The Curse of Frankenstein

The Curse of Frankenstein
Original UK quad poster
Directed byTerence Fisher
Screenplay byJimmy Sangster
Based onFrankenstein
by Mary Shelley
Produced byAnthony Hinds
Starring
CinematographyJack Asher
Edited byJames Needs
Music byJames Bernard
Color processEastmancolor
Production
company
Distributed byWarner Bros.
Release dates
  • 2 May 1957 (1957-05-02) (London)
  • 20 May 1957 (1957-05-20) (United Kingdom)
Running time
83 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget£65,000 or $270,000
Box office$8 million
728,452 admissions (France)

The Curse of Frankenstein is a 1957 British horror film by Hammer Film Productions, loosely based on the 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley. It was Hammer's first colour horror film, and the first of their Frankenstein series. Its worldwide success led to several sequels, and it was also followed by new versions of Dracula (1958) and The Mummy (1959), establishing "Hammer Horror" as a distinctive brand of Gothic cinema.

The film was directed by Terence Fisher and stars Peter Cushing as Victor Frankenstein and Christopher Lee as the Creature, with Hazel Court and Robert Urquhart. Professor Patricia MacCormack called it the "first really gory horror film, showing blood and guts in colour".