This sixth entry in Hammer Films' Frankenstein series tends to be out of favor with diehard fans of the genre, though it does have its moments. Borrowing a page from Edgar Allan Poe, the script contrives to have Baron Frankenstein ( Peter Cushing ) in charge of a lunatic asylum. When young doctor Simon Helder ( Shane Bryant ) is institutionalized for attempting to create synthetic life, Frankenstein is delighted: now he'll have an assistant for his own diabolical experiments. This time out, the monster is played by David Prowse , who later went on to international fame as Darth Vader in Star Wars (though of course Vader's voice was provided by James Earl Jones ). A new wrinkle to the old story is the Monster's cannibalistic tendencies, allowing for a number of gruesome, gore-encrusted horror highlights. — Hal Erickson