The Frozen Dead

The Frozen Dead

Year: 1966

Runtime: 95 mins

Language: English

Director: Herbert J. Leder

Science FictionHorrorHorror the undead and monster classicsChilling experiments and classic monster horrorNazis and World War II

After powerful fiends are frozen at the peak of their diabolical abilities, they are resurrected years later. Meanwhile, a deranged scientist preserves the heads of Nazi war criminals, waiting for suitable bodies to graft them onto in a twisted effort to resurrect the Third Reich.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – The Frozen Dead (1966)

Trace every key event in The Frozen Dead (1966) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Norberg's two-decade thawing program

For twenty years, Dr. Norberg has secretly thawed frozen Nazi soldiers at his English country estate. The brains of many remain non-functional, producing zombie-like beings who can only repeat a single memory. He awaits orders from General Lubeck and Captain Tirpitz, who promise support if the project succeeds.

20 years after World War II Norberg's English country estate
2

Lubeck and Tirpitz plot a revival

General Lubeck and Captain Tirpitz arrive to oversee the project and urge a full revival of the Third Reich. They insist that the time is right to restore the Nazis to full capacity across the globe. Norberg is pressed to accelerate the experiments and deliver functional troops.

Estate laboratory
3

Ted Roberts joins the project

American scientist Ted Roberts is brought in and believes he is helping to preserve organs for medical use. He has some success thawing functional brains, which impresses Norberg but leaves Ted unaware of the underlying Nazi plot. He soon finds himself entangled in a macabre plan.

Norberg's lab
4

Elsa leaves for London

Jean's friend Elsa departs for London on the 6:00 AM train, leaving Jean puzzled by the sudden disappearance. The morning reveals a growing sense of unease about Elsa's whereabouts. Jean searches for explanations as Elsa's absence deepens the mystery.

6:00 AM Railway station to London
5

Elsa is abducted and killed; head preserved

Karl drugs Elsa and takes her to the laboratory, where she is found dead with Prisoner no. 3 nearby, smiling. The grim discovery reveals the Nazi plot behind the scenes. Norberg later shows Ted Elsa's head, alive and preserved under a clear dome.

Norberg's lab
6

Elsa's living head observed

That night, Norberg proudly presents Elsa’s head, blue-skinned and alive, its brain visible beneath a clear plastic dome. He explains its potential for study and what he might transfer to living subjects. The unsettling display marks a turning point for Ted and Jean's looming discovery.

that night Norberg's lab
7

Jean experiences a telepathic link

Jean experiences a nightmare in which Elsa is dead, and Elsa begins communicating telepathically with her while she sleeps. The connection hints that Elsa's consciousness may still be present. Jean starts to interpret the messages as clues to Elsa's whereabouts.

that night Jean's home
8

Jean investigates Elsa's whereabouts

Jean queries railway staff and turns to Mrs. Smith for information, only to discover that Mrs. Smith is actually Mrs. Schmidt, an undercover Nazi. The trail suggests a wider network protecting Elsa's fate. Jean's determination to uncover the truth grows.

days after Elsa's departure England; railway station and Mrs. Schmidt's circle
9

Ted is knocked out; Norberg explains a family myth

Ted approaches the lab to press Norberg for answers, but Karl knocks him unconscious. When Ted regains consciousness, Norberg tells him he was attacked by his mentally ill brother, No. 3, during the war. He asks Ted to remain silent about what he has seen.

that moment Lab
10

Karl tortured and confesses

Lubeck and Tirpitz torture Karl to discover whether he has told anyone about the plot. Karl confesses that he alerted the Schmidts about Elsa and the experiments. In a grim display of Nazi resolve, Lubeck freezes Karl as punishment for perceived betrayal.

that night Estate
11

The willpower question and the arms

Norberg tries to demonstrate that Elsa can control the wall of amputated arms, but nothing happens at first. Ted suggests that Elsa may still possess willpower, a possibility that unnerves the Nazis and hints at a deeper resistance within the experiments.

later Lab
12

Elsa calls to Jean again; the lab heist

Elsa telepathically communicates with Jean once more, prompting Jean to head for the lab. She, with Ted, retrieves the key to the locked door and begins searching for Elsa. The tense pursuit tightens as the pair close in on the secret chamber.

that night Lab
13

Revelations about No.3 and Karl's crime

Norberg confirms that Prisoner No. 3 is Jean's father, a fact that shocks Jean. Elsa then reveals the true killer: Karl, who murdered her. The layers of deceit peel away as Jean confronts the uncomfortable truth.

that night Lab
14

Nazi plot exposed and the deadly trap

Lubeck reveals the Nazi plot to Jean, and as he draws a pistol, Elsa activates the wall of arms. The arms strangle Lubeck and Tirpitz, and Tirpitz shoots Prisoner No. 3 just as he is choking Jean. The conspiracy collapses in a brutal, dramatic moment.

that night Lab
15

Elsa's final plea

With Jean, Ted, and Witt watching, Elsa repeats the haunting plea 'Bury me.' The survivors are left to reckon with the consequences of the experiments and the cost of their knowledge. The living head and the wall of arms fade into a grim epilogue.

ending Lab

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 10:43

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The Frozen Dead Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Frozen Dead

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