Frank and Kin

The four of us, our little band of Scoobies, classic horror film warriors all, ventured forth into the theater, packing our requirements for ideal movie-watching -- popcorn, Cokes, root beer, Twizzlers. This was classic horror double-feature heaven at one of our local theaters. the 1931 version of Frankenstein and the 1935 version of The Bride of Frankenstein.

I had seen both before, probably more than once, but this time it was different. The big screen, restored print, and the icon of all icons -- Frankenstein. And, as everyone surely knows, including me, Frankenstein is the name of the doctor who makes the Creature, or the Monster. Funny, though, although I know it, I still want to associate that name with the Creature, who never had a name.

In making both movies, there's some fun with the characters' names, anyway. The good doctor, in these two Frank films, is Henry Frankenstein, but in the book, he's Victor Frankenstein. Henry's best man for his wedding in the first film is named Victor. Then, there's Doc Frankenstein's assistant, played by Dwight Frye (Renfield in the Bela Lugosi Dracula). Not Igor. Or Ygor. Nope. Fritz. And, he's got a hump on his back. But, in the second movie, Dwight Frye is the assistant once again to the Doc, but now he's Karl. He limps, but the hump's gone. And, then, there's the matter of Elizabeth (Mae Clarke) soon-to-be Frankenstein. Blond in the first film, then a different actress (Valerie Hobson) plays her in The Bride of Frankenstein as a brunette.

Okay, enough picking of nits, although it's all for fun. These are truly two great movies. Frankenstein is played dead-on serious, no humor, not even a little. The second, The Bride of Frankenstein, although serious, has a touch of humor to lighten things a bit.

What I came away with, in both films, is that the Creature is the tragic hero in both. Boris Karloff played him with great sincerity and warmth, and I felt sympathy for him. He did not choose to be created, particularly in that frightening form. But, there he was.

The one big change from the book, and I must admit, it's been many years since I read it, so there are probably many other differences, as well, but the one big change is in the book the Creature is literate. In the movie, Fate limits his understanding, so everything is a struggle.

The actors were phenomenal, especially Colin Clive as Henry Frankenstein, and Boris Karloff as the Creature. Dwight Frye, as always, was fantastic. And, Ernest Thesiger as Dcotor Pretorius, played a great creepy comic madman. He out-crazied Henry, except for Henry's signature lines of "It's alive!" (repeated several times, each time more maniacally than the previous), and the classic mad scientist "Crazy, am I? We'll see whether I'm crazy or not."

Finally, can't forget the good doc's lab. Gotta say, on the big screen, with all the sparks and electrical fire, and zapping, and everything really big, that was truly hair-raising, especially in The Bride of Frankenstein. He must've received a bigger equipment budget in the second film, because it was way more scary and sparky and big. Guess the extra juice was needed to give Elsa (Bride of Frankenstein) Lanchester that little extra something for her 'do.

If you've never seen these classics, find a theater where they're playing, and head out. You'll be glad you did.

'til next time... Adios.