Frankenstein

Rating:
Summary: The best of the Universal pictures
Review: Having seen nearly all of the Universal horror films, most of which are great fun, this one is my favorite. More tragedy than horror, with a lyrical flair and a singular performance by Karloff. Only portions of the supporting cast disappoint, but they thankfully are not onscreen too long.

Rating:
Summary: The mother of all monster movies
Review: Well, how to begin ....? Being probably the most influental horror movie of all time (besides Tod Browning`s "Dracula"), this first grand essay of the immortal story by Mary Wollstonecraft-Shelley is not really as genuine as it could have been and therefore is actually surpassed in terms of excitement not only by it`s own follow-up "The Bride of Frankenstein" (by which this movie is sadly overshadowed) but also by the horror-movie rivals of 1930-1932 like Paramounts "Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde" or MGM's "Freaks". The reasons for this may be varying, one is probably the film`s short running time, the others the obvious lack of any soundtrack, the stiff acting by many of the players and it's very slow developing plot. In fact, the movie is far too tame to even evoke the same experience the audience felt when seeing the movie back in 1931. This also must be said for the pre-credits monologue by Edward Van Sloen, which is certainly ridiculous for today`s audiences.

Since however the plotline was sensation enough in those days James Whale and Universal probably didn`t spend too much time on it`s production and the movie has a certain "rushed" feeling to it as if Boris Karloff`s legendary appearance as the monster would be enough to justify everything about the movie. To be fair, however, the stagebound style of early talkies doesn`t hurt the film in the same way as it did in other movies. So much for criticism ..... on the other hand it is a beautiful film to look at and it`s set design and some camera movements as well as Clive`s mad Dr.Frankenstein and Karloff's creature are certainly an eye-filler for fans of vintage movies as well as for classic horror-movie buffs. Especially the art direction in which Whale was very much involved, represents one of the finest moments in Hollywood`s era of Germanic-influented atmospheric film-architecture(drawing back even to "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari"). As for the performances the film is quite mixed. While Colin Clive and Dwight Frye are right on target as Henry Frankenstein and his assistent respectively, the other players seem to overact in stereotypes like in so many films of the time. Especially Edward Van Sloen is largely wasted in a part that hasn`t the brilliance of his performance in "Dracula". Also Mae Clark, though very handsome, isn't really the most fitting for her part. Adressing Karloff`s monster you may be a bit disappointed since the actor isn`t seen very much onscreen eventually and film history has long been active to cover most of the inadequances of the performance (and Karloff did a lot of parts better than this one). So, besides being the horror-movie milestone it deserves to be it just doesn`t have the creepiness of it's Universal twin brother "Dracula" with Bela Lugosi, since this movie is far more lively than Whale`s Frankenstein. Still, horror fans must consider this restored and pristine-clear copy of stately gothic horror as a must-have of their collection though considering it`s legendary status it could have been far more grand-scale and bizarre than it really is.

Rating:
Summary: Original Frank is Grand
Review: I was so glad that Universal re-released this one and included the restored footage(Henry F. claiming "Now I know what it feels like to be God!Scene involving the monster throwing little Maria into the lake is chilling and probably was even more so in 1931!). There is a good cast here(Clive as the tormented Dr.,Sloan as his mentor, who again as he did in other films of the genre, says "We must destroy it! " John Boles, beautiful Mae Clarke, and of course Karloff).There is a creaky atmoshpere of gothic proportions that was even improved on in the superior sequel(and you know the one I mean!). It is easy to tell at times that some of the "outdoor" scenes were done in the studio, but why carp?One of the most chilling sequences is where the grieving father carries the dangling body of little Maria to the Burgomaster(Lionel Belmore-who later appeared in Son of Frankenstein and Ghost of)to demand that justice be done!Kudos to set designer on this one as the set pieces are simply beautiful from the elegant gothic home of the Frankensteins to the abandoned old watchtower of Dr. Frank!

Rating:
Summary: Best film ever!
Review: Frankenstein is my favorite movie! It's about Dr Frankenstein who with his servent Fritz (not Igor!) collect dead bodies from graves and other places. Then it's only the brain left, so Henry Frankenstein sents Fritz to steel a brain from a universety. But Fritz takes a brain witch was in bad shape!

Rating:
Summary: The One, The Only, The Original (and maybe the best)
Review: The movie which introduced the square-headed, bolts-in-the-neck design of the monster (a design which is still alive and well and kicking some near 70 years later!) is still the spookiest of all the Frankenstein films through the '30s and '40s. The sets and photography are shadowy and muted and add a sense of eerieness to everything. Like 'Dracula' just before it, this movie benefits from the lack of a running musical soundtrack - the creepiest moments in the movie benefit from the accompanying dead silence. Karloff was the original Frankenstein Monster (save for a couple of mostly forgotten silent films from other studios earlier)and is the best actor to ever play the monster; his performances throughout the first three movies evoke fear and sympathy from scene to scene, and it is tough to say that this first performance is not his best (although in 'Bride of Frankenstein' he does get to speak!). Also, Colin Clive as the mentally anguished Dr. Frankenstein gives a great performance - Clive, who died much too young, was excellent in the 'tortured soul' kind of roles. The rest of the cast is solid too, including notable performances from a couple of other stalwarts from horror films of the '30s, Dwight Frye (as Fritz, the mad hunchback assistant) and Edward Van Sloan (as Frankenstein's mentor, Dr. Waldman). The Great James Whale directed this movie, as well as a few other classic horror movies from the early 1930s (The Invisible Man, Bride of Frankenstein, The Old Dark House). This film does not quite have the sense of dark humor that some of his other films had, making it a little eerieer than his other work. 'Bride of Frankenstein' may indeed have been an all around better movie, but the original was spookier. As far as classic black-and-white monster flicks go, the original 'Frankenstein' is still pretty tough to beat.

Rating:
Summary: One word... AWSOME!
Review: The only word for this film is "awsome". This movie ranks only second to "Nosferatu" (1922). Boris Karloff does an outstanding job as the monster! The scene where the monster and his creator are facing off behind the spinning terbine is one of the most eeriest scenes in all of film. I mean how would you like to be stuck in a small, dark, wooden, windmill tower, with Frankenstein's monster trying to kill you? Much better than any of the other Frankenstein movies! I mean it. The next best one would be "Bride of Frankenstein".

Rating:
Summary: A Cause for Celebration!
Review: I am sure that there is not much new which can be said on behalf of a seventy year old masterpiece, except to say that finally it has been given the care in presentation it so richly deserves. The DVD sports a print of truly gorgeous quality with a remarkably clear soundtrack, virtually free of hiss.I really felt that I was seeing the film on the big screen. The bonus materials are excellent too, but it is the main course in all its polished, restored glory that really makes a horror fan rejoice! Do not hesitate for a second to buy this DVD.

Rating:
Summary: The great Karloff's groundbreaking monster debut
Review: This the second of Universals horror cycle after the previous success of "Dracula" the studio hit the jackpot with their adaption of Mary Shelleys Frankenstein and is the closest to the novel not in storyline but in what the novel says. Karloff portrays the Monster not as a maniacal beast but as a misunderstood creation. Colin Clive is not the madman portayed in later films but a perfectly sane scientist searching for the meaning of life. James Whale made his mark with this film and it is far superior to " Dracula" makes one wonder what Whale could have made of "Dracula" had he been signed as director instead of silent filmaker Tod Browning. This film is only surpassed by its excellent sequel "Bride" but its influence is still felt today. It launched the great Boris Karloff and James Whale and will remain the classic interpretation of the gothic chiller.

Rating:
Summary: The second best "monster" movie of all time!
Review: The stage is set: excitement is building in an old abandoned watch tower turned laboratory. A brilliant doctor and his demented assistant wait for the finale of a landmark scientific experiment. Three onlookers watch as they prepare. Outside a violent storm is raging. Finally, it reaches it's peak. Electrical equipment flashes. Slowly a large table with a covered human form is raised to the roof of the building. Tension mounts. After a pre-specified time the table is lowered to the floor. Slowly, the right hand of the shape starts to move. The doctor is the first to notice and exclaims, "It's moving, it's alive, it's moving, it's alive, it's alive, it's alive! ". So begins the life of one of filmdom's most durable and often imitated characters. It would be hard to believe that 113 years after Mary Shelley wrote "Frankenstein (or, the Modern Prometheus)", the story she created would become a pop icon. But with the 1931 film FRANKENSTEIN, that's exactly what happened.Oh there had been two or three other film versions before this, either directly or indirectly related to the Shelley book. But it is with Boris Karloff's performance of the misunderstood creature, that the story truly begins. And what a performance it is. Surely one of the 10 or 20 most fascinating performances in the history of celluloid, Karloff gives the character and indeed the film in general it's immortality. He alternates with great lucidity between rage, fear, confusion and even a brief moment of happiness. And he manages to nail his performance at every turn. No other actor, including the highly respected Robert De Niro has come close to injecting all the dimensions into the proceedings quite as effectively. And when Karloff's creation holds out his hands in a great example of film mime, wordlessly asking for understanding, even the hardest heart has to feel for the character's situation. Mr. Karloff is quite simply the best thing about the film.The other performances are quite good, namely Colin Clive as Dr. Frankenstein and Dwight Frye (so successful previously as Renfield in DRACULA) as Fritz, the hunchbacked assistant. The staging looks a little creaky, a situation Whale remedied with the even better sequel, BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN. But there is no doubt here of his contribution to the overall production. His special brand of wit is very much in place though not quite as much as in the sequel. Although there has been dispute in recent years over how much input Whale had in Karloff's make-up, it is my belief that while he must have contributed something to the "look", it is Jack Pierce and Karloff that must be given the given the majority of credit. Pierce was to become in the 30's and early 40's what Lon Chaney, Sr. was in the 20's: a master at creating make-up's. His star still ranks very high in the make-up hall of fame to this day. And the originality of the look of the creature is the second best thing about this movie.As a film director in 1931, James Whale had little experience at helming projects. That, coupled with the fact that Universal was trying something quite a bit different with THIS "monster" movie made the studio a little reticent to place too much money on the project. But by the time of BRIDE... Whale had earned his wings and gained valuable film experience. So Universal upped the budget to give the sequel a much more lavish and cinematic look and practically demanded that Whale direct. That plus the overall story and irresistable Whale humor, in this reviewer's opinon, make BRIDE... the greatest "monster" movie of all time and definitely superior to the original.But FRANKENSTEIN started it all. Besides Karloff's performance and Pierce's make-up, mention must be made of three specific scenes that stand out as among the most memorable, oft-repeated and parodied in all of film history. The aforementioned creation scene set the stage for all films to follow. Karloff's first entrance, BACKING and slowly turning to face front is one of the greatest first appearances in all of cinema. And the third scene, the completely restored little-girl-at-the-lake scene, shows all the confusion, bewilderment and disgust that the creature is experiencing. You feel through the great acting of Boris Karloff that Frankenstein's creation is a child (terribly confused and unnecessarily feared though he is) relating to the friendly welcome of another child. That is, after all, what the character is: a child trying to make his way in the world, learning about life the hard way. And when the creature runs from the lake mortified at the drowning of the little girl, you suddenly realize he's really not so bad. He's just trying to cope!The DVD has some excellent and informative (although very dryly read) commentary. And there's a fascinating documentary. The print has been restored beautifully. It's a wonderful way to watch this legendary movie.So if you love the classic Universal monsters, you're collection won't be complete without this 1931 highly original classic. Even if you're not, you must watch the film and marvel at one of the most brilliant film performances of all time from the great Boris Karloff!

Rating:
Summary: FRANKENSTEIN
Review: A classic. the 2nd best classic of all time, the frist best is the bride of frankenstein.