The Evil of Frankenstein (1964)
To me
The Evil of Frankenstein is more of a curiosity than a genuine entry in the Hammer Frankenstein series. Co-produced by Universal Studios, this ignores the first two Hammer Frankenstein films (
Curse of Frankenstein (1957) and
The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958) ) and gives itself a re-boot with a newly created history in flashback that borrows much from Universal's own
Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman (1945).
Given Universal's interference the monster utilised aspects of Jack Pierce's original Karloff monster design but it all looks so clunky and cardboardy. The ever excellent Peter Cushing gives a spirited performance as the Baron as does Peter Woodthorpe as Zoltan, a hypnotist who gains control of the Baron's creation to carry out his own nefarious deeds.
All in all,
The Evil of Frankenstein isn't a bad film, yet it isn't wonderful either. The monster doesn't appear properly until the last half hour and the re-boot flashback structure of the film's opening half hour slows things down to a snails pace. There are plot contrivances in order to win over a new Universal Horror audience but these make the film's storyline and especially the dialogue appear quite clumsy and poorly written.
A more detailed review appears here.
https://www.cult-labs.com/forums/mem...tml#post577375