---
product_id: 2526546
title: "Frankenstein - The True Story"
brand: "james masonleonard whitingjack smight"
price: "$U667"
currency: UYU
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 7
url: https://www.desertcart.uy/products/2526546-frankenstein-the-true-story
store_origin: UY
region: Uruguay
---

# Frankenstein - The True Story

**Brand:** james masonleonard whitingjack smight
**Price:** $U667
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

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- **What is this?** Frankenstein - The True Story by james masonleonard whitingjack smight
- **How much does it cost?** $U667 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.uy](https://www.desertcart.uy/products/2526546-frankenstein-the-true-story)

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## Description

Product Description               Experience all the horror and suspense of the timeless Frankenstein story, now available on DVD for the first time ever in this unedited 3-hour version! With an incredible cast, including Jane Seymour, Agnes Moorehead, Michael Sarrazin, James Mason and Leonard Whiting, this film faithfully retells Mary Shelley's unforgettable story. Victor Frankenstein's medical experimentations result with the shocking discovery that he can revive the dead. But when his creature becomes a killer, is anyone safe? Find out in this gruesome, heart-pounding thriller created by legendary talents such as screenwriter Christopher Isherwood and makeup artists Roy Ashton. Experience the tragedy and terror of Frankenstein like never before!                  .com               Hints of sublime horror lurk in a big pile of camp lunacy in Frankenstein: The True Story. While a subtitle like The True Story might make you think this 1970s TV production hews close to Mary Shelley's classic novel, it's safe to say that Shelley's opus did not include crawling disembodied arms, sinister Chinese coolies, solar power, or the flabbergasting paisley dressing gown that Dr. Frankenstein wears for one brief but startling scene. In fact, The True Story deviates from Shelley's story in almost every detail. In this version, the young and handsome Dr. Frankenstein (Leonard Whiting, star of Zeffirelli's Romeo & Juliet) is lured into reviving the dead by the obsessive Dr. Clerval (David McCallum, The Man from U.N.C.L.E.), who gruffly tosses off lines like "Fail? That is a word I shall teach you to forget!" and "This was specially prepared with chemicals--I'll explain what they are later." Clerval's untimely death doesn't stop Frankenstein from bringing his Creature to life in the form of the jaw-droppingly handsome Michael Sarrazin (They Shoot Horses, Don't They?). Alas, tissue degeneration soon sets in--but the oily, sinister Dr. Polidori (James Mason, Lolita) arrives to make things even worse with his plan for a female Creature in the form of the even more jaw-droppingly dewy and luscious Jane Seymour (later to becomeDr. Quinn, Medicine Woman). Most of Frankenstein: The True Story rattles along as enjoyable badness, but every so often an image flares up that's genuinely creepy--when Frankenstein's fiancee Elizabeth is menaced by an undead butterfly, the scene is laughable and eerie at the same time--and though Whiting is stiff, Mason and a parade of cameo stars (including John Gielgud, Ralph Richardson, and Agnes Moorehead) inject the movie with the sort of sinister relish that animated the classic horror of the black and white era. --Bret Fetzer

## Product Details

- **Genre:** Drama, Horror, Science Fiction
- **Format:** Color, Dolby, Full Screen, Multiple Formats, NTSC, Subtitled
- **Contributor:** Agnes Moorehead, Hunt Stromberg Jr., Jack Smight, James Mason, Jane Seymour, Leonard Whiting, Michael Sarrazin
- **Initial release date:** 2006-09-26
- **Language:** English

## Images

![Frankenstein - The True Story - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91vb3Q7RnkL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    Psycho-Sexual, Homoerotic, And Remarkably Subversive For Its Era
  

*by G***R on Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 1, 2006*

Every film version of FRANKENSTEIN has taken tremendous liberties with Mary Shelly's celebrated 1818 novel, and although it retains the core idea of the book this one is no exception.  Produced for television by Universal Studios in 1973, the film contains a host of characters and ideas that draw more from previous film versions than from the original novel.  More interestingly, however, it introduces a number of distinctly original concepts as well.Simply stated, the film has a highly disconcerting and surprisingly overt homoerotic edge.  Instead of the inevitable "mad doctor" typical of films, Victor Frankestein is a remarkably handsome young man in the form of actor Leonard Whiting, a performer best known as Romeo in the famous 1968 ROMEO AND JULIET.  He is seduced into the experiment by the equally handsome but distinctly odd Henry Clerval (David McCallum)--and not only do the two actors play the relationship in a disquietingly touchy-feely way, Clerval takes exception to Victor's fiancee Elizabeth (Nicola Pagett) and she returns the favor, demanding that Victor choose between them.Lest any one miss the implications, the creature is played by none other than Michael Sarrazin, and while many men may be described as handsome, Sarrazin is among the few who can be justly described as beautiful.  He arises from the laboratory table barely decent in a few strategically placed bandages, and when his facial covering is pulled aside by the eager Dr. Frankenstein we are treated to a lingering image of glossy black hair, pale complexion, remarkably liquid eyes, and lips that would make Vogue model weep with envy.  Dr. Frankenstein takes him to his own apartment, where he educates this child-like innocent and very generously allows the creature to sleep in his own bed.But, as in all FRANKENSTEIN movies, the experiment goes awry, and when it does the same disconcerting homoerotic overtones take yet another turn. Due to some unknown error in the creation process, the creature begins to deteriorate in appearance--and instead of continuing to treat him kindly, Frankenstein keeps the creature locked up, becomes verbally abusive to him, and no longer allows the creature to sleep in his bed, relegating him to a cramped mattress on the floor.  At the same time, Frankenstein is approached by the mysterious Dr. Polidori (the legendary James Mason), an oily scientist with a flair for hypnosis who claims to know what went wrong.Polidori insists that they abandon the creature and create a new one: a woman, and when this new creation emerges from an entirely different process she too is remarkably beautiful; indeed, she is none other than Jane Seymour.  But whereas the original creature was a gentle creature who only learned violence from Frankenstein's hateful rejection, this new entity is strangely icy, almost snake-like from the very beginning--and the male creature, now both vicious and wildly jealous, will exact a horrific toll upon all concerned.It is worth pointing out that the script for this version of FRANKENSTEIN was co-authored by Christopher Isherwood (1904-1986), one of the few openly gay writers of his era.  Sexuality in general and homosexuality in particular forms a theme in many of Isherwood's works, so it would seem reasonable to assume that he was responsible for the homoerotic elements of the film.  Jack Smight's direction does not offer anything nearly so interesting as the script, but it is workman-like, and while the production values tend to be a shade too baroque for their own good one never lacks for something to look at on the screen.The cast is also quite good.  At the time, the film was looked upon as a "television event," and it drew a host of noted actors, including John Gielgud and Agnes Moorehead.  No one would accuse Leonard Whiting of being a great screen talent, but he acquits himself very well; so too does David McCallum, Nicola Pagett, and the always memorable James Mason.  But the real knock-out performances here are by Sarrazin and Seymour, who truly blow the lid off our ideas of what a FRANKENSTEIN movie should be--and when they square off the result is unsettling in a truly unexpected way.  In terms of the DVD itself, the film quality is considerably better than the rare late-night showings I've occasionally seen on television, but I would not describe it as pristine, and I found I frequently had to bump up the volume on the soundtrack.If you are looking for something with which to scare yourself silly, you might want to give this version FRANKENSTEIN a miss; although it has a few visceral moments, the jolts involved are largely psycho-sexual.  But if you are open to the sexually subversive, which is particularly unexpected in a made-for-television film from 1973, you couldn't make a better choice.  Recommended.GFT, Amazon Reviewer

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    CLEVER RETELLING OF THE FRANKENSTEIN LEGEND. SUPERIOR AND ENDURING PRODUCTION VALUES, SCRIPT, AND ACTING.
  

*by M***U on Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 13, 2014*

Frankenstein: The True Story was an inventive, fresh, and original retelling of the Frankenstein legend that adhered to some of original author Mary Shelly's basic tenets (e.g., Initially, the creature was aesthetically attractive and intelligent; as portrayed with pathos and sensitivity by Michael Sarrazin). The performances by David McCallum and Jane Seymour were admirable; although, I felt that David McCallum and Jane Seymour's respective characters were eliminated from the story/plot line too soon. Especially, in consideration of the fact that the portrayal of David McCallum and Jane Seymour's respective characters were both fascinating and appealing. Leonard Whiting was quite good in his own right. The production values and script still hold up by modern standards. Moreover,the mini series/movie was so fascinating and well done that it's almost inconceivable that Frankenstein: The True Story is known only to the esoteric few (e.g., movie buffs and film critics). Moreover, Frankenstein: The True Story is one of those films that merits repeated viewings and the viewer doesn't become easily satiated; especially, since top notch performances by iconic film legends including James Mason, Sir John Gielgud and Sir Ralph Richardson were surprisingly good. Although, Mason, Gielgud, and Richardson were in the twilight of their respective film careers they exhibited the superior acting skills that had made them legendary film icons throughout the years. Essentially, these iconic film legends gave their respective performances their all and didn't attempt to "phone it in" or "rest on their laurels." It begs the question, "Why isn't this cinematic gem more widely known and acknowledged among those; including, the general public who appreciate and enjoy well crafted cinema?" For example, James Mason was in rare form as the delightfully michievious, nefarious, and eccentric Dr. Pollidori. Well worth the price of the DVD. Evidence of the fact that sometimes delightfully entertaining movies can be purchased for a surprisingly nominal sum. Newtown Videos provided an excellent product with prompt delivery at an exceptionally affordable price!

### ⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    This is a review of the Spanish DVD release. Includes English soundtrack.
  

*by W***P on Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on December 17, 2021*

I was keen to have a chance to watch this tv version of the Frankenstein story as I had seen it back in the 1970s and remembered various episodes quite well. The years have changed my attitudes and viewpoints quite a lot and I`m often surprised that films I thought were very good years ago now seem either rather tame or disappointing.So it is with this tv drama. Okay, you`ve got some fine actors in the cast. Especially James Mason as Polidori, a character that doesn`t feature in the original book but you have to keep in mind that this is an adaptation and also that the title "The True Story" is a ridiculous marketing ploy by the producers. This isn`t a bad example of tv drama for the period and doesn`t feel cheap at all but modern audiences might expect either more blood and gore or perhaps more of an eerie atmosphere or even suspense than you get here.On the technical side there seems to be a lot of video noise on dark sequences, particularly in the early parts of the film and it probably will be more distracting the larger your tv screen size is. Maybe the Blu Ray version is better, but pricier. At least you get what I believe is the full 3 hour version of the film, divided into its two original broadcast episodes. There is a choice of language settings at the start menu. Subtitles only in Castellano and Portuguese according to the box insert.Basically, worth a viewing.

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*Last updated: 2026-03-05*