The sixth entry in Hammer Films'
Frankenstein series, this film finds Baron Frankenstein (
Peter Cushing) in charge of a lunatic asylum. When young doctor Simon Helder (Shane Bryant) is institutionalized for attempting to create synthetic life, Frankenstein is delighted: now he'll have an assistant for his own diabolical experiments. This time out, the monster is played by
David Prowse, who later went on to international fame as Darth Vader in
Star Wars (though of course Vader's voice was provided by
James Earl Jones). A new wrinkle to the old story is the Monster's cannibalistic tendencies, allowing for a number of gruesome, gore-encrusted horror highlights. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide