The Curse of Frankenstein single-handedly revived the horror genre and brought Hammer to the attention of a worldwide audience eager for more. Almost overnight, Peter Cushing became world famous as the maniacal surgeon intent on creating life from death – and Christopher Lee’s portrayal of the Creature will be the only one ever powerful enough to rival Karloff’s. Making its worldwide debut on 4K UHD, this classic British horror has been painstakingly restored from the best existing film elements, creating the definitive viewing experience of this legendary feature.
After years of intense study, Victor Frankenstein brings a dead animal back to life through the power of science. Overawed with success, he decides that he must now build the perfect human being – from body parts!
This limited collector’s edition comprises:
Six discs in a stylish digipak: two UHDs and four Blu-rays, with the film and new special features content duplicated on both UHD and Blu-ray.
Disc six is only featured in the Limited Collector’s Edition and will not be available in the retail versions of this film.
The Curse of Frankenstein is available in three aspect ratios: widescreen 1.66:1 UK Theatrical, fullscreen 1.37:1 As-Filmed and widescreen 1.85:1 US Theatrical
Brand-new 5.1 mix for all three iterations alongside the original mono film soundtrack.
English, French, Italian, Spanish and German subtitles on all versions of the film.
Packaged in a high-end, leather-feel slipcase with debossed red and green foil titling.
Rigid inner box featuring new artwork by fan favourite artist Greg Staples.
Double-sided poster of original one-sheets.
Eight art cards featuring facsimiles of the original UK cinema lobby cards.
168-page booklet featuring new and reprint articles.
68-page comic featuring a reprint of the comic strip from legendary 1970s magazine The House of Hammer.
The disc features –
Commentary with author and critic Kim Newman, horror anthologist and writer Stephen Jones and Barry Forshaw, author of British Gothic Cinema.
Commentary with Heidi Honeycutt, writer, filmmaker and film programmer, and cult movie expert Toby Roan.
Archive commentary with Hammer experts Marcus Hearn and Jonathan Rigby.
Archive commentary with writer/producer Dr Steve Haberman and film-maker and film historian Constantine Nasr.
Recreating the Creature: Phil Leakey’s Creature make-up is the stuff of legend and an inspiration to generations of budding make-up artists. Academy Award-winner Dave Elsey, from make-up/FX wizards Igor Studios, creates his version of this iconic make-up on actor James Swanton, alongside comments from Phil himself, courtesy of a previously unheard audio interview and a newly-recorded interview with Phil’s son Peter.
A Fitting Vocation/Topped and Tailed: A two-part programme that looks at Molly Arbuthnot’s contribution to Hammer’s gothics, which is often overlooked but cannot be underestimated. Professor Melanie Bell and the bfi’s Jo Botting discuss Molly and her work alongside contributions from actor Melvyn Hayes, who was costumed by Molly at Bray for his role as young Victor.
Good or Tuesday?: Jimmy Sangster rose through the production ranks at Hammer to become one of their key creatives and an influence on many who followed. Writer/actor Mark Gatiss, writer/publisher Dick Klemensen, author Stephen Laws, screenwriter/novelist Stephen Gallagher, screenwriter/producer David Pirie and writer/publisher Wayne Kinsey discuss the man and the impact of his work.
Painting with Fine Brushes: Little Shoppe of Horrors’ Dick Klemensen introduces this previously unheard audio interview with cinematographer Jack Asher, who gives a personal insight into one of his best-known works.
Beside the Seaside: Actor Madeline Smith visits Peter Cushing’s beloved home town of Whitstable in the company of Hammer expert Wayne Kinsey, to learn more about the man behind the actor.
A Gothic History of Frankenstein: Scriptwriter and novelist Stephen Volk discusses Shelley’s original novel, its adaptation to cinema and the legacy of Hammer’s genre-defining 1957 film.
Reviving The Curse of Frankenstein: A look behind-the-scenes at how the new 4K restoration of The Curse of Frankenstein was made.
Hammer Horror for Hugh Harlow: In this brief archive interview, 3rd assistant director Hugh Harlow reflects on Cushing, Lee and his time working on The Curse of Frankenstein.
Jimmy Sangster 1997 Interview: Manchester’s Festival of Fantastic Films interview with writer Jimmy Sangster from 1997.
Frankenstein Reborn: Archive featurette that looks at the making of this iconic film with actor Melvyn Hayes, Hammer experts Denis Meikle and Jonathan Rigby and James Bernard’s biographer David Huckvale. Also includes archive footage of Michael Carreras and Jimmy Sangster.
Life With Sir: Archive featurette that gives a gentle and heartwarming portrait of Peter Cushing by Joyce Broughton, his secretary and friend.
The Resurrection Men: Archive featurette where Little Shoppe of Horrors’ Dick Klemensen explains the revolutionary nature of The Curse of Frankenstein and how it gave birth to a new type of horror.
Hideous Progeny: Archive featurette where Christopher Frayling discusses the transgressive nature of the English gothic literary tradition and its monstrous offspring, gothic cinema.
Torrents of Light: Archive featurette where cinematographer David J. Miller examines Jack Asher’s artistry as a lighting cameraman on the Hammer gothics.
Diabolus in Musica: Archive featurette where composer Christopher Drake reflects on the skill and talent of James Bernard and his ongoing influence as the sound of Hammer Horror.
Alternative Eyeball Scene: The alternative, censored version of the eyeball scene, as featured by Warner Bros. in the US theatrical version.
Promotional materials: Trailer materials were compiled (and restored where possible) as part of the 4K restoration process of the main feature. Also featured is one of the 8mm cut-down versions of the film that were commercially available in the 1960s.
Image Gallery: An image gallery, including behind-the-scenes shots, alongside tracks from James Bernard’s iconic score.
