FRANKENSTEIN
US, 1931, 71 Minutes, Black and white.
Colin Clive, Mae Clarke, John Boles, Boris Karloff.
Directed by James Whale.
Frankenstein was an impressive film in the early 309s, at the beginning of sound. It has remained a classic during the decades and still remains an important film. An adaptation of Mary Shelley's classic story, the film introduced Boris Karloff as the monster and enhanced his career. He was to portray many monsters and many character performances over the years.
The film was directed by James Whale who was to direct the sequel, The Bride Of Frankenstein which matched Elsa Lanchester effectively with Karloff. There was to be another sequel, The Son Of Frankenstein in which the monster was resurrected and encountered Basil Rathbone. This series is the series on Frankenstein. The black and white photography, captures the poetic touches by Whale e.g the sequence of the death of a young girl in the original (imitated many times since and used very effectively in the Spanish film The Spirit of the Beehive) but the films stand out as examples of quality horror.
There were parodies of the Frankenstein story over many decades and Karloff played a part in some of these films. The English Hammer Studios reintroduced the series in the late 50s and these were successful into the 70's. Peter Cushing was to appear as Frankenstein with a number of actors portraying the monster, most especially Christopher Lee. There was an emphasis of blood and gore in these Hammer horror films although they themselves have a vitality of their own even though they are more crude than the poetic originals.
Bill Condon's Gods and Monsters (1999) is a portrait of James Whale with Ian McKellan? as the director.
1. A quality horror film? Was the prologue suitable to horror expectations? Why is this is horror classic?
2. What were the main characteristic styles of the 1930s that the film showed? How successfully were they used? How dated does the film seem now?
3. The initial atmosphere of the graves and the digging up of bodies? The grotesque assistant, Fritz? The use of bodies for experiments? What atmosphere did this create?
4. Doctor Frankenstein: was he a hero at first? did the audience like or loathe him? In understanding his work? What were his attitudes towards life and power? Was he really bad? Was he at all sympathetic?
5. Was Elizabeth a sympathetic heroine? Was she merely in the film as ornament? Did she contribute to the plot? Victor as a friend?
6. Comment on the effect of the comedy, wit, the Baron Frankenstein. Why was he so amusing? How did this help the film? Give it balance? Give some kind of variety to the emotional response?
7. The effect of seeing Frankenstein wanting to give life and play God? Did he have any right to do this? The irony of his getting the wrong brain? What message about playing God?
8. What impression did the monster make - in his beginning to live? a victim of Frankenstein. in his looking at himself in the light of the humane aspects of the master, being taunted by Fritz, his being put in chains? Did this explain his rampage? His killing of Fritz? Of the Doctor? The impact of the sequence with the little girl and his smile, the irony of her death? His terrorising of Elizabeth? Was it right that he persecuted Frankenstein and terrified him? The final impact of his death and pain?
9. The irony of the marriage being celebrated in the ominous atmosphere?
10. How did the film veer towards reality with the people pictured celebrating the wedding and then becoming aware of the death?
11. Was the film realistic at all? (In its contemporary setting; in its scientific apparatus?)
12. Did Frankenstein get the punishment he deserved - especially since he was responsible for the deaths?
13. What moral points were being made about life, death, human pride and limitations?
14. How does this film compare with later Frankenstein films?
