The Tomb of Frankenstein

From the collection of

Northern Ireland Screen's Digital Film Archive
Launched in 2000, Northern Ireland Screen’s Digital Film Archive spans from 1897 to the present day and currently contains an ever-expanding catalogue of 13,000 items. It comprises material from a variety of depositors including feature films, sport, documentaries, animation, amateur footage, light entertainment, and a significant proportion of broadcast material from the UTV Archive.

The Tomb of Frankenstein


A strange old hermit uses witchcraft to give life to the Frankenstein monster. Will the creature be his instrument of revenge, or will it turn on its creator?

A homage to the classic Frankenstein story from the inimitable Spence Brothers, shot on location in Comber and the Clandeboye Estate. The subject matter has a long and controversial history in Northern Irish cinema. In 1932, James Whale's Frankenstein was banned by the Police Committee as "blasphemous and unedifying" for its portrayal of a scientist emulating the life-giving abilities of God.

Twin brothers Roy and Noel Spence have been making films like this for over fifty years; with subjects including crafty leprechauns, creatures from outer space, fifties rock 'n' rollers and the undead. You can enjoy many of these fantastical creations on BFI Player. This film is courtesy of Roy Spence and is held in the Irish Film Archive.


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