Between adaptations of Mary Shelley's original novel and various uses of the central monster, Frankenstein (remember, folks, that's the name of the
doctor, not his creation) has had a strong presence in cinema since the beginning of the art. The most iconic interpretation, though, is Universal Studios' classic film series, particularly the first two, 1931's
Frankenstein and '35's
Bride of Frankenstein, directed by James Whale and starring Boris Karloff.
I've always been extremely fond of these two movies, preferring the sequel over the original.
Bride has many elements lacking in the first film: humor (it almost plays as a black comedy), music (Franz Waxman's work on
Bride is one of the earliest examples of an orchestral score composed specifically for a feature film), and, most importantly, Dr. Septimus Pretorius.
Ernest Thesinger's performance as Pretorius tops Colin Clive's already over-the-top performance as Dr. Frankenstein. Thesinger devours the scenery as the flamboyant mad scientist who tempts Frankenstein back to the forbidden prospect of creating life. It's plain to see why many critics interpret
Bride as a metaphor for James Whale's life as a homosexual outsider on the fringes of 1930's Hollywood. Whale did, in fact, take a very personal interest in the film. He was not in the least bit interested in doing a sequel to
Frankenstein, but Universal, desperate for a follow-up, offered him complete creative control. Unfortunately, the final cut is not precisely Whale's original vision. After early test screenings, the studio cut nearly thirty minutes out of the film, eliminating some of the darker undertones, reducing the body count from 21 to 10, and wrapping up with a happier ending.
Still,
Bride of Frankenstein is a masterpiece of Gothic cinema. If you are going to choose one
Frankenstein film to watch this Halloween, make it this one. Need an example of why Pretorius is a highlight? Here's his first meeting with the Baron.
TOMORROW: "You Wouldn't Hit a Bat With Glasses, Would You?"