The Hammer Frankenstein Films 1957-1974 Magazine

Product Description

Ships June 2025.

The first 250 copies of The Hammer Frankenstein Films 1957-1974 are signed by authors Nige Burton and Jamie Jones, and come with a FREE art print – click here to view the limited signed edition!

Rediscover the movie series that revolutionised the horror genre in The Hammer Frankenstein Films 1957-1974, a luxurious retrospective on the seven movies that made the Hammer name synonymous with gore, terror and titillation. Presented in rich full colour, this beautiful 84-page guide offers an engaging perspective on the development, social context and wider impact of each instalment in the evolving series. A foreword by award-winning screenwriter and Hammer champion John Logan provides a compelling insight into Hammer’s distinctive approach to the Frankenstein franchise, leading you into the story of how the studio’s ambitions took the baron, and his many hapless creations, off the pages of Mary Shelley’s novel and into cinematic legend. With a wealth of carefully restored stills, The Hammer Frankenstein Films is an essential for your horror movie magazine collection.

By 1957, the movie world was ready for a change, and Hammer were happy to oblige with a bold reinvention of a story that, thanks to Universal’s series in the thirties and forties, everyone felt they knew. But nobody had expected anything like The Curse of Frankenstein, an aggressive reworking of the familiar tale that took the world by storm. Peter Cushing’s portrayal of the baron – charming, brilliant and ruthless – found its perfect counterpart in Christopher Lee’s shambling, staccato Creature, and the pair became the figureheads of a new age of horror. The Hammer Frankenstein Films explores how The Curse of Frankenstein kickstarted the horror world and spawned an unforgettable franchise, but also brought about the creation of a challenger to Hammer’s throne.

Each newly-written chapter of this Hammer Frankenstein movie guide examines a different movie in the series, immersing you in the baron’s many grisly adventures with all their attendant plot twists and dazzling reanimations. From the Gothic gore of The Curse of Frankenstein to the sorrowful Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell, each movie enjoys its time in the spotlight as we reveal the process of its development, the studio politics that shaped it, and the ever-watchable results. You’ll see how a changing world – particularly within Hammer itself – influenced the direction taken by the Frankenstein series, and learn about the cast and crew who made each movie so unique.

The Hammer Frankenstein Films 1957-1974 is produced to A4 size (210mm x 297mm) and printed to the very highest standard, with a perfect square bound format marking it out as a sturdy and substantial addition to your Hammer Horror magazine collection. The glossy cover is another sign of distinction – this is a Frankenstein movie guide like nothing you’ve ever seen. The inner pages, meanwhile, are printed on fine silk stock; coupled with the clean and uncluttered layout, it all adds up to a thoroughly absorbing reading experience.

When it comes to imagery, The Hammer Frankenstein Films has you covered too. Our commitment to quality means only the very best stills are featured, each one bursting with detail and reproduced to our exacting standards. The use of full-colour print processes means that even black and white stills have a depth and variety of tone that traditional newspaper-style monochrome simply can’t recreate: as you’ll see, the Hammer Frankenstein series was nothing if not photogenic.

The Hammer Frankenstein Films 1957-1974 includes chapters on the following classic Hammer Horror movies:

• The Curse of Frankenstein 1957 – this brash, confident reworking of Mary Shelley’s novel gave new life to the Frankenstein legend and redefined what horror movies could be.
• The Revenge of Frankenstein 1958 – shot through with pathos, this bold follow-up was packed with twists and opened our eyes to all manner of new horrors.
• The Evil of Frankenstein 1964 – a new monster, a more sympathetic baron and a dose of mind control formed the centrepieces of a fresh angle on the Frankenstein story.
• Frankenstein Created Woman 1967 – girl power went off the rails in a story with as much tragedy as violence, and an approach to reanimation that got Hollywood royalty talking.
• Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed 1969 – a brooding shadow fell over the franchise with a harrowing and unredemptive tale of manipulation and murder.
• The Horror of Frankenstein 1970 – Jimmy Sangster’s decision to reboot The Curse of Frankenstein as a black comedy was divisive, but certainly not without its merits.
• Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell 1974 – from its air of melancholy claustrophobia to its shattering, angst-ridden finale, this movie brought the series to a close in style.

Written with care and reverence for this seminal movie series, The Hammer Frankenstein Films 1957-1974 is an ideal companion to a fresh viewing of the franchise that shaped the golden age of Hammer Horror and spawned a thousand badly-stitched imitations. From its sinister beginnings to its haunting conclusion, this septet of classics has never had such a glorious printed tribute.

Remember, the first 250 copies of The Hammer Frankenstein Films 1957-1974 are signed by the authors and come with a stunning FREE art print – click here to view the limited signed edition!

Or, if you’d prefer something extra special, click here to check out the exclusive limited hardback edition – there are only 50 in the world!

• 84 pages
• Full colour throughout
• Packed with stills, posters, articles and info
• Printed and finished to the highest standard
• Luxury gloss laminated cover