Actually, the frankenstein chronicles is about a detective. The true story on nbc monday night at the movies on nbc television network. Mostly, these were electrical experiments with the corpses of animals and people, by such scientists as luigi galvani, his more. 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. The image measures 541 800 pixels and is 84 kilobytes large. The true story way back in the seventies and i was really hooked to it. The movie starred leonard whiting, michael sarrazin, james mason, and jane seymour. It came about because of a holiday exchange with my best friend, who gave me this prompt. Frankensteins leonard whiting creation is no monster, but a handsome young man of high intelligence michael sarrazin.
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. 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. 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. Frankenstein the true story extended trailer youtube. Surprisingly good adaptation of the isherwood screenplay, though not sticking exactly with the original novel, this is an incredible spectacle. The true story, strives for greater faithfulness to mary shelleys novel than prior versions. He was named after the reallife john polidori a notable part of the movie is that instead of. 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. The true story 1973 cast and crew in this reimagining of the classic tale, dr. This story is based on the 1973 movie with leonard whiting, michael sarrazin, david mccallum, jane seymour and james mason. Popculture frankenstein comes in a big, dumb, greenish package. 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. The true story, featuring a stellar allstar cast including james mason and leonard whiting, makes its uk dvd.
Press photo actor michael sarrazin in frankenstein. Stromberg recruited one of his favourite authors, christopher isherwood, to pen the script with the american scribe don bachardy on hand to oversee the scripts development. The true story is a 1973 american madefortelevision horror movie. The late late show with james corden recommended for you. One of the most acclaimed versions of mary shelleys classic tale, frankenstein. A comedic stage adaptation, frankenstein s monster, was written by sally netzel and produced by the dallas theater center.
With an incredible cast, including jane seymour, agnes moorehead, michael sarrazin, james mason and leonard whiting, this film faithfully retells mary shelleys. I was eight, and already well aware of the differences between runofthemill madefortv movies anything starring gene barry, and special event world premiere miniseries like this one. 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. The true story 1972 the madefortv movie frankenstein. It is loosely based on the novel frankenstein by mary shelley the movie added the character of dr polidori. The original miniseries presentation featured a prologue with james mason visiting the grave of mary wollstonecraft shelley. With an incredible cast, including jane seymour, agnes moorehead, michael sarrazin, james mason and leonard whiting, this film faithfully retells mary shelleys unforgettable story. Petersburg, russia, probably near the end of the 18th century. 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. The true story, 1973, with leonard whiting, michael sarrazin, james mason, at turner classic movies. 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.
And thats featurelength by mid1970s standards, not the overblown average that is the norm today. The true story is an exceptional film version of the frankenstein legend as far as my experience with the films history goes. The true story 1973 1973 bluray 2160p 4k ita uhd4k. 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. James mason, leonard whiting, david mccallum, jane seymour nicola pagett, ralph richardson, tom baker, john gielgud it is a bit misleading to title your version of frankenstein as the true story, seeing as frankenstein is a work of fiction in case you didnt know, but there you go. The true story originally aired back in 1973, and its getting new life next year courtesy of a. Written by christopher isherwood, based on the frankenstein novel by mary shelley. Tales of frankenstein is an unsold tv pilot filmed in 1958. The true story of frankenstein at ninety six minutes. The true story adheres to the original classic novel, written by mary shelly, commenting on mankinds love of beauty and rejection of ugliness. The true story on nbc actor michael sarrazin in 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. The film is a mixture of elements from both the hammer and universal pictures versions of frankenstein. Adapted for television by christopher isherwood, frankenstein. 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 was originally telecast in two parts on november 30 and december 1, 1973.
Henry clerval david mccallum, who is experimenting. 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. After the end of hammers own frankenstein series with the final entry frankenstein and the monster from hell,cinemas were flooded with mostly italian and spanish lowbudget productions that tried to exploit mary shelleys story and the popular frankenstein brand. It was directed by jack smight, and the screenplay was written by novelist christopher isherwood and his longtime partner don bachardy. Here is a 6 minute trailer for the rarely seen movie, frankenstein. Victor frankenstein leonard whiting leaves for london to continue his medical studies.
The film ends more or less as the novel does, with the outcast frankenstein and his creature expiring in the frozen wastes of antarctica. The original miniseries presentation featured a prologue with james mason visiting. 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. 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 story was originally broadcast in the early 1970s on the bbc on new years eveday. 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. 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. The true story is not a literal translation of shelleys classic. Victor frankenstein rejects the artificial man that he has created, the creature escapes and later swears revenge. 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. High resolution movie cover image for frankenstein. The story begins with captain robert walton hanging out in st. The true story 1973 in this reimagining of the classic tale, dr. It was a coproduction of hammer film productions and columbia pictures.
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. The 1960s and 1970s were not particularly successful decades for victor frankenstein and his monster. Its a neat idea, an inventive twist on an ofttold story. Shelley started writing the story when she was 18, and the first edition was published anonymously in london on 1 january 1818, when she was 20. 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. The true story was made by universal studios for us tv and designed to be shown in two featurelength parts. The image measures 1522 2143 pixels and is 4545 kilobytes large.
Critics considered the theatrical version was overlong and fairly dull. Staying true to its original television format, universal presents frankenstein. Frankenstein this production was the dream child of american tv producer hunt stromberg jnr. The true story is a 1973 film about a scientist who creates a monster. Since the 1818 publication of mary shelleys frankenstein. Film, video this is show business 1956 motion picture madefortv programme or madeforvideodvd release. In fact, the doctor and his creature are the best of friends until the latters body begins to deteriorate. Bill points out exactly why the title is one of the biggest misnomers in film history. His ambition was to make a definitive version, which was faithful to the original novel. I remember being very excited in 1973, when frankenstein. Preorder the hunger games prequel now download our free. The true story, on nbc this is an original press photo. It is loosely based on the novel frankenstein by mary shelley. By the early 70s, gothic horror had begun to lose ground to more contemporary and familiar settings, but nevertheless, an ambitious.
Three hours the dvd olso allows the film to be viewed both ways as a full movie or in its. The true story usa, 1972 ranks among the better efforts from the early 70s. The true story is a 1973 britishamerican madefortelevision horror film loosely based on the 1818 novel frankenstein. Henry clerval david mccallum, who is experimenting with. Experience all the horror and suspense of the timeless frankenstein story, now available on bluray for the first. Hints of sublime horror lurk in a big pile of camp lunacy in frankenstein. Is it shelleys true story or that of the screenwriters.
If you assume true refers to things happening the way they do in shelleys original novel. Victor frankenstein is shown a reanimated severed arm. I was hoping that i would find this movie made for tv on dvd one day, and it happenned. The episode title, which does not appear onscreen, is the face in the tombstone mirror. 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. Yet again, the decades of horror 1970s gruecrew delves into the realm of television miniseries with frankenstein. Experience all the horror and suspense of the timeless frankenstein story, now available on. 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. The true story lies in the casting, with the likes of james mason, david mccallum, michael sarrazin and jane seymour all doing their best to make their characters memorable, but leonard whiting as victor seems to be a really weak link, his unconvincing line delivery and sappy mannerisms making you realise how. Learn the story behind the modernday monster and test yourself with a quiz. 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. Dec 10, 2009 here is a 6 minute trailer for the rarely seen movie, frankenstein. Time and memory are strange phenomena to say the least, especially when it comes to items such as films.
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