IMDb >
Frankenstein (1931)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at Blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsFrankenstein (1931) More at IMDbPro »
| Photos (see all 46 | slideshow) | Videos (see all 4) |
          |
|
Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
21 November 1931 (USA)
more
Tagline:
A Monster Science Created - But Could Not Destroy! more
Plot:
Horror classic in which an obsessed scientist assembles a living being from parts of exhumed corpses. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
1 win
more
NewsDesk:
(56 articles)
Bloggin' With Boris Karloff
(From Cinematical. 24 November 2009, 10:32 AM, PST)
Uncanny Birthday Suits
(From FilmExperience. 23 November 2009, 7:30 AM, PST)
(From Cinematical. 24 November 2009, 10:32 AM, PST)
Uncanny Birthday Suits
(From FilmExperience. 23 November 2009, 7:30 AM, PST)
User Comments:
A Memorable Monster In A Magnificent DVD Release
more (228 total)
Cast
(Complete credited cast) | Colin Clive | ... | Dr. Henry Frankenstein |
| Mae Clarke | ... | Elizabeth |
| John Boles | ... | Victor Moritz |
 | Boris Karloff | ... | The Monster (as ?) |
| Edward Van Sloan | ... | Dr. Waldman |
| Frederick Kerr | ... | Baron Frankenstein |
| Dwight Frye | ... | Fritz |
| Lionel Belmore | ... | Herr Vogel |
| Marilyn Harris | ... | Little Maria |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
71 min
Country:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Sound System)
Certification:
UK:A (original rating) (cut) |
UK:PG (video rating) (1986) (cinema version) (cut) |
UK:PG (video rating) (2002) |
Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) |
Finland:K-15 (2004) |
Iceland:16 |
Spain:13 |
South Korea:12 |
Canada:(Banned) (Quebec) (original rating) |
Canada:G (Quebec) |
Norway:16 (video rating) |
Argentina:13 |
Australia:M |
Germany:16 |
Sweden:15 |
USA:Unrated
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The Monster in this film does not physically resemble Mary Shelley's character. It was make-up artist Jack P. Pierce who came up with innovations such as the Monster's flat head, the bolts through the neck, the droopy eyelids, and the poorly-fitted suit. Any future Frankenstein film that features any of these physical abnormalities is taking its inspiration from Pierce's make-up work.
more
Goofs:
Incorrectly regarded as goofs: According 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.
more
Quotes:
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "The Simpsons: Dude, Where's My Ranch? (#14.18)" (2003)
more
FAQ
A Note Regarding SpoilersHow many Universal Studios "Frankenstein" sequels followed this movie?
Is "Frankenstein" based on a book?
more
more (228 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Frankenstein (1931) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| Bride of Frankenstein | Young Frankenstein | The Curse of Frankenstein | The Revenge of Frankenstein | Frankenstein |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb top 250 movies | IMDb Horror section |
| IMDb USA section | Add this title to MyMovies |
Although I have seen better prints of the film, this DVD issue of Universal Studio's famous FRANKENSTEIN is a magnificent package that is sure to delight any fan of classic horror. The film itself has been restored for content, and the Skal-hosted documentary--which traces the story from Mary Shelly's famous novel through its numerous film incarnations--is a delight, including numerous interviews with various historians, critics, and Karloff's daughter. The bonus audio track by Rudy Behlmer is also quite interesting, as are the various biographies and notes, and although the short film BOO is a spurious mix of footage from NOSFERATU, Dracula, THE CAT AND THE CANARY, and FRANKENSTEIN, it is an enjoyable little throw-away. All in all, it doesn't get much better than this.
As for the film itself, the production of FRANKENSTEIN was prompted by the incredible success of the earlier Dracula--but where Dracula is a rather problematic and significantly dated film, FRANKENSTEIN was and remains one of the most original horror films to ever emerge from Hollywood. Much of the credit for this goes to director James Whale, who by all accounts was deeply influenced by silent German film and his own traumatic experiences during World War I--and who mixed those elements with occasional flourishes of macabre humor to create a remarkably consistent vision of Mary Shelly's original novel.
Whale was extremely, extremely fortunate in his cast. Colin Clive was a difficult actor, but Whale not only managed to get him through the film but to draw from him his finest screen performance; Mae Clarke is a memorable Elizabeth; and Dwight Frye, so memorable in Dracula, tops himself as Fritz. But all eyes here are on Boris Karloff as the monster. Karloff had been kicking around Hollywood for a decade, and although he appeared in quite a few films before FRANKENSTEIN he never really registered with the public. But in this role, acting under heavy make-up, weighed down by lead weights in his shoes and struts around his legs, and without a line of intelligible dialogue he offered a performance that transcended the word "monster." This is a suffering being, dangerous mainly through innocence of his own power and the way of the world, goaded from disaster to disaster to disaster. Even some seventy-plus years later, it is difficult to imagine any other actor in the part.
Karloff would play the monster again in two later films, one of them directed by Whale, but although THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN is a remarkable film in its own right, this is the original combination of talents and the original vision. Truly a national treasure, to be enjoyed over and over again. Strongly recommended.
Gary F. Taylor, aka GFT, Amazon Reviewer