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The Bride Of Frankenstein
1935
Director James Whale's definitive Frankenstein's monster movies from the 1930s.FRANKENSTEIN: (1931)This is James Whale's first stylish, expressionist film to grace the Universal horror cycle of the 1930s and 1940s (DRACULA, THE MUMMY). Scientist Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive) and his hunchbacked assistant, Fritz (Dwight Frye),.. Read more
| Starring | Boris Karloff, Colin Clive, Elsa Lanchester, Ernest Thesiger |
|---|---|
| Director | James Whale |
| Genres | Horror |
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The Bride Of Frankenstein
Director James Whale's definitive Frankenstein's monster movies from the 1930s.
FRANKENSTEIN: (1931)
This is James Whale's first stylish, expressionist film to grace the Universal horror cycle of the 1930s and 1940s (DRACULA, THE MUMMY). Scientist Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive) and his hunchbacked assistant, Fritz (Dwight Frye), embark on an unholy mission by stealing a body from a graveyard and a human brain from a medical college. Unbeknownst to Frankenstein, however, Fritz takes a violent and murderous abnormal brain. Henry's strange letters about his experiments worry his fiancee, Elizabeth (Mae Clark), and friends Victor (John Boles) and Dr. Waldman (Edward Van Sloan). They arrive at Frankenstein's laboratory to find the spectacular scene of creation under way--and Frankenstein intoxicated with his own godlike power. FRANKENSTEIN is in many ways the original horror classic, virtually creating the genre itself, leading to numerous sequels and myriad imitators. Whale's ability to give humanity to the Monster is one of the film's most stunning successes.
BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN: (1935)
The sequel to FRANKENSTEIN is considered one of the best horror films of all time. After the Monster is trapped in a windmill fire, Dr. Henry Frankenstein assumes that the fiendish murderer has perished...but he's not dead yet. Rising from the rubble, the Monster is on the loose again--lonely and misunderstood, and killing those who cross him. Frankenstein wants to forget his creation, but the evil Dr. Pretorius (Ernest Thesiger) has a diabolical plan to create a mate for the Monster, and Frankenstein must comply or else.
| Starring | Boris Karloff, Colin Clive, Elsa Lanchester, Ernest Thesiger, Dwight Frye, Valerie Hobson, O.P. Heggie, Una O'Connor |
|---|---|
| Director | James Whale |
| Studio | UNIVERSAL PICTURES UK |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 15 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Horror |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 01 Dec 2003 Production year: 1935 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (5)
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James Whale's extravagantly produced sequel to his own Frankenstein still ranks as one of horrordom's greatest achievements. From his wittily eccentric direction and Elsa Lanchester's electric hairdo, to Ernest Thesiger's ingenious portrayal of the perverse Dr Pretorius and Boris Karloff's alternately poignant and pushy monster, it's a class act from amazing start to religious-slanted finish. They don't get any better than this one and some scenes — the unveiling of the bride to the sound of wedding bells, the miniature people in bell jars — are of emphatic classic status.
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Frankenstein was startlingly good in a primitive way; this sequel is the screen's sophisticated masterpiece of black comedy, with all the talents working deftly to one end. Every scene has its own delights, and they are woven together into a superb
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Most helpful member's review
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7 out of 8 people found this review helpful
James Whale's Masterpiece
'To a new world of gods and monsters' intones Dr Praetorious (A wonderfully OTT Ernest Thesiger) in this superlative sequel. Praetorious has been experimenting with minature people and now wishes to team up with Dr Frankenstein(Colin Clive) to create a fully grown human. After the demise of his original monster(Boris Karloff) Frankenstein is understandably reluctant, but Praetorious will stop at nothing to secure his partnership.
Whale opens his follow-up with a prologue in which Mary Shelley(played by Elsa Lanchester, who also embodies the Bride); her husband, Percy, and their friend Lord Byron imagine a sequel to the first story: The Monster survives being burned in a mill and staggers forth, alive and misunderstood, roaming the countryside searching for some human kindness. The monster meets a blind hermit, who teaches him to smoke, drink, and talk. After the monster has been in his house for just a few minutes, they have become great friends. Then some townspeople turn up and drive the monster back into the wilderness, destined to be lonely and misunderstood. Perhaps a mate made in the same way as himself is what he requires.
Endlessly scary, touching, subversive and funny, this is a truly magnificent film. Boris Karloff once again plays the monster to perfection and benefits from the broadening of his character. Here, the monster learns to speak and his his rudimentary speech('friend...good'), and his simple hand motions convey the greatest sorrows. When Frankenstein and Praetorious create the bride(Lanchester) they also create another of the truly iconic figures in cinema. Her twitchy, jerky mannerisms and memorable appearance linger in the memory, especially her reaction upon meeting her 'groom'.
But once again, the success of this film is down to the genius of James Whale. Whale employs wonderful special effects(still impressive), unusual camera angles and art direction and a cluster of excellent performances. Whale also manages to smuggle some pretty subversive material into his film(including homosexuality and necrophilia) and never loses sight of the humour or humanity of his story. This classic joins the likes of 'Godfather II', 'Aliens' and 'Toy Story 2' as one of the select films to improve on an already great original. Nothing short of a masterpiece.
* Anyone who enjoyed either of the Frankenstein films may like to watch 'Gods and Monsters'. in which Ian McKellen(in his best performance) plays the great James Whale. -
Most recent members' review
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
A Big Surpise
in that, it's actually Brilliant! Yes, movie reviewers have been raving since the thirties that this is a good film, but normally that would be enough to put me off seeing such an old movie.
However, it is surprising in just how much is hasn't dated. I don't mean effects, or black and white, that's obvious, but at the same time it adds to the purety of it.
The script is fantastic, almost Shakespearean in it use of characters to drive the narrative, particularly with the mad old housekeeper woman, pure comic relief and all the better for it! And the evil scientist is clealy having a whale (no pun intended) of a time camping it up through all his lines and coming on like a cross between Dr Frankenfurter and Jon Pertwee era Dr Who. Neither of whom would be invented for decades after this film was made.
Karloff is simply iconic, and Elsa Lanchester only marginally less so with the Bride's crazy bouffant hairdo.
It's not going to scare anyone out of their wits in modern society, but some sequences retain their creepiness, and Karloff exudes pathos as the misunderstood Monster. You root for him, and are genuinely moved by his plight for companionship.
It is just a shame that so few films are made to this standard today. This is a work of genius, and a high point for the entire horror genre. -
News and features
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The Bride of Frankenstein set for sexy makeover
- 19 Jun 2009
Scarlett Johansson and Anne Hathaway have inspired movie studio bosses to give The Bride Of Frankenstein a sexy makeover in the upcoming movie remake. Producers are casting a seductive Hollywood siren for director Neil Burger's version of the zombie's formerly frizzy-haired bride, played by actress Elsa Lanchester in the original 1935 original film. A Hollywood insider tells the New York Post, "She'll be young. They're looking for a person with great power and sex appeal. Someone along the... Read more
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The Bride Of Frankenstein
Director James Whale's definitive Frankenstein's monster movies from the 1930s.
FRANKENSTEIN: (1931)
This is James Whale's first stylish, expressionist film to grace the Universal horror cycle of the 1930s and 1940s (DRACULA, THE MUMMY). Scientist Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive) and his ...
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