now available on dvd for the first time ever in this unedited 3hour version. It came about because of a holiday exchange with my best friend, who gave me this prompt. The true story, 1973, with leonard whiting, michael sarrazin, james mason, at turner classic movies. One of the most acclaimed versions of mary shelleys classic tale, frankenstein. The film, which now plays as by turns dull and preposterous i watched it again not too long ago. The story begins with captain robert walton hanging out in st.
Three hours the dvd olso allows the film to be viewed both ways as a full movie or in its. Frankenstein the true story extended trailer youtube. The ghost of frankenstein is a 1942 american horror film, and the fourth in a series of films produced by universal studios based upon characters in mary shelleys novel frankenstein. The real story available in dvd ship this item temporarily out of stock online buy online, pick up in store is currently unavailable, but this item may be available for instore purchase. The true character of the monster in frankenstein 1248 words 5 pages. Frankenstein a list of 49 titles created 4 months ago little known horror gems from my childhood a list of 30 titles.
The true story 1973 in this reimagining of the classic tale, dr. It is loosely based on the novel frankenstein by mary shelley. This story is based on the 1973 movie with leonard whiting, michael sarrazin, david mccallum, jane seymour and james mason. That was the delirious declaration i wrote in 1974 about frankenstein.
The true story was originally broadcast in the early 1970s on the bbc on new years eveday. The true story is not a literal translation of shelleys classic. The true story, a made for television twopart miniseries, originally aired by nbc in 1973, and now brought to dvd in its entirety for the first time in the uk by second sight. I was eight years old at the time and this film was one of the few times i have been truly terrified by a horror film. I wasnt much for the original version because i didnt fell like the characters were real, but with this i felt an immense closeness with each and every character. And thats featurelength by mid1970s standards, not the overblown average that is. In jack smights three hour adaptation of shelleys frankenstein theres no voice over, just sepiatoned images of the notable cast accompanied by a theme that would suit a western set in a graveyard. Experience all the horror and suspense of the timeless frankenstein story, now available on. Although the image definitely looks like it was intended for theatrical matting, it was probably a safe bet to release it this way to keep pure to how most people originally saw it.
The true story carries some serious pedigree both in front of and behind the camera, and when viewed as a complete 186 minute feature, this twopart, nbc tv movie of the week from 1973 takes a very unique approach to classic material. The true story is a 1973 britishamerican madefortelevision horror film loosely based on the 1818 novel frankenstein. The true story was made by universal studios for us tv and designed to be shown in two featurelength parts. The true story is a 1973 film about a scientist who creates a monster. Written by christopher isherwood, based on the frankenstein novel by mary shelley. The first feature, in search of the real frankenstein spends the most time talking about what true events might have inspired shelley when she was writing the book.
Dec 10, 2009 here is a 6 minute trailer for the rarely seen movie, frankenstein. Join your faithful grue crew doc rotten, chad hunt, bill mulligan, and jeff mohr as they uncover the true story of frankenstein in frankenstein. The true story guest blog by sam irvin the greatest fantasy film of all time. It was directed by jack smight, and the screenplay was written by novelist christopher isherwood and his longtime partner don bachardy. Recently released in fullblown special edition format by shout. The film was praised highly at the time, and certainly it cannot be faulted in terms of production values, with an allstar cast of the finest actors of that generation, and some lavish and exquisite sets. While a subtitle like the true story might make you think this 1970s tv production hews close to mary shelleys classic novel, its safe to say that shelleys opus did not include crawling disembodied arms, sinister chinese coolies, solar power, or the. Henry clerval david mccallum, who is experimenting with. John polidori in the 1973 television movie frankenstein. It was directed by jack smight, and the screenplay was written by novelist christopher isherwood and his longtime partner don bachardy the film stars leonard whiting as victor frankenstein, jane seymour as prima, david. Posted on november 21, 2015 december 4, 2016 by monstergirl posted in agnes moorehead, bette davis, bewitched 19641972, caged 1950, cedric hardwicke, charles boyer, citizen kane 1941, dark passage 1947, dear dear delilah 1972, dick york, frankenstein. Hints of sublime horror lurk in a big pile of camp lunacy in frankenstein.
Actually, the frankenstein chronicles is about a detective. The true story gained very agreeable viewing figures, whilst in the uk the production was at first released as a cinema presentation in 1974 with a reduced running time of 123 minutes. The true story 1973 1973 bluray 2160p 4k ita uhd4k. The true story is a 1973 american madefortelevision horror movie. And thats featurelength by mid1970s standards, not the overblown average that is the norm today. I was hoping that i would find this movie made for tv on dvd one day, and it happenned. Critics considered the theatrical version was overlong and fairly dull. Librivox recording of frankenstein, or modern prometheus, by mary wollstonecraft shelley.
Victor frankenstein is shown a reanimated severed arm. Victor frankenstein rejects the artificial man that he has created, the creature escapes and later swears revenge. The true story, strives for greater faithfulness to mary shelleys novel than prior versions. Victor frankenstein witnesses his creation turn uncontrollable after hes duped by his associate, dr.
With an incredible cast, including jane seymour, agnes moorehead, michael sarrazin, james mason and leonard whiting, this film faithfully retells mary shelleys. A comedic stage adaptation, frankensteins monster, was written by sally netzel and produced by the dallas theater center. The true character of frankensteins monster the first thing that comes to mind when hearing of the character, frankenstein, is a big, ugly, evil, distorted monster that media has created and shown to viewers for years. The true monster in frankenstein essay 1777 words bartleby. The true story feb 05, 2009 keeping in mind that this is a 1973 universal television version of the story, this was an exceptional and more realistic telling. Victor frankenstein discovers the secret of animating lifeless matter and, by assembling body parts, creates the monster who has no name in the book. By the early 70s, gothic horror had begun to lose ground to more contemporary and familiar settings, but nevertheless, an ambitious twopart miniseries directed by jack smight aired on television in 1973. Since james whales adaptation frankenstein 1931, mary shelleys classic 1818 novel of the scientist who creates life and pays dearly for it has been brought to the big screen countless times, most notably by universal studios and hammer film productions.
The true story 1972 the madefortv movie frankenstein. And granted, the film never comes right out and says its going to be especially faithful to the novel, even if one of its main characters weirdly breaks the fourth wall a few minutes into the film, takes you to mary shelleys supposed modern day, with cars and buses. Basic themes of shelley are included in the story as they were in other earlier frankenstein films, particularly the 1931 version, with some shelley plot elements such as the creature created beautiful, and the climax occurring in the arctic. Staying true to its original television format, universal presents frankenstein. If you assume true refers to things happening the way they do in shelleys original novel. The movie starred leonard whiting, michael sarrazin, james mason, and jane seymour. The true story 1973 episode 109 decades of horror 1970s. Since the 1818 publication of mary shelleys frankenstein. The true story is one of the most sophisticated and undervalued gothic horror films of all time. With james mason, leonard whiting, david mccallum, jane seymour. Frankenstein s leonard whiting creation is no monster, but a handsome young man of high intelligence michael sarrazin. I think the frankenstein monster was not very well portrayed in prenious movies, but in this one, its much closer to the original story written by mary shelley. Petersburg, russia, probably near the end of the 18th century.
In fact, the doctor and his creature are the best of friends until the latters body begins to deteriorate. Is it shelleys true story or that of the screenwriters. The true story is an exceptional film version of the frankenstein legend as far as my experience with the films history goes. Not done in the classic manner, this has been dubbed more of an intellectuals horror movie. The australian production of frankenstein in parts starring george edwards in many of the roles people often made fun of the way orson welles would play two roles on mercury theater radio productions but george plays seven in this and about as many in dr jekyll and mr hydenot so much because of his ego but because there just wasnt enough money to hire all the. The true story is a 1973 british and american madefortelevision horror film loosely based on the. Rejected by society, the monster vows revenge on his creator.
Victor frankenstein leonard whiting leaves for london to continue his medical studies. The true story usa, 1972 ranks among the better efforts from the early 70s. Mostly, these were electrical experiments with the corpses of animals and people, by such scientists as luigi galvani, his more. Here is a 6 minute trailer for the rarely seen movie, frankenstein. The true story of frankenstein at ninety six minutes. The true story, featuring a stellar allstar cast including james mason and leonard whiting, makes its uk dvd.
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