Plot
Scientist Henry Frankenstein obsessively longs to create life. To that end, he forgoes the affection of his loved ones and locks himself in a gloomy castle along with his assistant, Fritz, where they conduct macabre experiments. His efforts pay off one stormy night when he succeeds in animating a being composed of anatomic parts taken from cadavers.
Having received the brain of a criminal, the creature demonstrates an unstable and aggressive disposition right from the start, however. After killing one of Frankenstein’s imminent professor friends, it escapes from the castle and begins wandering aimlessly, leaving behind the inevitable trail of blood.
The local burgomaster organizes three teams of armed men to try to put a stop to the horrible menace weighing on his town. Dr. Frankenstein himself joins in the hunt. Realizing the error of his ways, he puts his heart and soul into destroying his creature.
It's alive! It's alive...
Critique
8Masterpiece from Universal Pictures, 1931’s “Frankenstein” is a refined work rich in figurative innovations, a classic that wielded a powerful influence on the development of the genre and on our collective imagination.
Far from the theatrical inertia of Tod Browning’s contemporary “Dracula” (1931), Whale’s film is characterized by a remarkable narrative agility for the period, as well as a remarkable abundance of unforgettable scenes, starting with the dramatic – and simultaneously moving – encounter with the little girl on the lakeshore, and continuing all the way to the epic finale in the blazing windmill.
Technically excellent from any point of view: memorable makeup by Jack P. Pierce, evocative shots and Expressionist-style lighting effects, fine performance by Boris Karloff in the role of the creature. Colin Clive portrays Dr. Frankenstein as the prototypical mad doctor (at least until his final redemption), a fanatical megalomaniac who doesn’t hesitate to defy the laws of nature in order to rise to the role of Creator: “That body is not dead, it has never lived! I created it! I made it with my own hands!“.
Followed by “Bride of Frankenstein” (1935).
More Info
- Based on the novel "Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus" (1818) by Mary Shelley
Quotes
- Herr Frankenstein was interested only in human life. First to destroy it, then recreate it. There you have his mad dream!
- It's alive! It's alive...
Products
Disclosure
This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Image source: Amazon Partner Program
| Product name | Price | |
|---|---|---|
 | Frankenstein: The 1818 Text (Penguin Classics) | |
![Frankenstein [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51YqRjx0xfL._SL75_.jpg) | Frankenstein [Blu-ray] | |
![Frankenstein: Complete Legacy Collection [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51b4wwrNXML._SL75_.jpg) | Frankenstein: Complete Legacy Collection [Blu-ray] | |
![Frankenstein [4K UHD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51CCMB0axhL._SL75_.jpg) | Frankenstein [4K UHD] | |
 | Frankenstein |
| Nome del prodotto | Prezzo | |
|---|---|---|
 | Frankenstein | |
 | Frankenstein | |
 | Frankenstein (Restaurato In Hd) (Dvd+Poster) | |
![Frankenstein: Complete Legacy Collection (5 Blu-Ray) [Edizione: Regno Unito] [Edizione: Regno Unito]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51sjqFfIQ3L._SL75_.jpg) | Frankenstein: Complete Legacy Collection (5 Blu-Ray) [Edizione: Regno Unito] [Edizione: Regno Unito] |
| Product name | Price | |
|---|---|---|
 | Frankenstein (Masterpiece Library Edition) | |
![Frankenstein: Complete Legacy Collection (DVD) [2017]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51infT3+JuL._SL75_.jpg) | Frankenstein: Complete Legacy Collection (DVD) [2017] | |
![Frankenstein [DVD] [1931]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51HovbKRdfL._SL75_.jpg) | Frankenstein [DVD] [1931] | |
![Frankenstein (1931) 90th Anniversary Steelbook (4k+Br) [Region Free] [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41h6FCb2uwL._SL75_.jpg) | Frankenstein (1931) 90th Anniversary Steelbook (4k+Br) [Region Free] [Blu-ray] | |
 | Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: The Original Classic 1818 Edition - A Masterpiece of Gothic Literature |
| Nombre del producto | Precio | |
|---|---|---|
 | Frankenstein | |
 | Frankenstein (Austral Singular) | |
![Frankenstein (4K UHD + Blu-ray) [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51aPraVEIKL._SL75_.jpg) | Frankenstein (4K UHD + Blu-ray) [Blu-ray] | |
| Frankenstein [Edizione: Regno Unito] [Reino Unido] [DVD] |
| Produktname | Preis | |
|---|---|---|
![Monsters Collection [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51f5DqBB-QL._SL75_.jpg) | Monsters Collection [Blu-ray] | |
 | Mary Shelley, Frankenstein. Ein Schauerroman: Das Meisterwerk der englischen Romantik gebunden in Cabra-Leder mit Silberprägung (Cabra-Leder-Reihe, Band 21) | |
![Frankenstein: Monster Classics - Complete Collection [6 DVDs]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51z1TT+daSL._SL75_.jpg) | Frankenstein: Monster Classics - Complete Collection [6 DVDs] | |
 | Frankenstein: Or. the Modern Prometheus (Chartwell Classics) | |
 | Frankenstein oder Der moderne Prometheus (Reclam Taschenbuch) |
| Nom du produit | Prix | |
|---|---|---|
 | Frankenstein, ou le Prométée Moderne - Edition Bilingue : Anglais / Français - Mary Shelley - Obscura Éditions | |
| Frankenstein: Complete DVD Legacy Coll [Edizione: Regno Unito] [Import] | |
| Frankenstein | |
 | Frankenstein: Le classique de l'horreur |
| Product name | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Frankenstein | |
| Frankenstein (Masterpiece Library Edition) | |
 | Frankenstein (Sous-titres français) | |
![Frankenstein: Complete Legacy Collection [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51nHSEbwnEL._SL75_.jpg) | Frankenstein: Complete Legacy Collection [DVD] | |
 | Frankenstein - 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray (Bilingual) |