This sequel to Frankenstein (1931), originally to be called The Return Of Frankenstein, reunited director James Whale with horror legend Boris Karloff, in his most famous role as Frankenstein's Monster.Bride Of Frankenstein sees Dr Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive) blackmailed by mad scientist Dr Septimus Pretorius (Ernest Thesiger) into creating a "Bride" for his original creation. Together, they create The Bride in the shape of Elsa Lanchester – whose black, conical hair, emblazoned by a white streak of lightning, would itself become an enduring horror image.
After the astonishing success of Frankenstein four years prior, Universal pumped buckets of cash into Bride's production, best illustrated by the once-sparse laboratory now overflowing with gizmo's, dials and sparks. The increased budget gave this sequel a more polished style, and it's often considered superior to the more famous original.
Of particular note are the wonderful photographic effects of the era, designed by John P. Fulton A.S.C. One scene, with miniature people trapped inside glass jars, still amazes modern day special effects experts – who admit they'd be hard-pressed to replicate the effect using 1930s technology.
James Whale returned to direct Bride Of Frankenstein, having already directed The Invisible Man, The Old Dark House and Bride's predecessor. But this would become the director's masterpiece, as he made a series of inspired stylistic choices that made an early example of a superior movie sequel. Most notably, Whale insisted The Monster speak throughout the film this time, something actor Boris Karloff strongly disagreed with, but it proved to be a wise decision.Whale was a gay man (although this wasn't known at the time) and various film historians also note a homosexual overtone between Dr Frankenstein and Dr Pretorius, who can be seen as same-sex parents of their unusual offspring.
Cinematographer John J. Mescall expertly created a tangible mood on the production, clearly influenced by German Expressionism, despite reports he was drunk for much of the production!
The wonderful musical score was written by Franz Waxman and is also a strong reason this movie stands up so well today, with its rousing and exciting melodies having a big influence on subsequent horror films.
Above all, Bride Of Frankenstein is great fun and holds up well today. As with all horror films from early age of Hollywood, they're no longer particularly scary, but they're certainly enchanting and atmospheric creations. When you consider how pioneering and resourceful these films were, you come to appreciate them a great deal. They may sometimes seem rife with cliché, but try and remember… these films invented the clichés!
Trivia1. Colin Clive (Dr Frankenstein) is seated in many scenes because he broke his leg in a riding accident!
2. The laboratory equipment was later re-used for Mel Brooks' affectionate spoof movie Young Frankenstein in 1974.
3. Elsa Lanchester (The Bride) also plays Frankenstein author Mary Shelley in the film's prologue.
4. The storyline was based on an incident in Mary Shelley's original novel, when the creature demands a mate.
4. Boris Karloff is credited as KARLOFF in the credits and The Bride's character is credited only as "?" – just as The Monster had been in the original.
5. In 1998, Bride Of Frankenstein was preserved by the United States National Film Registry, after it was deemed "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant" to cinema.
6. During the birth of The Bride, actress Elsa Lanchester stood on stilts that made her 7 foot tall, as she was only 5 foot 4 in reality.
7. The James Whale biopic Gods & Monsters (1998), starring Ian McKellen as the great director, depicted Whale's autumn years as a closet homosexual following his Hollywood heyday. It also contains reconstructions of key scenes from this movie.
Links
Horror Make-Up: Elsa Lanchester
The 1935 Trailer
