There is also a Region FREE Australian Blu-ray available here:

BONUS CAPTURES:

Cover 'B' edition

Review by Gary Tooze

Production:

Disc:

Video:

Audio:

DUB:

• Commentary featuring Derek Fowlds, Robert Morris and Jonathan Rigby

• Frankenstein Created Woman trailer (2:28)

• World of Hammer Episode with Roy Skeggs - The Curse of Frankenstein (25:56)

• World of Hammer Episode - Peter Cushing (24:54)

• New Documentary - Hammer Glamour (44:05)

• Animated Stills Gallery (7:06)

• Envelope with 5 'Exclusive" Collector Cards

• NEW Audio Commentary With Author/Film Historian Steve Haberman And Filmmaker/Film Historian Constantine Nasr
• NEW Interview With Actor Robert Morris (11:19)
• NEW Interview With Camera Assistant/Clapper Loader Eddie Collins And 2nd Assistant Director Joe Marks (12:13)
• Audio Commentary By Actors Derek Fowlds, Robert Morris, And Film Historian Jonathan Rigby
• World Of Hammer Episode The Curse Of Frankenstein (24:46)
• World Of Hammer Episode Hammer Stars: Peter Cushing (24:44)
• Hammer Glamour Featurette (44:10)
• Theatrical Trailers (4:37)
• TV Spots (1:24)
• Radio Spots (1:44)
• Still Galleries – Movie Stills, Posters, And Lobby Cards

Bitrates:

Description: Hammer Studios followed up Evil of Frankenstein with this entertaining sequel, again starring Peter Cushing as the quintessential mad scientist obsessed with the reanimation of dead bodies and the creation of superhuman creatures. His latest project involves transferring the mind of a wrongly-executed man into the body of his lover (former Playboy centerfold Susan Denberg), whose own suicide left her horribly disfigured. After restoring her beauty, the Doctor performs the mind-transference, which comes off without a hitch... until the lust for revenge against his executioners begins to surface. He/she then pursues this vendetta by seducing and murdering those who wronged him. Hammer stalwart Terence Fisher directs this quirky entry with his usual flair -- aided considerably by a decent budget -- and spices things up with a fair share of titillation (courtesy of Ms. Denberg).

 

1) Millennium - Region 'A' - Blu-ray TOP 2) Shout! Factory - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE 3) Anolis - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

The Film:

Excerpt from TCM located HERE

Image :    NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

Frankenstein Created Woman is a lesser, if still highly interesting, late 60's Hammer Studios feature that is surfacing on Blu-ray. This transfer is not a good representation of the HD format's capabilities but there are a few positives.  It is single-layered but 1080P and the visuals are fairly consistent although there are speckles. It has been moved from the original 1.66:1 to 1.78 aspect ratio but I wouldn't say composition suffers terribly. Colors seem a shade dampened but retain a rich quality. Black levels seem solid enough and detail is modest. This Blu-ray does a fair job with the print which seems in acceptable condition - it could have benefited with a good cleaning though. There is no real depth - appearing mostly flat and I don't see excessive digital manipulation. The outdoor sequences look the most impressive. Overall, it seems ahead of SD - but not by a significant amount Home Theatre devotees of the new format might be anticipating.

The Shout! Factory is a massive improvement over the Millennium Blu-ray edition. The new Blu-ray is in the proper 166:1 aspect ratio, show more information in the frame, detail advances and the overall image tightens, it has over 50% higher bitrate on  dual-layered disc, colors are richer (there is a blue-leaning where the Millennium had an earthy brown tinge) and contrast is more layered. There are minor speckles but no distracting.  Not much of a contest with the Shout! Factory winning hands down.

The Anolis image quality is the same as the Shout! Factory - sometimes I thought it looked better but I can't back that up with anything. Essentially, it's the same 1080P presentation with the same colors, framing, detail etc..  

NOTE: We have added 29 more large resolution Shout! Factory Blu-ray captures for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE.

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY (1920 X 1080) CAPTURE TO SEE IN FULL RESOLUTION

 

1) Millennium - Region 'A' - Blu-ray TOP 2) Shout! Factory - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE 3) Anolis - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Millennium - Region 'A' - Blu-ray TOP 2) Shout! Factory - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE 3) Anolis - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Millennium - Region 'A' - Blu-ray TOP 2) Shout! Factory - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE 3) Anolis - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Millennium - Region 'A' - Blu-ray TOP 2) Shout! Factory - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Millennium - Region 'A' - Blu-ray TOP 2) Shout! Factory - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

More full resolution (1920 X 1080) Blu-ray Captures for DVDBeaver Patreon Supporters HERE

 

 

 

No boost going on here - only a simple Dolby Digital 2.0 channel track as Millennium does not taking advantage of incorporating a lossless audio track.  There are, optional, Universal-like English subtitles positioned underneath the character speaking. My Oppo has identified it as being a region 'A'-locked.

Another hefty improvement for the Shout! factory transfer with a 24-bit lossless DTS-HD Master track. This is evident in every aspect of the film's audio including the score is by James Bernard (Dracula Prince of Darkness, These Are the Damned, Across the Bridge) and is one of the appealing characteristics creating some desirable Hammer-esque atmosphere. There are optional English subtitles on this Region 'A'-locked Blu-ray disc.

The Anolis takes a step back with the 24-bit Shout! Factory audio transfer having a slight edge. I don't consider it a deal-breaker - the Bernard score is still very atmospheric and an effective part of the viewing experience. The Euro release may just lack the same level of bass. It offers, only, optional German subtitles and the Blu-ray is Region 'B'-locked.     

Extras :

There are some very worthwhile extras - a commentary featuring knowledgeable Hammer experts Derek Fowlds, Robert Morris and Jonathan Rigby who cover extensive details of the studio and this particular production as well as Cushing and the other performers. We also get two 25-minute World of Hammer Episodes with Roy Skeggs - one entitles The Curse of Frankenstein and another solely on Peter Cushing. Some may be keen on the new documentary Hammer Glamour which runs just shy of 45-minutes. I assume it is relating to the book of the same name (HERE) and the video has five of Hammer's females stars - Valerie Leon, Caroline Munroe, Martine Beswicke, Vera Day and Madeline Smith reflecting back on working in the genre. They offer some interesting stories. There is also a trailer, an animated stills gallery and the package contains an envelope with 5 'Exclusive" Collector Cards.

As well as the previous commentary with Derek Fowlds, Robert Morris, And film historian Jonathan Rigby, Shout! Factory also add a new audio commentary with author/Film Historian Steve Haberman (Silent Screams: The History of the Silent Horror Film) and Filmmaker/Film Historian Constantine Nasr. It is delightful, informative and well-worth the indulgence offering comparisons to other Hammer efforts and discussion of the studio's regulars. There are also new interviews with 80+ year old actor Robert Morris, who played Hans in Frankenstein Created Woman lasting a dozen minutes. There is a 10-minute new interview with camera assistant/clapper loader Eddie Collins and 2nd assistant Director Joe Marks recalling the production. There are vintage (and duplicated) supplements like the World Of Hammer episodes The Curse Of Frankenstein and another on Hammer Star: Peter Cushing running over 20-minutes each. The same 3/4 hour Hammer Glamour featurette is included and theatrical trailers, TV and Radio Spots plus a stills galleries of glossies, posters, and Lobby cards.

The Anolis has a few advantages here. Firstly, although not for non-German speakers, there are two commentaries. These are by Uwe Sommerlad and Volker Kron with the second by Dr. Rolf Ciesen and Dr. Gerd Naumann - as stated, both are in the German language. What I thought was a huge bonus to this package are a new (2020) Frankenstein and the Two Faces of Eve - an hour-5-minute-long documentary that 'digs deep into Hammer Horror's gender-bending cult classic Frankenstein Created Woman'. It was written by Kat Ellinger, directed by Dima Ballin and has input from Gavin Baddeley, Joe Dante, Kat, Steve Haberman, David Huckvale, Robert Morris and Constantine Nasr all providing unique perspective on the subtle aspects of the film with clips, advertising etc. It's worth the price of the Blu-ray alone. There is also a 24-minute documentary, Metaphysics and Murder with Dr. David Huckvale discussing the Bernard score. We get the same interview with Actor Robert Morris (Hans) and with Camera Assistant/Clapper Loader Eddie Collins And 2nd Assistant Director Joe Marks - found on the Shout! Factory, and both running about a dozen minutes each. After that are trailers (both theatrical and 'Double Feature), Radio and TV Spots, some media related text screens and a gallery. Plus the package itself is a 24-page Mediabook with photos and text (in German.)

Millennium - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

 

 

Shout! Factory - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

 

 

Anolis - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

 

BOTTOM LINE:
I thought the Blu-ray presentation was only okay. The film had that indefinable Hammer charm that is so addictive. I appreciate the effort that went into this Blu-ray package with the extras. Frankenstein Created Woman is niche Hammer but it still offered much of what we love about the studio's Horrors. Cushing really adds a beneficial ingredient. The Blu-ray certainly has enough going for it to recommend to Hammer fans although we hope for a better edition soon!

 

 

Gary Tooze

January 18th, 2013

June 11th, 2019

November 4th, 2020

 

 

 

There is also a Region FREE Australian Blu-ray available here:

Released by Shout! Factory on Blu-ray, June 11th, 2019: BONUS CAPTURES:

Cover 'B' edition