SHOCKtober! Bride of Frankenstein
Another classic today. Bride of Frankenstein is one of the great Universal monster pictures of the era. And check out that awesome poster! I just can’t get enough of this stuff.
A direct sequel to the original Frankenstein, the movie continues immediately where its predecessor left off. Except this time, there is a brief introduction with Mary Shelly and Lord Byron in a sitting room while a storm rages outside. Byron praises Shelly for her tale of Frankenstein’s monster and she lets him know that there’s more to the story. From there, the actual movie begins.
I bought the set of Universal’s Classic Monster Collection years back and try to watch at least one or two from the set each year. I just love the look of these films and the classic storytelling. Some aren’t as good as others, but they’re all worth watching.
So this time, the monster turns out not to have died after the mob burned down his tower, though the townsfolk believe they killed him. Shortly thereafter, Doctor Frankenstein is revealed to also not have died, and during his recovery, another mad scientist makes a visit and shows Frankenstein a new set of rather odd experiments. The other wacky doctor convinces Frankenstein to create a mate for the monster in order to build some sort of master race, created by man. The two monsters meet, goofy shit happens, and the audience is entertained.
I love the Frankenstein flicks because you can’t help but pity Karloff’s monster. The poor bastard is misunderstood and gets attacked every time he shows his face. As a result, the viewer is rooting for him at every turn, and every time the townsfolk grab their pitchforks and torches, you watch hoping he finds a way to squeak by with an escape.
If you’re into the classic monster flicks, I highly recommend the Universal collection I linked to above. You can buy either the whole set or purchase them individually by series. Either way, they’re well worth the cost.
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Tags: bride of frankenstein, frankenstein, horror, monster movies, shocktober, universal classic horror
October 28th, 2009 at 9:10 am
John is right, the classic horror images in this film are a pure joy to watch. But for me, the greatest thing about this film is how Whale takes the story of Frankenstein and takes it to another level. Sure you have the whole man playing God theme and the lost monster searching for an identity. But perhaps the eeriest thing of them all is how the bride of rejects her new husband at the end of the flick. It’s a primal fear we all have, being rejected by someone and this movie pulls on that string. The bride’s screaming at the end is both extremely creepy and disturbing.
In 1985 Frank Roddam directed a modern remake of this film called “The Bride.” It starred Sting as the good doctor and the very fetching Jennifer Beals as “The Bride.” It’s not as iconic as the original, but it’s still a very good time.