In a series of letters, robert walton, the captain of a ship bound for the north pole, recounts to his sister back in england the progress of his dangerous mission. Oct 27, 2011 frankenstein andor his monster are at the center of more than a dozen other movies made since then, almost all of them owing much more to universals 1931 version than to shelleys novel. When the monster escapes, he meets a little girl playing near the water. Even more so than the novel from which it was adapted, the 1931 film version of frankenstein uses the physical manifestation of the creature to explore themes related to being degraded by a concurrence of circumstances as well as institutional obstructions to a degraded character being allowed to use reason in the name selfrule. This film is followed by the bride of frankenstein 1935, the son of frankenstein 1939, the ghost of frankenstein 1942, frankenstein meets the wolf man 1943, house of frankenstein 1944 and abbott and costello meet frankenstein 1948.
Nov 21, 2019 frankenstein was not the automatic next choice for universal despite the unprecedented commercial success of dracula 1931, and their fortunes remained precarious in addition to a rifeness of nepotism at one point it seemed as if new laemmles were arriving from europe daily the studio did not have an arm of theatres awaiting new productions, so universal were reliant on independently. An obsessed scientist assembles a living being from parts of exhumed corpses. Jun 15, 20 along with dracula also 1931 frankenstein helped popularize the horror genre and established a fairly niche genre for the years to come for the likes of bela lugosi, boris karloff, and peter cushing and vincent price to lavish in. However, mary shelleys frankenstein has been featured in over 60 movies and television shows. The series of films is part of the larger universal classic monsters series. Henry frankenstein colin clive as he attempts to create life by assembling a creature from body parts of the deceased. Henry frankenstein colin clive as he attempts to create life by assembling a creature from body parts of. The two films i will be addressing in this essay are kenneth branaghs and james whales versions of frankenstein, a horror.
Many cuts were made to the film, but the violence was one of the many reasons for the films success. While the filmmakers do a good job of translating the story from book to screen, they have made a few errors. Adversities of scientific knowledge in frankenstein 1931. Successful early on, the mission is soon interrupted by seas full of impassable ice.
Beyond that i will admit i find dracula tedious and flat. The first cinematic adaptation of the novel arrives in 1931 with james whales frankenstein, a film produced by universal studios, the same studio that experienced great success with their adaptation of bram stokers dracula. In the main story, at a funeral, fritz, a dwarf, and young scientist henry frankenstein dig up a freshly buried body, claiming that the corpse is waiting for a. Universal studios frankenstein, directed by james whale, starring colin clive, mae clarke, john boles, edward van sloan, dwight frye, and boris karloff as the monster. Frankenstein, like todd brownings dracula released earlier the same year 1931, a landmark year which also saw the release of fritz langs dazzling serial killer thriller m. The films hulking monster, portrayed by boris karloff with a flat head and protruding neck bolts, is one of the most. Director james whales adaptation of mary shelleys novel frankenstein became an instant horror classic when it premiered in santa barbara in 1931. In the 1931 frankenstein film, we begin right when dr. Jul 04, 2019 frankenstein 1931 an obsessed scientist assembles a living being from parts of exhumed corpses. There is a 1910 version of frankenstein that was really nothing to write home about. One of the most iconic universal horror productions, it also immortalized boris karloff as the frankensteins monster along with karloff, it stars colin clive as dr. Frankenstein is a film about a mad, obsessed scientist, dr.
The same machinery reappeared years later in the fabulous mel brooks homage young frankenstein. Film history horror film history but part of a short history for actor colin clive he died at 37 years of age. Universal classic monsters film series 19311948 the original series of films consisted of eight installments, which starred iconic horror actors such as boris karloff, lon chaney jr. Frankenstein resume complet cineclap, le cinema qui fait. It lets you know that in this movie, youll see mad scientists. Frankenstein creates a monster from various posthumous donors and combines them into a massive creature, to whom he wishes to bestow life. Frankenstein is a 1931 horror film about an obsessed scientist who assembles a living being from parts of exhumed corpses. A scene from the 1931 film adaptation of frankenstein. Henry frankenstein is a brilliant scientist who has been conducting experiments on the reanimation of lifeless bodies. The creature was immortalized on film in 1931, when universal studios released frankenstein with boris karloff playing frankensteins monster. Frankenstein colin clive dares to tamper with life and death by creating a human monster karloff out of lifeless body parts. The film is a parody of the classic horror film genre, in particular the various film adaptations of mary shelleys 1818 novel frankenstein.
I had the pleasure of watching the recent blu ray release of the film, and it looks just as good now as it ever did. Frankenstein, therefore, doesnt just refer to the mad scientist dude or the monster dude. Frankenstein is a 1931 american precode science fiction horror film directed by james whale, produced by carl laemmle jr. The frankenstein family servant, justine, is accused of killing him. Oct 25, 2012 not only is frankenstein arguably the best of the universal monsters from the 1930s, the monster at the films center has become a pivotal image for october 31st. The 1931 frankenstein was produced by carl laemmle jr. While the filmmakers do a good job of translating the story from book to screen, they have made a few. Frankenstein, american horror film, released in 1931, that was based on a stage adaptation of mary wollstonecraft shelleys 1818 novel frankenstein. Henry frankenstein, who creates a monster, by taking body parts from dead people. With colin clive, mae clarke, boris karloff, john boles. Frankenstein 1931 james whale synopsis, characteristics. The electrical machinery in dr frankenstein s laboratory was provided by kenneth strickfaden. Julia pearson is a writer and editor who specializes in english literature and composition, creating content in partnership with collegeboard for clep study guides. Frankenstein 1931 film critique and analysis lusina alajajian.
The electrical machinery in dr frankensteins laboratory was provided by kenneth strickfaden. Frankenstein was not the automatic next choice for universal despite the unprecedented commercial success of dracula 1931, and their fortunes remained precarious in addition to a rifeness of nepotism at one point it seemed as if new laemmles were arriving from europe daily the studio did not have an arm of theatres awaiting new productions, so universal. Of course, the movie was a trendsetter in more ways than one, and features one of cinemas alltime finest. Mary shelleys frankenstein different film techniques essay. Karloffs acting in this film is superb, his best performance of his career as it is all pantomime. When the monster is repeatedly bullied and provoked by fritz, the monster eventually manages to kill him. Frankenstein is an iconic precode monster movie released by universal studiosthe film studio that, with the release of frankenstein, dracula 1931, the mummy, and a slew of other movies, would become the premiere horror workshop of goldenage hollywood. Oct 23, 2012 while the script for universals 1931 frankenstein is occasionally a bit too loose for its own good, its still a stunning piece of classic monster movie cinema. Thats all for this time, join me next time as we resume our study of 1931, with a look into dracula 1931. The film is based on mary shelleys famous book of the same name. Young frankenstein was a box office success upon release.
One of the most iconic universal horror productions, it also immortalized boris karloff as the frankenstein s monster. He has conducted experiments on small animals and is now ready to create life in a man he has assembled from body parts he has been collecting from various sites such as graveyards or the gallows. Frankenstein 1931 this iconic horror film follows the obsessed scientist dr. Along with dracula also 1931 frankenstein helped popularize the horror genre and established a fairly niche genre for the years to come for the likes of bela lugosi, boris karloff, and peter cushing and vincent price to lavish in. Victor magically intuits that his monster is the real killer, but thinking that no one would believe the my monster did it excuse, victor is afraid to even propose his theory. Mary shelleys frankenstein different film techniques. As remarkable for its grasp of elemental horror as it is for its visually arresting set design, the groundbreaking universal film set a new standard for the genre that has continued to influence contemporary film. Frankenstein realizes that he has created an aggressive monster, he and fritz lock the monster up in a cell. Frankenstein 1931 an obsessed scientist assembles a living being from parts of exhumed corpses. The film, with victorian undertones, was produced by carl laemmle jr. The films hulking monster, portrayed by boris karloff with a flat.
Frankenstein is about to give life to his creation, leaving no room for backstory. That was frankenstein, followed by the oddly forgotten paramount adaptation of dr. Apart from being entertaining, it also provides an avenue of discussing the adverse side of science. Balderston, francis edward faragoh, and garrett fort, loosely based on the novel frankenstein by mary shelley. The classic and definitive monsterhorror film of all time, director james whales frankenstein 1931 is the screen version of mary shelleys gothic 1818 nightmarish novel of the same name frankenstein. While the script for universals 1931 frankenstein is occasionally a bit too loose for its own good, its still a stunning piece of classic monster movie cinema. The two films i will be addressing in this essay are kenneth branaghs and james whales. Much of the lab equipment used as props was created by kenneth strickfaden for the 1931 film frankenstein. In a prologue, an announcer steps from behind a curtain to warn the audience of the horrifying nature of the film they are about to see. Balderston based upon the composition by, mary shelley. Frankenstein 1931 remains a classic 80 years later. Les deux affiches inscrivent le film dans le genre du film. Not only looking at the film, but also how it follows or differs form the book, its place in history and influence on subsequent frankenstein films.
Ignoring things dating in general imo it wasnt even the greatest horror film of 1931. Mary shelleys frankenstein different film techniques compare and contrast the way in which the directors of mary shelleys frankenstein 1994 and frankenstein 1931 use different film techniques to build up atmosphere in their opening sequences. Arguably, none of these films have kept more of an image in the popular consciousness than james whales 1931 film simply titled frankenstein. Frankenstein 1931 film critique and analysis lusina. Boris karloff stars in frankenstein, as the screens most memorable monster, in what many consider to be the greatest horror film ever made. Media in category frankenstein 1931 film the following 10 files are in this category, out of 10 total. The film, with victorian undertones, was produced by carl laemmle. Frankenstein, by mary shelley, is a classic horror novel and a prime example of the gothic genre. Frankenstein is a 1931 horror film directed by james whale, based very loosely on mary shelleys classic novel of the same name.
Adversities of scientific knowledge in frankenstein 1931 film the film frankenstein is a classic in many ways. In the main story, at a funeral, fritz, a dwarf, and young scientist henry frankenstein dig up a freshly buried body, claiming that the corpse is waiting for a new life. Frankenstein andor his monster are at the center of more than a dozen other movies made since then, almost all of them owing much. James whale directed the sequel to the 1931 film, bride of frankenstein, starring colin clive as frankenstein, and boris karloff as the monster once more. Trapped, walton encounters victor frankenstein, who has been traveling by dogdrawn sledge.
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