It is interesting that the sequel The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) to Universal Studio’s Frankenstein (1931) is a far better film and more faithful adaptation to Mary Shelley’s classic Gothic novel than was the original movie. James Whale directed and Carl Laemmle Jr. produced this film.
(Richard Rothwell, 1840)
The movie opens with a sequence in which Lord Byron, Percy Shelley and Mary Shelley appear, which is a nod to the summer of 1816 in which the three writers shared time together and decided to writer ghost stories. Mary Shelley’s contribution was a short story about a young doctor who reanimated a corpse, and which she later expanded into the famous and deeply important novel. In this scene, Mary explains that the story did not end, as shown in the first movie, with the death of the creature in the burning windmill.
Whale imbues this film with both highly religious symbolism, as when the creature is captured and tied to what looks like a crucifix and to references to important sections from the book. The creature famously finds a friend in the blind man, who is able to befriend the creature because he cannot see his deformities. This is a clear reference to stereotyping and bigotry.
In the novel, the Creature demands that Frankenstein create a mate for him, so that his loneliness can be alleviated. In this film, Elsa Lancaster, who also plays Mary Shelley in the opening scene, plays the bride. But as would be expected, it does not go well when she rejects the Creature’s advances, and he says the powerful line, “We belong dead.”
Jack Pierce again did the famous makeups, and Boris Karloff starred again as the Creature.
(https://commons.wikimedia.org)
This movie was successful financially and critically. It is, in my opinion, a cinematic masterpiece!
Maledicus: The Investigative Paranormal Society Book I by Charles F. French is available for purchase on Amazon either as an ebook or a print book!
Please follow the following links to find my novel:
Thank you!
The book trailer:
Maledicus:Investigative Paranormal Society Book I
My radio interview:
What was it about that beehive? Elsa was hot!
LikeLiked by 4 people
The creature certainly thought so!
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s the hair…I always liked the hair….
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was quite the do.
LikeLike
Great insights. Many people fail to see the artistry and though behind “monster” movies.
LikeLiked by 2 people
That is very true. It is easy to be stuck in using genres to judge work and not their individual quality.
LikeLike
I miss horror films of old and while I know I’ve seen Frankenstein my foggy memory can’t recall many of the details. Looks like I’m going to have to do movie night.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you will enjoy it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sure I will Charles. I didn’t realize it until after I read your summation on Frankenstein that I meant to refer to the Bride of Frankenstein. I’ll have to watch both now 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now you’ll have either a longer movie night, or two movie nights!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha, yeah I’m thinking two movie nights unless of course there’s a crappy weekend coming down the pike soon in which case I wouldn’t mind dedicating a Saturday to movie day. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
That sounds like a very good idea!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Never saw it. I am going to watch it, now. Thanks, Charles.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome. Please let me know what you think of it.
LikeLike
please change my email to kajxman@gmail.com Thanks, Kathi Janton
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Kathi,
I think you need to follow the blog with that email addy to make this change.
LikeLike
Yes, I enjoyed this film even more than the original. Also the underpinnings make this film timeless. ;o)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, they do. Thanks for the input!
LikeLike
;o)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Poor Frankenstein.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on charles french words reading and writing and commented:
This is another in my series on horror films revisited.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
LikeLike
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re very welcome 😎
LikeLike
An excellent movie. Thank you for all the details.
LikeLike
You are welcome!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have learned so much about classic horror literature from your blog writing (and KC Redding-Gonzalez too) that made me appreciate just how much these horror classics have given to the film industry and to the horror films we love today. I love this version of Bride of Frankenstein. No one as ever played Frankenstein better than Boris Karloff, I believe his portrayal – so human, so heart-rendering, is what made the movie a classic. K D
LikeLike
Yes, I think this movie is the best rendition of Frankenstein in the entire history of cinema. And thank you for the kind words!
LikeLike