British Universities Film & Video Council

moving image and sound, knowledge and access

Frankenstein

Synopsis
A contemporary television retelling of Mary Shelley’s classic horror story Frankenstein with a fresh new twist, as literature’s most infamous creator, Dr Victor Frankenstein, is re-born in the 21st Century as a female biologist.

Shelley’s 19th century snow-filled original warned of the dangers of the over ambition of modern man. Taking the same themes, Mercurio’s Victoria is a thoroughly modern 21st Century scientist conducting ground breaking, but highly controversial work in the field of stem cell research and medical biotechnology. Her obsessive drive to control cell growth for multi-organ generation and transplant however comes not from the desire for fame and adulation, but to save her dying son William. Maddened by grief and desperation, Victoria secretly takes a sample of his blood and incorporates it into her research programme, the Universal Xenograft Project. In the confines of a purpose built tank in the Graft Lab, the cells grow at an extraordinarily accelerated rate. And as they diversify, mutate and re-form, Victoria realises with horror that she is no longer in control of the experiment; that the UX is breeding its own bio-organism and it’s alive!

This DVD is the ‘Directors Cut’ version and is 15 minutes longer then the ITV version which will also be included as an extra.
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Year of release
2007
Year of production
2007
Notes
Broadcast on ITV on 24/10/2007
Subjects
Literature; Media studies
Keywords
biotechnology; genetics; Shelley, Mary; television drama; Literary adaptation

Credits

Writer
Jed Mercurio; Mary Shelley
Cast
Helen Mccory 
James Purefoy 
Lindsay Duncan 

Distribution Formats

Type
DVD
Format
Region 2 PAL
Price
£17.99
Availability
Sale
Duration/Size
90 minutes
Year
2008

Distributor

Name

2 Entertain Video

Email
DVDenquiryline@bbc.com
Web
http://www.2entertainvideo.co.uk/ External site opens in new window
Phone
020 7612 3000
Fax
020 7612 3003
Address
BBC Worldwide
33 Foley Street
London
W1W 7TL
Notes
Specialises in distributing archival film and television titles, predominantly licensed from the BBC (the principal shareholder is BBC Worldwide). Sale on DVD through retail outlets. As of 2016 2Entertain is being gradually wound down and its output reduced. If something is not available via them it is advisable to try the BBC Store at https://store.bbc.com/
 

Available from retail outlets

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