Baron Frankenstein

100 Years of Horror: Baron Frankenstein (1996)

*** (out of 4)

This episode in the documentary series takes a look at the various actors who have played Baron Frankenstein. Everyone knows Colin Clive from FRANKENSTEIN and BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN as well as Peter Cushing from the Hammer films. We also take a look at clips from films like FRANKENSTEIN'S DAUGHTER, FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE SPACE MONSTER, I WAS A TEENAGE FRANKENSTEIN, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN and of course the one and only JESSE JAMES MEETS FRANKENSTEIN DAUGHTER. We see how the Baron was played in the earlier films compared to the later ones and we even see some examples where he's not even in the picture at all.

This episode is more clip-happy as the majority of the running time does nothing more than show clips. Most of the footage comes from the trailers but it really doesn't matter as in the end this is yet another fun entry. I think I enjoyed this more than some might simply because the Frankenstein monster is my favorite so I enjoyed seeing all these old clips and the documentary certainly made me want to take the movies off my shelf and watch them again. Those interviewed here include Veronica Carlson, Richard Cunha, Hugh Hefner, Donald Glut, Hazel Court, Fred Olen Ray and Jimmy Sangster. Christopher Lee, the host, gets to add a few nice comments about Peter Cushing and Freddie Francis (who is also interviewed). Die-hard fans probably won't learn anything here they didn't already know but the documentary still serves as a nice way for newbies to be introduced to the subject.