FRANKENSTEIN UNBOUND
US, 1990, 82 minutes, Colour.
John Hurt, Raul Julia, Nick Brimble, Bridget Fonda, Catherine Rabett, Jason Patric, Michael Hutchins, Catherine Corman.
Directed by Roger Corman.
Frankenstein Unbound is an unusual variation on the traditional Frankenstein story as well as incorporating the historical background of Mary Shelley’s writing the novel. The film is also futuristic, a world of 2031 and its experiments in science, weapon development, upsetting the balance of weather and the universe.
The film is based on a novel by Brian Aldiss (author of Toys Last All Summertime which was made into a film by Steven Spielberg as AI: Artificial Intelligence) and Brothers of the Head.
John Hurt is his usual effective self as Doctor Buchanan, a doctor in the future, responsible for the changes in the climate and who is projected back, in his car, to 1817 to Switzerland where Mary Shelley and Shelley and Byron are together on the lake of Geneva. Bridget Fonda portrays Mary Shelley. Jason Patric has a cameo as Byron and Michael Hutchins as Shelley. Raoul Julia portrays a real-life Doctor Frankenstein who is creating a creature. Katherine Rabett is his wife who is eventually transformed into the Bride of Frankenstein.
Roger Corman’s screenplay incorporates futuristic science fiction along with a re-creation of 19th century history as well as re-creating the Frankenstein story.
The film is interesting in its presentation of characters, time travel, the amazement of Frankenstein and Mary Shelley about Doctor Buchanan’s car. Mary Shelley is also amazed about the publication of her novel.
Nick Brimble is the monster, more humane than many other monsters, desirous of a companion. At the end, he and Doctor Buchanan are projected into an Arctic future (paralleling the original novel) where the monster cannot be destroyed and the world is in turmoil.
Roger Corman had established himself as a strong producer. Corman encouraged such talent as Francis Ford Coppola, Jonathan Demme. In the mid-1950s he began making small-budget genre films from horror to westerns including Five Guns West and Wasp Woman. He also made the serious racism film, The Intruder in 1961. He was better known in the 60s for his series of films of Edgar Allen Poe stories, The Fall of the House of Usher, Mask of the Red Death, The Haunted Palace.
1.The variation on the Frankenstein story? The future and science fiction issues? Time travel? 1817, Switzerland, Doctor Frankenstein, Mary Shelley, the court case, the monster? The return to the future and the bleak ending?
2.The work of Roger Corman, his own small-budget films, this film more lavish? The tradition of the Frankenstein horror films? The polish of this film? The strong cast? Style? Musical score?
3.The world of the future: laboratories, experimentation, weapons? Politics and PR personnel? The cloud, destruction? The futuristic car, its computer voice?
4.Doctor Buchanan, John Hurt’s style, his work, philosophy of life, the future, deadlines, weapons, his mistakes? The staff? Saving the children from the storm? His being transported through the cloud?
5.The Swiss settings, the town, the costumes, décor, the streets, inns, shops? Buchanan and his less formal clothes, buying new ones, selling his watch, fitting into the 19th century?
6.The encounter with Doctor Frankenstein, their talk, following him, discovering the monster? The court case, the death of Doctor Frankenstein’s brother? Frankenstein unmoved in court with Elizabeth? The death penalty? The witnesses, the discussion about Frankenstein’s work, his attitude of supremacy? Willingness to sacrifice others? The letter to his wife – and his deceiving Doctor Buchanan about asking for a pardon for the young woman?
7.The court case, the girl as a victim, the witch-hunt, the testimonies, the bloodlust of the people in the court, not wanting to hear the truth, the lynch mob mentality? The girl as innocent, making her peace, her death?
8.Mary Godwin, later to become Mary Shelley, Buchanan talking to her at the court? His visit, wanting her influence to save the woman? The meeting with Byron, Shelley, the discussions? Their lifestyle? The car, printing out the book, showing it to Mary, the bond between them, the sexual liaison, the ride in the car? Buchanan’s encouragement of Mary to write the book?
9.The car, in the 21st century, in the 19th century, Mary and the ride, Frankenstein and his admiration for the technology? The voice?
10.The monster, more human, its reactions, with Doctor Frankenstein, wanting the mate, threatening Elizabeth? Frankenstein’s decision to go through with the procedure, wanting the car for the electricity? Elizabeth and her fleeing, her death, her heart ripped out, the experiment, the monster present, her becoming the bride of Frankenstein – Frankenstein trying to shoot the monster but her stepping in front of the bullet and dying?
11.The character of Frankenstein, his arrogance?
12.The contrast with the 19th century romantics? And their fascination with such stories as that of Frankenstein and the monster?
13.The return to the future, the monster in the future, in the laboratory, Doctor Buchanan’s attempt to kill him, indestructible? The fatalistic ending?
14.The Frankenstein story messages for the 20th and 21st centuries?
