Before starting their nine-film Dracula series starring Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee in 1958, Hammer Horror launched a seven-film Frankenstein series starring Peter Cushing as Baron Victor Frankenstein, with Christopher Lee playing the Monster for this first entry. Hammer is still finding their groove and they stick pretty close to the original story, though they emphasize Victor as the real villain. Cushing is the obvious choice, but he is also the perfect choice, something he would prove in later films. It’s interesting how the series develops with some wild variations that don’t follow logic continuity, but Cushing manages to change with the stories while also giving a consistently excellent performance. I personally prefer the sequels, though each has its own problems. I just think it gets better once they move past the basic story and Hammer gets better command of its look.
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