Dr Henry Frankenstein is obsessed with assembling a living being from parts of several exhumed corpses.Dr Henry Frankenstein is obsessed with assembling a living being from parts of several exhumed corpses.Dr Henry Frankenstein is obsessed with assembling a living being from parts of several exhumed corpses.
- Awards
- 4 wins & 3 nominations
Ted Billings
- Villager
- (uncredited)
Mae Bruce
- Screaming Maid
- (uncredited)
Jack Curtis
- Villager
- (uncredited)
Arletta Duncan
- Bridesmaid
- (uncredited)
William Dyer
- Gravedigger
- (uncredited)
Francis Ford
- Hans
- (uncredited)
Soledad Jiménez
- Mourner
- (uncredited)
Carmencita Johnson
- Little Girl
- (uncredited)
Seessel Anne Johnson
- Little Girl
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe Monster's make-up design by Jack P. Pierce is under copyright to Universal through the year 2026 and licensed by Universal Studios Licensing, Inc.
- GoofsAccording to DVD commentary for this film, director James Whale intended this film to take place in an "alternate universe" and therefore freely mixed 19th Century and 1930s technology, hair fashions, etc.
- Quotes
Henry Frankenstein: Look! It's moving. It's alive. It's alive... It's alive, it's moving, it's alive, it's alive, it's alive, it's alive, IT'S ALIVE!
Victor Moritz: Henry - In the name of God!
Henry Frankenstein: Oh, in the name of God! Now I know what it feels like to be God!
- Crazy creditsIn the opening credits: The Monster - ?
- Alternate versionsSPOILERS: The picture was scripted and filmed with Dr. Frankenstein seeming to die in the mill with his creation, but was instead released with a hastily re-shot happy ending, wherein Henry survives to marry Elizabeth (see "Trivia"). However, the sequel, Bride of Frankenstein (1935) literally followed the first scenario, and consequently just before "Bride" opened this film was reissued with the original finale restored. This movie was seen this way in all subsequent theatrical releases of the old Hollywood era, but when the entire package of classic Universal horror films was made available to television in the 1950s, the prints of the original movie carried the happy ending, and the incompatibility with the opening scene of "Bride..." confused new viewers.
- ConnectionsEdited into Boo! (1932)
Featured review
Still quality stuff
A brilliant young scientist creates life from the dead but lives to regret it when his creation goes on the rampage.
Though inevitably dated and primitive by modern standards, Frankenstein remains a tremendously impressive film and a tribute to its still somewhat under-rated director, the eccentric Englishman James Whale.
Where so many early talkies were static and wordy, Frankenstein skips unnecessary dialogue and exposition and drives through its plot at a speed that seems almost indecent nowadays. Compared to overblown remakes like Kenneth Branagh's 1994 version, Whale's work now seems like a masterpiece of brevity and minimalism. His constantly moving camera, incisive editing and dramatic use of close-ups are a mile ahead of anything far more prestigious directors were doing at the time. Expressionist photography and eccentric set designs lend atmosphere, menace and help augment some rather ripe performances; a foretaste of the paths Whale would tread in the sequel Bride of Frankenstein four years later.
And then of course there's Karloff. With comparatively few scenes and no dialogue he nonetheless manages to create a complex, intimidating, yet sympathetic creature - one of the great mimes in talking cinema and thanks in no small degree to the freedom given to him under Jack Pierce's iconic make-up.
A historic piece of cinema, and one that still stands the test of time as both art and entertainment.
Though inevitably dated and primitive by modern standards, Frankenstein remains a tremendously impressive film and a tribute to its still somewhat under-rated director, the eccentric Englishman James Whale.
Where so many early talkies were static and wordy, Frankenstein skips unnecessary dialogue and exposition and drives through its plot at a speed that seems almost indecent nowadays. Compared to overblown remakes like Kenneth Branagh's 1994 version, Whale's work now seems like a masterpiece of brevity and minimalism. His constantly moving camera, incisive editing and dramatic use of close-ups are a mile ahead of anything far more prestigious directors were doing at the time. Expressionist photography and eccentric set designs lend atmosphere, menace and help augment some rather ripe performances; a foretaste of the paths Whale would tread in the sequel Bride of Frankenstein four years later.
And then of course there's Karloff. With comparatively few scenes and no dialogue he nonetheless manages to create a complex, intimidating, yet sympathetic creature - one of the great mimes in talking cinema and thanks in no small degree to the freedom given to him under Jack Pierce's iconic make-up.
A historic piece of cinema, and one that still stands the test of time as both art and entertainment.
Helpful•7513
- oldreekie546
- May 22, 2003
- Permalink
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Languages
- Also known as
- Frankenštajn
- Filming locations
- Malibou Lake, Agoura, California, USA(creature and young girl by the lake scene)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $291,000 (estimated)
- Gross worldwide
- $1,626
- Runtime1 hour 10 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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