FRANKENSTEIN
UK, 1984, 90 minutes, Colour.
Robert Powell, David Warner, Carrie Fisher, John Gilbert.
Directed by James Ormerod.
Frankenstein is yet another telemovie version of the much filmed Mary Shelley story. This film goes back in tone to the James Whale 30s version of Frankenstein from Universal Studios. Later versions tended to not give so much emphasis to the creature but to show the repercussions of playing God with science in Dr Frankenstein himself (a feature of the Hammer movies with Peter Cushing). Variations on this, theme include Jack Smight's version of 1974 with Michael Sarrazin as an attractive creature.
David Warner portrays a most sympathetic creature in this version. Robert Powell is Dr Frankenstein - in the Peter Cushing mode and style). There is good supporting cast including Carrie Fisher as Elizabeth, John Gilbert as the blind beggar. The film is very elegantly made, has strong dialogue, especially about the role of the scientist and controlling creation, contrasting with the blind hermit reading the book of Genesis with the creature and the creature thinking that Frankenstein was his creator and, therefore, to be worshipped. There are echoes of the original gentleness of Boris Karloff's creature as well as the pathos of the creature killing people even while trying to love them or save them as well as the yearning of the creature not to be left alone but desiring a bride. The film is conventional in its opening but soon moves into an interesting and satisfying version of the Frankenstein story.
1. The popularity of the Frankenstein story? So often filmed? This film in the tradition of newer versions? from the 80s?
2. The elegant English settings, the British countryside, the mansion? The use of landscapes? The atmosphere of the turn of the century and 19th century traditions? Make-up and special effects? the musical score?
3. The title and the focus on Dr Frankenstein? His ambitions, the scientist playing God, the consequences of his creation? Retribution and destruction? The focus on the creature as a parallel and contrast with Frankenstein?
4. Robert Powell as Dr Frankenstein, his ambitions, the voiceover hoping for achievement? His distancing himself from the family? His love for Elizabeth? Henry's arrival, his urging him to join him in the experiment? The taking of the body from the cemetery, installing it in the laboratory? The surgery? Preparation for the transformation? His enthusiasm for the role of the scientist and creating life? The first attempt, the failure? The unexpected lightning flash? The creature alive? Escaping? His wondering what he had done? Henry's reactions? The return to the family, his love for his brother, care for his father? Elizabeth? Pressing Henry to stay? Wondering about the creature? The passing of time, the plans for the wedding? The picnic, the discovery of William dead, Justine's death? Henry's grief? His remorse, the creature coming to the laboratory seeing him as God, special pleading? His horror? Deciding what to do? Deciding to destroy the creature - but the creature destroying Elizabeth? The two alone? His sense of retribution?
5. Elizabeth, her devotion to Victor, place in the family, care for William? The hopes for the marriage? Her concern, summoning Henry? Woken in the night, the experiments? Relieved with Victor's returning to the family? The picnic, the plans for the wedding, the dress? The tragedy, her grief, in the laboratory, the confrontation with the monster, with creature, his wanting her to scream, her death?
6. Henry, friendship, helping with the experiment, his fears? his love for Justine? Staying with the family? The deaths, his grief, his remorse?
7. Alphonse, the Frankenstein family, William, the bonds in the family? The meals? The picnic, the tragedy?
8. The creature, the condemned criminal and the opening hanging? Taken from the grave by the diggers? His coming alive? David Warner's interpretation of the creature with tenderness? Wondering bewildered? Finding the hermit, listening to the music? The blind hermit accepting him? Food, comfort? Words, learning to read, the impact of Genesis? Friendship and companionship? The death of the hermit, grief? The attack on the robbers? His wanting friendship, the encounter with William, the tenderness, hugging to death? With Justine and her death? His grief, wanting to know his identity? The return to Frankenstein? Alone? the Genesis interpretations? Killing Elizabeth and wanting her to scream? His revenge upon Frankenstein? The bewilderment of the conflict of good and evil within him? A portrait of pathos?
9. Delacey, his background, alone, the music? His welcoming the creature, interpreting his needs, the food, words, friendship? The reading? The confrontation with the robbers, his death?
10. The robbers, the graves, their greed, the confrontation with the creature, their fear, wanting to rob Delacey, their brutality, their deaths?
11. Themes of 19th century literature - the growth of science, the role of the scientist, philosophy and science, data and evidence, experiments, playing God and the retribution in playing God and interfering with nature?
