Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Mad Doctors: Baron Victor Frankenstein

The Curse of Frankenstein
Maybe the most famous mad scientist of all.

In the original classic trilogy with Karloff (as the creature) and Clive (as the Doctor), the focus of the stories was the monster who gets out of control and overpowers his creator. Things change in the '50s thanks to the famous Hammer Films. Movies like "The Curse of Frankenstein" (1957) and "The Revenge of Frankenstein" (1958) - both directed by Terence Fisher - swap the roles between the two main characters. Now the focus is on the mad doctor Victor Frankenstein instead of the creature. He is the real monster, the cold and evil dandy with no scruples. The Creature he created is the victim escaping the lab and the morbose screenings of the so called "science".
Peter Cushing played the mad doctor Frankenstein in these 2 movies and in 3 more movies, 2 directed again by Terence Fisher (1967 and 1969) and one by Freddie Francis (1964), so I thought it would be perfect for this gallery, even more than Colin CLive (who will appear later in another week dedicated to Mad Doctor).

I am glad you guys are enjoying this themed week so far :) It is fun, isn't it? ;)
As for the mad doctors you guys suggested, Dr House is pretty crazy but I don't think it fits the topic ;) Gene "Young Frankenstein" Wilder (huge fan of that movie as well) is on my list but not for this week since we already had a Frankenstein.
Definitely a mad doctor Lugosi is gonna show up this week, as it is another mad doctor from the Frankenstein franchise ;)

Stay tuned for more Mad Doctors!

Cheers,
Francesco

All images © 2009 Francesco Francavilla.
Mad Doctors & Pulp Sunday created by, ™ and © 2009 Francesco Francavilla

6 comments:

Neue Ziel said...

One of the most famous Mad Doctors, ever! I've watched quite a lot of adaptations regarding the tale of the Frankenstein. But I've never seen the one featuring Boris Karloff as the monster.

Mark said...

You've truly outdone yourself this time, Francesco--the epitome of the mad scientist and the one actor that truly brought him to life! Beautiful!

Craig Zablo said...

This is FUN stuff!!

Chad Carter said...

I'd read a Vic Frankenstein comic with FF art in a second.

Unknown said...

Love it mate ,What about
Good old Marvel villan Docktor Doom
or Doc Sleepless

Francesco Francavilla said...

Neue: I CAN'T believe you never saw the original Frankenstein! Most likely at this point you might find it online for free too. You gotta see it.
Mark: thank you so much :D Yeah, Peter did it right in showing where the madness can take you :)
Craig: I am all for the fun :D
Chad: and I would draw it in a second... well, not literally ;) Thank you :)
Slavi: thanks! Think more classic horror movies - that's where I am fishing from ;)

Cheers,
Francesco