MONSTER MOVIES

MONSTER MOVIES – FRANKENSTEIN ON FILM
BORIS KARLOFF IN THE 1931 “FRANKENSTEIN” DIRECTED BY JAMES WHALE
There have been many motion picture adaptations of the Gothic horror story, the first of which was
a short version in 1910. However, it is James Whale’s 1931 cult horror movie Frankenstein that is
most widely remembered. It was adapted from the play by Peggy Webling, which in turn is based on
the novel of the same name by Mary Shelley. The film stars Colin Clive, Mae Clarke, John
Boles and Boris Karloff as the monster. A huge hit with audiences and critics, the film was followed
by multiple sequels and became one of the most iconic horror films in movie history.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKyiXjyVsfw
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The Bride of Frankenstein is a 1935 American horror film,
the first sequel to Frankenstein (1931). Bride of
Frankenstein was directed by James Whale and stars Boris
Karloff as The Monster, and features Elsa Lanchester in
the dual role of his mate and Mary Shelley.
The film follows on immediately from the events of the
earlier film, and is rooted in a subplot of the original Mary
Shelley novel, Frankenstein (1818). In the film, Henry
Frankenstein abandons his plans to create life, only to be
tempted and finally coerced by the Monster, encouraged
by Henry's old mentor Dr. Pretorius, into constructing
a mate for him.
Preparation began shortly after the first film premiered,
but script problems delayed the project. Principal
photography started in January 1935, with creative
personnel from the original returning in front of and
behind the camera. Bride of Frankenstein was released to
critical and popular acclaim, although it encountered
difficulties with some state and national censorship
boards. Since its release the film's reputation has grown,
and it is hailed as Whale's masterpiece. Modern film
scholars, noting Whale's homosexuality and that of others
involved in the production, have found a gay sensibility in
the film, although a number of Whale's associates have
dismissed the idea.
ELSA LANCHESTER AS “THE BRIDE”
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYD3-pIF9jQ
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The Curse of Frankenstein is a 1957 English horror film by Hammer Film Productions, based on the
novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. It was Hammer's first colour horror film, and the first of their
Frankenstein series. Its worldwide success led to several sequels, and the studio's new versions
of Dracula (1958) and The Mummy (1959) and established "Hammer Horror" as a distinctive brand
of Gothic cinema. The film was directed by Terence Fisher and stars Peter Cushing and Christopher
Lee.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2grc7X7JwJY
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is an
American horror film
which
was
directed by Kenneth Branagh and
produced by Francis Ford Coppola in
1994.
The film starred Robert De Niro and
Branagh. It is considered to be the
most faithful film adaptation of Mary
Shelley's novel Frankenstein; or, The
Modern Prometheus.
Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L
g17y6iz7Xs
ROBERT DE NIRO AS THE CREATURE
Young Frankenstein is a 1974 American comedy
film directed by Mel Brooks and starring Gene Wilder as the
title character, a descendant of the infamous Dr. Victor
Frankenstein. The screenplay was written by Wilder and
Brooks.
The film is an affectionate parody of the classical horror film
genre, in particular the various film adaptations of Mary
Shelley's
novel Frankenstein
produced
by Universal
Studios in the 1930s. Most of the lab equipment used as
props was created by Kenneth Strickfaden for the 1931
film Frankenstein. To further reflect the atmosphere of the
earlier films, Brooks shot the picture entirely in black-andwhite, a rarity in the 1970s, and employed 1930s-style
opening credits and scene transitions.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOPTriLG5cU
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SCENE FROM “YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN” – IGOR CHOOSES A BRAIN
Gods and Monsters is a 1998 British-American drama film that recounts the (somewhat
fictionalized) last days of the life of troubled film director James Whale, whose homosexuality is a
central theme. It stars Ian McKellen as Whale, along with Brendan Fraser, Lynn Redgrave, Lolita
Davidovich, and David Dukes. The movie was directed and written by Bill Condon from Christopher
Bram's novel Father of Frankenstein.
The film won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, and was nominated for Best Actor in
a Leading Role (Ian McKellen) and Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Lynn Redgrave).
The film features reconstructions of the filming of Bride of Frankenstein, a movie Whale directed.
The title comes from a line in Bride of Frankenstein, in which the character Dr. Pretorius toasts Dr.
Frankenstein, "To a new world of gods and monsters."
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFhK0ia7oG0
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Frankenweenie is a 2012 American comedyhorror family film directed by Tim Burton.[3] It
is a remake of Burton's 1984 short film of the
same name and is a parody of and homage to
the 1931 film Frankenstein. The voice cast
includes four actors who worked with Burton
on previous films: Winona Ryder, Catherine
O’Hara, Martin Landau and Martin Short.
Frankenweenie is in black and white. It is also
the fourth stop-motion film produced by
Burton and the first of those four that is not
a musical. In the film, a boy named Victor
loses his dog, named Sparky, and uses the
power of science to resurrect him.
Frankenweenie, the first black-and-white
feature film and the first stop-motion film to
be released in IMAX 3D, was released by Walt
Disney Pictures on October 5, 2012 and met
with positive reviews and moderate box
office sales.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TKo5iVO5-g
The appeal of Mary Shelley’s book goes on.
In 2014, “I, Frankenstein”, a film written
and directed by Stuart Beattie, and based
on the graphic novel and original screenplay
by Kevin Grevioux was released. It starred
Aaron Eckhart as Adam Frankenstein. It was
given bad reviews by the critics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxOSP
fUw3qw
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AND FINALLY……..THE MONSTER MASH: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeZftK2kO6U
How about this? “I’m Alive
(Frankenstein’s Song)” by The
Strawberry Traffic Jam:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
Dg868RflRYk
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