Just picked up a copy at All-Mart...been waiting a LONG time for this to come out...anyone else picked it up?

I watched the James Mason opening and beginning of credits. At first glance, the film is noticeably grainy and a bit fuzzy in spots, and the sound doesn't seem very crisp. But at least there weren't any major threads, spots, etc, that I noticed. So seems fairly clean overall (VHS edition I had was worse in that regard). No extras, either, which is a bummer. But if the liner tells the truth at least it's the for-real 3 hour version that's been unavailable ('cept on bootlegs) for decades. Some of the best monster movie music ever, too, by the guy who brought you Kolchak's theme music. Definitely a budget release but prolly the best we'll see. Worth $14 if you *really* like the flick, which I do. Otherwise might not be worth more than rental.

Also grabbed a copy of The Conversation for $5.50! Haven't actually watched it yet but they did a very neat job on the menus.

Boy I'm really showing my age here..............
I remember when it first came out on t.v. I wuz a kid and watched it with my brothers & sisters & mom and dad!
Ahhhhh those were the days. :)

Don't remember this version, but The Conversation is a wonderful film.

I remember this version. I watched it on TV when I was a kid too. And The Conversation is one of my favorite movies of all time.

Yeah, and I remember being pretty disappointed at the fact that a movie calling itself "The True Story" took so many liberties with Mary Shelley's book!

It was an interesting take, to be sure... but, it shouldn't have called itself "The True Story".

- GJS

Don't you just love Jane Seymour?

The one with Michael Sarazin and Jane Seymour, yes?

I remember really loving this version as a kid. Doing a little looking around the net for info on it, I'm not surprised why I liked it - for what the material is, this production has remarkable pedigree on screen and behind the camera. One person I was surprised to see listed in the credits was Christopher Isherwood as the screen writer - a well regarded writer of the 20th century in his own right, he is certainly no slouch.

John O.

One person I was surprised to see listed in the credits was Christopher Isherwood

The late Mr. Isherwood shares writing credit with his longtime life partner Don Bachardy. A well known painter, Bachardy lives in Southern California and will be the first to tell you his contribution to the story was minimal.

Although the screen direction is a bit underwhelming, this is one of the most literate incarnations of the Frankenstein legend ever filmed, and well worth a look if you've never seen it. The cast is excellent, and the overall production values are top notch.

I too remember seeing this when it first came out. The ballroom scene in which the creature, ah, confronts Jane Seymour was quite bold for the time. I was nine when I first saw it, and it freaked the holy bejesus out of me.

As mentioned upthread, this has been available on DVD before, albeit in a severely truncated form. I can't wait to watch the full-length version again.

Thanks for the heads-up.

I too remember seeing this when it first came out. The ballroom scene in which the creature, ah, confronts Jane Seymour was quite bold for the time. I was nine when I first saw it, and it freaked the holy bejesus out of me. Me Too!! It was also the first time I was aware of how horrifying the artic environment could be. Also that Frankenstein and the monster could both be sympathetic characters.

John O.

I'm no expert, but to my knowledge this is the only version of the Frankenstein story in which the Creature first comes to life as a normal looking (i.e. beautiful) young man, only to slowly de-generate into a hideous monster. Homoerotic subtext aside, his subsequent rejection by his creator is heartbreaking to behold.

I remember this version. I watched it on TV when I was a kid too. And The Conversation is one of my favorite movies of all time.

Ditto and ditto.