Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Frankenstein: The True Story Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf March 17, 2020

The title “Frankenstein: The True Story” promises something more biographical about original author Mary Shelley. The picture doesn’t bother with the writer, instead using the titular promise as a way to revisit the central tale of man and monster, with the screenplay (by Don Bachardy and Christopher Isherwood) looking for a fresh way to approach old business, dialing back the Victor Frankenstein character, turning him into a driven man dealing with special influences that lead him to bad decisions concerning the ways of creation. A two-part television movie directed by Jack Smight, “Frankenstein: The True Story” is a lavish take on the core tale of danger, and while it’s a relentlessly talky endeavor, it remains engrossing thanks to a large cast of acting greats, who do amazing work breathing life into a production that’s very careful not to push too hard on horror.

After losing a family member, Victor (Leonard Whiting) is looking to decode life after death, finding a teacher in Henry (David McCallum), a mad scientist who’s cracked the code on reanimating dead flesh. Teaming up, the pair construct the Creature (Michael Sarrazin), with Victor finding a place for the monster in society, offering him companionship. However, Dr. Polidori (James Mason) is aware of Victor’s actions, hoping to build on the breakthrough with the Creature, pulling young Agatha (Jane Seymour) back from the dead for nefarious purposes, directly challenging Victor’s sanity.

With a lengthy run time (186 minutes) and a tale that’s split into two chapters, “Frankenstein: The True Story” has a lot of downtime between monster missions, and the dramatic elements of the screenplay aren’t terribly captivating, with the writing going very theatrical with the characters, flattening the movie when it doesn’t have something ghoulish to do. Domestic issues for Victor lack passion, and the Creature’s journey to find his place in the world isn’t spellbinding, but Smight tries to make his moments count when he can. Technical achievements are most impressive here, with fantastic locations, cavernous sets, and careful attention to color and lighting really making all the difference, achieving a sense of doom. It gives the production a needed cinematic boost, especially with laboratory sequences, which handle with ideal weirdness and mystery, making “Frankenstein: The True Story” one of the more successful Shelley-inspired endeavors when it comes to the manufacturing of the Creature, soon joined by the reconstruction of Agatha.

Frankenstein: The True Story Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.33:1 aspect ratio) presentation delivers a new 2K scan of the "original film elements" for the disc, and it does wonders to make "Frankenstein: The True Story" look fresh and inviting. Colors are especially vivid, with primaries offering wonderful distinction with laboratory visits, finding all the colored lights and bubbling liquids generating the weird science tone. More gothic and regal encounters enjoy secure hues, along with costuming. Skintones are natural. Detail is sharp throughout the viewing event, highlighting makeup work on various monsters, and set tours are impressive, capturing decoration and dimension. Source has speckling and some mild wear and tear. Delineation struggles with dense clothing and dark encounters, with solidification periodic.

Frankenstein: The True Story Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix does a fine job with the basics of the film, which puts most focus on dialogue exchanges, keeping accents and emotional surges open for appreciation. Scoring is comfortable, supporting with clear instrumentation, setting various moods. Sound effects are appreciable, especially with crackly and explosive lab work, and group activity is defined.

Frankenstein: The True Story Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historian Sam Irvin.

• Introduction (5:45, HD) is a strange bit of promotion, with actor James Mason welcoming viewers to "Frankenstein: The True Story," taking cameras to the Mary Shelley's grave, which looks to be a Styrofoam tombstone placed in a real cemetery (turns out, it's not Shelly's actual final resting place). A story overview is provided, along with numerous clips from the movie.

• "Off with Her Head" (24:16, HD) is an interview with Jane Seymour, who shares her troubles while shooting the James Bond extravaganza, "Live and Let Die," having a rough time on the production. An offer for "Frankenstein: The True Story" arrived mid-production, allowing the actress to jump into a new challenge right away. Co-stars are assessed, with Seymour admitting her thrill to be around all her heroes and crushes during this time, embracing the magic of the moment. Character work is examined, with the star putting in time to perfect a special accent and deal with hair and makeup requirements, also tasked with choosing a body double for her nude scenes (she swears that anytime you've seen her naked in a movie, it isn't her). Seymour discusses her focus on piano training, the patience required to make a "death mask," and how she dealt with boredom on the shoot, embracing embroidery. Past dance mastery was required for the part, requiring the thespian to reunite with her ballet skills for a ballroom party sequence. There's some discussion of power plays on the set of "Frankenstein: The True Story," with director Jack Smight identified as a wonderful guy, but producer Hunt Stromberg Jr. was the real man in charge. The conversation closes with footage of Sam Irvin chatting with Seymour, showing off publications he's created over the years devoted to the making of the film.

• "Victor's Story" (18:25, HD) is a chat with actor Leonard Whiting, who describes the audition process for "Frankenstein: The True Story," building on fame achieved after the release of "Romeo and Juliet." Whiting provides memories of his time with Smight and especially Stromberg Jr., who was a difficult man to please, exerting control over the production. Co-stars are examined, with the young actor in awe of the older talent, trying his best to befriend them as he figured out their personalities. A love for the original script is shared, and Whiting excitedly details how Stromberg Jr. would push for a bigger sense of scale whenever he could. Comparisons of Smight and Franco Zeffirelli are supplied, along with a brief recollection of stunt work and fake snow, which wasn't easy on the skin. Whiting claims to have little awareness of the homoerotic content in "Frankenstein: The True Story," and he seems happy with the endeavor, sharing its enduring legacy and influence, with other Shelley-inspired productions taking its lead by offering a more attractive monster.

• "Frankenstein's Diary" (41:05, HD) is an interview with co-screenwriter Don Bachardy, which is conducted by Irvin, who provides an introduction exploring the writer's career and partnership with author Christopher Isherwood. While Irvin leads the conversation, Bachardy discusses his initial hiring for "Frankenstein: The True Story," his displeasure with a title change (the script was originally called "Dr. Frankenstein") and efforts to rework the movie into a theatrical release in Europe, with producers editing out an hour of story. There's a fascinating stretch of the conversation that covers near-misses with cast and crew, as John Boorman and Francis Ford Coppola were interested in directorial duties, while stars such as Jon Voight, Julie Christie, and "Bride of Frankenstein" star Elsa Lanchester were courted for roles. The interviewee explores connections to the work of James Whale and the gay subtext in the screenplay, also covering the changing of Frankenstein's Monster for the picture and his demand that the novelization be sourced from the original screenplay, not the finished film. Also of interest is talk of a deleted prologue that isn't found on the disc.

• Marketing Materials have not been included.

Frankenstein: The True Story Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There's an incredible cast assembled for "Frankenstein: The True Story," and the thespian support does wonders for the feature's loose grip on urgency. Characters are clearly articulated and emotional, and veterans such as Ralph Richardson, John Gielgud, and Agnes Moorehead add some dramatic weight to a picture already capably handled by the primary actors. Watching the talent juggle the many moods of "Frankenstein: The True Story" is truly the most interesting part of the viewing experience, as they make a special magic of their own while Smight delivers an unexpectedly ornate endeavor.