Frankenstein movie 1931 analysis

Henry frankenstein is a brilliant scientist who has been conducting experiments on the reanimation of lifeless bodies. At the beginning of the film we see men in a grave yard digging up a corpse. Mankind will always strive to push limits and boundaries particularly when science is involved. Of course, the movie was a trendsetter in more ways than one, and features one of cinemas alltime finest performances from boris karloff as the tragic frankenstein monster, whilst whales inventive direction, the splendid sets, the awesome makeup, and colin clives hysterical turn as henry also contribute to the movie s overall effect. Jul 10, 2014 an evaluation of james whales frankenstein 1931, one of the most influential horror films ever made. Slowly, the hand moves and frankenstein, overcome with joy, delivers the famous line. 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. The second biggest grossing movie of 1931 was the lavish spy thriller mata hari produced for twice the cost of frankenstein by hollywoods biggest studiomgmand with its biggest star, greta garbo, in the title role.

Why frankenstein s monster in the 1931 film kills people how henry frankenstein reacts to his creation in the 1931 film similarities and differences between the original book and films. Review of frankenstein by james whale 1840 words bartleby. 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. Which is a shame, because the movie actually deviates very. The young scientist, newly engaged but away from his. Of course, the movie was a trendsetter in more ways than one, and features one of cinemas alltime finest performances from boris karloff as the tragic frankenstein monster, whilst whales inventive direction, the splendid sets, the awesome makeup, and colin clives hysterical turn as henry also contribute to the movies overall effect. The films hulking monster, portrayed by boris karloff with a flat head and protruding neck bolts, is one of the most. Mother to thousands of different versions of the original text, first put pen to paper in 1818. For these viewers, the movie is the complete truth and the books details are forgotten over time. Analyzing expressiveness in frankenstein 1931 oupblog. Frankenstein played by colin clive takes body parts from dead people and creates a monster, played by boris karloff, in his laboratory. That is the overwhelming image that remains from a recent viewing of the restored version of m, fritz lang s famous 1931 film about a child murderer in germany.

Frankenstein is a 1931 american precode science fiction horror film directed by james whale, produced by carl laemmle jr. Frankenstein, american horror film, released in 1931, that was based on a stage adaptation of mary wollstonecraft shelleys 1818 novel frankenstein. Jun 15, 20 my second piece of retrospective analysis, looking into the year 1931, continuing from cimmaron 1931 i take a look at iconic horror monster flick frankenstein. The classic and definitive monster horror 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.

He succeeds and creates a monster that has to deal with living again. Directed by james whale and written by peggy webling, the movie stars colin clive as henry frankenstein victor frankenstein, john boles as victor moritz henry clerval, and boris karloff as frankensteins monster. The murder creates another situation in which victor can choose to act, or fail to take responsibility. The film works perfectly well on its own terms, as a sequel to whales frankenstein 1931, recasting the monster as an outcast yearning for friendship. Frankenstein lets them in to witness the final experiment. 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. Oct 30, 20 its the film that introduced horror fans to boris karloffs lurching, tragic monster, and to director james whales elegant camera and black sense of humor. Henry frankenstein colin clive as he attempts to create life by assembling a creature from body parts. None of these films even remotely followed the original novels storyline, and none ever achieved the kind of fame garnered by the original movie. When i was a youngster, one of the highlights of my week was watching creature. Moviegoers were easier to scare back there in 1931. The film, with victorian undertones, was produced by carl laemmle. Frankenstein creates a monster from various posthumous donors and combines them into a massive creature, to whom he wishes to bestow life.

Frankenstein director by james whale with colin clive, mae clark, john boles and boris karloff, 71 minutes, black and white, 1931. In both frankenstein and bride of frankenstein, frankenstein has an assistant who is played both times by dwight frye who is crippled. Movie goers were easier to scare back there in 1931. Frankenstein is a murderer, while the monster is violent and dangerous from the moment of his creation. It was called frankenstein and had boris karloff as the creature. The cycle runs the entire gamut from perfection through pastiche and pulp to parody. Henry frankenstein is startled to discover hes called henry because hes victor in the novel. Focusing on the differences between the 1931 movie frankenstein and the original novel, there are three main differences. Frankenstein the 1931 movie by ali frantzis on prezi.

Read the full synopsis of frankenstein, 1931, directed by james whale, with colin clive, mae clarke, john boles, at turner classic movies. How is the original frankenstein movie 1931 different from. Henry frankenstein is a doctor who is trying to discover a way to make the dead walk. The curse of frankenstein is more a horror movie than it is an adaptation of shelleys novel. Although it is almost a century old, people are still reenacting it and discussing it. But he recovers, and does his frankenstein thing, which is stitching together a body out of. Frankenstein 68 movie clip the monster befriends maria 1931. Frankenstein 1931 cast and crew this iconic horror film follows the obsessed scientist dr.

Frankensteins creature has been interpreted as symbolic of the revolutionary thought which had swept through europe in the 1790s, but had largely petered out. The most important part of the moviethe actual creation of the monsterdoesnt really get much attention in the book. The classic and definitive monsterhorror film of all time, director james whales frankenstein 1931 is the screen version of mary shelleys gothic 1818. In 1931, over a hundred years after publication of mary shelleys frankenstein, the first movie adaption of the novel was released. My second piece of retrospective analysis, looking into the year 1931, continuing from cimmaron 1931 i take a look at iconic horror monster flick frankenstein. Frankenstein has been hailed as one of the best films of 1931 as well as one of the greatest movies of all time. Summary frankenstein was made in 1931 and was directed by james whale. The warning at the beginning of the film was added late in the films production as proactive measures towards religious groups getting up in arms about the films theme of man taking control of what is believed to be gods power. Mary shelleys frankenstein different film techniques essay. But he recovers, and does his frankenstein thing, which is stitching together a body out of corpse parts with the help of his assistant, fritz. This movie also spawned several b movie spinoffs such as the bride of frankenstein, 1935, and son of frankenstein, 1939. A brilliant pyrotechnic show follows, and the body is brought back down. An evaluation of james whales frankenstein 1931, one of the most influential horror films ever made.

The body is raised to the ceiling and all the electrical equipment is engaged. Carl laemmle, jr henry frankenstein becomes obsessed when he thinks he knows the secret to creating life. The opening sequences of james whales 1931 frankenstein and the opening sequences of the 1994 film mary shelleys frankenstein mary shelley, creator and author of frankenstein. The movie centers on this monster and his struggle in this life after death. The book does not say the monster had electrodes on his neck, but it doesnt say he doesnt either.

Henry frankenstein has assembled a human body, stitched together from parts of different corpses stolen from graves. Amongst other major plot changes, the monster is cloned from frankenstein. Why frankensteins monster in the 1931 film kills people how henry frankenstein reacts to his creation in the 1931 film similarities and differences between the original book and films. Finally explain what dramatic effect the camera or film technique has on the viewer. Its the film that introduced horror fans to boris karloffs lurching, tragic monster, and to director james whales elegant camera and black sense of humor. With colin clive, mae clarke, boris karloff, john boles. He heightens the conflict by allowing justine to be executed, rather than disclosing what he knows about the monster. 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.

Also, baron frankensteins reference is now considered a movie flub, so good job on that one, whale. Upon placing a brain inside the head of the monster. Frankenstein in the film than its audiences have over the decades since its initial release in 1931. Directed by james whale and written by peggy webling, the movie stars colin clive as henry frankenstein victor frankenstein, john boles as victor moritz henry clerval, and boris karloff as frankenstein s monster. In the original 1931 film the character is named fritz who is hunchbacked and walks with the aid of a small cane. The 1931 classic horror film frankenstein is what many of us think of when we think of the story of dr. As a race we constantly demand answers, progression, hungry for knowledge and advancement. This movie also spawned several bmovie spinoffs such as the bride of frankenstein, 1935, and son of frankenstein, 1939. How is the original frankenstein movie 1931 different. Henry frankenstein, who creates a monster, by taking body parts from dead people. In his mountaintop lab in the abandoned watchtower, viewed from outside against a stormy night sky, brilliant medical student dr.

Are there any similarities between the book frankenstein and. Such a theoretical positioning may explain why the characters in the movie respond so differently to the figure of the creature created by dr. The 1931 film, frankenstein, is the greatest horror movie of all time with a stunning and memorable boris karloff cast as the unnamed monster. Parable or not, the movie is more fun when its insinuations are allowed to glide beneath the surface as an unspoken subtext. In my memory it was a film that centered on the killer, the creepy little franz becker, played by peter lorre. Pleasure in american cinema, film studies professor todd berliner explains how hollywood delivers aesthetic. Frankenstein is a film about a mad, obsessed scientist, dr. Frankenstein doesnt suffer the consequences for his actions, blunting one of the books most whopping messages. An obsessed scientist assembles a living being from parts of exhumed corpses. Frankenstein 1931 film critique and analysis lusina alajajian. Frankenstein 1931 james whale synopsis, characteristics. There was no hunchback named igor in the 1931 frankenstein movie.