It’s a film that marked the end of an era- actually, two eras- tonight on MeTV when we present what was not only the last film in Hammer’s original Frankenstein series- but also the final time that the great Peter Cushing played Baron Frankenstein! A young doctor who idolizes the work of the original “body-builder” (you know what I mean) finds himself joining forces with the Baron to conduct new experiments in an asylum-where it sometimes seems like the inmates are running things. There are many challenges to one’s sanity when you encounter “Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell”!

This 1974 film opens with a familiar sight- a body being procured from a cemetery for the use of young doctor Simon Helder in experiments that parallel those of the great Victor Frankenstein. Unfortunately, the local police get wind of his intent, and he is sentenced to several years in an asylum- on charges of “sorcery” and body snatching!

Simon finds the asylum a cruel place, being run by a corrupt director and his heartless attendants and is at their mercy until the asylum’s lead physician, Dr. Karl Victor, intervenes and takes him to safety. It isn’t long before Simon realizes that the man is actually his idol Baron Frankenstein! Discovering Simon’s skill as a surgeon, he recruits him as an assistant in his latest experiments, since his hands were severely burned (by a fire in a previous movie) and he has had to rely on the help of a pretty mute young woman to do any suturing. They begin work on a new creature- with parts provided by -certain inmates.

They work on the body of a recently deceased inmate, a violent powerful hulk who committed suicide by prying open the bars on his window and jumping to his death. Victor gets the body parts to replace those no longer useful to the original prisoner in devious ways from the very patients he is supposed to be helping- and Simon begins to question whether this is ethical. Then, the new creature goes on a rampage…

This movie was not only the final Hammer Frankenstein film and Cushing’s final turn as Victor- but also the last film directed by Terence Fisher. We’ll discuss some background on this and previous Hammer Frankenstein films, introduce you to the cast- which includes an early Dr. Who and the man who would become Darth Vader! There will be a new song, plus another irritating visit from Nostalgiaferatoo, and more!

“Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell” will be unleashed at 8 pm eastern/pacific, 7 central time tonight on MeTV. You are invited to join in on commenting during the show- either on X/Twitter or Bluesky- and please use the hashtag #svengoolie in all your posts. Our local Chicago area viewers will get one more lesson in “How to Make a Monster” this morning at 11 am on WCIU the U.

For those who have asked- yes, my original coffin and set pieces are still on display at Chicago’s Museum of Broadcast Communications along with many other amazing radio and television exhibits and content. For days and hours of operation and other information, go to www.museum.tv !

Tune in tonight for a different kind of display- one of sinister surgery, madness, and a monster you won’t soon forget!