“Because I shall carry on, if I can't cure it by brain surgery then I'll get another brain, and another, and another!”

Peter Cushing lights up the screen every time he strides on, and it's no wonder that this film both elevated him to star status and typecast him for the rest of his life. Whether he's seducing the maid, murdering eminent scientists, chopping open people's heads or shooting his betrothed (oops), he's brilliant.

Great moments include the aforementioned murder, when Victor tells his guest to step back, shouts "look out" and then pushes him viciously off the balcony. But tell me this - how come when the Prof lands on his head with a sickening thud, it doesn't damage the brain, yet when the well-meaning dunderhead Krempe knocks it against a wall, it's completely wrecked?

And I've got to mention the "young Victor" segment, when he's played by none other than Melvyn Hayes. Inspired casting - what with Windsor Davies popping up in Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed, these films are a veritable It Ain't Alf Hot, Mum fest. What next - Mister La-de-da Gunner Graham in Texas Chainsaw Massacre?