Frankenstein (1931)

Director:

James Whale

Writers:

John L. Balderston (based upon the composition by)
Mary Shelley (from the novel by)
(more)

Release Date:

21 November 1931 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

A Monster Science Created - But Could Not Destroy!

Plot:

Horror classic in which an obsessed scientist assembles a living being from parts of exhumed corpses.

Plot Keywords:

Monster | Frankenstein | Experiment | Body Part | Laboratory

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Colin Clive	...	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	...	The Burgomaster
Marilyn Harris	...	Little Maria
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ted Billings	...	Villager (uncredited)
Mae Bruce	...	Screaming Maid (uncredited)
Jack Curtis	...	Extra (uncredited)
Arletta Duncan	...	Bridesmaid (uncredited)
William Dyer	...	Gravedigger (uncredited)
Francis Ford	...	Hans (uncredited)
Mary Gordon	...	Mourner (uncredited)
Soledad Jiménez	...	Mourner (uncredited)
Carmencita Johnson	...	Little Girl (uncredited)
Seessel Anne Johnson	...	Little Girl (uncredited)
Michael Mark	...	Ludwig (uncredited)
Pauline Moore	...	Bridesmaid (uncredited)
Inez Palange	...	Villager (uncredited)
Paul Panzer	...	Mourner at Gravesite (uncredited)
Cecilia Parker	...	Maid (uncredited)
Rose Plumer	...	Villager (uncredited)
Cecil Reynolds	...	Waldman's Secretary (uncredited)
Ellinor Vanderveer	...	Medical Student (uncredited)

Directed by
James Whale

Writing credits
John L. Balderston		(based upon the composition by)
Mary Shelley		(from the novel by) (as Mrs. Percy B. Shelley)
Peggy Webling		(adapted from the play by)
Garrett Fort		(screenplay) &
Francis Edward Faragoh		(screenplay)
Richard Schayer		(scenario editor)
Robert Florey		contributor to treatment (uncredited)
John Russell		contributor to screenplay construction (uncredited)

Produced by
E.M. Asher	....	associate producer
Carl Laemmle Jr.	....	producer

Original Music by
Bernhard Kaun		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Arthur Edeson
Paul Ivano		(uncredited)

Film Editing by
Clarence Kolster		(film editor)

Art Direction by
Charles D. Hall

Makeup Department
Pauline Eells	....	wig maker (uncredited)
Jack P. Pierce	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Jack P. Pierce	....	makeup designer (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joseph A. McDonough	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Ed Keyes	....	property master (uncredited)
Herman Rosse	....	set designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
C. Roy Hunter	....	recording supervisor
William Hedgcock	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Franz Dallons	....	props (uncredited)
Oscar Dallons	....	props (uncredited)
Paul Dallons	....	props (uncredited)
John P. Fulton	....	special effects (uncredited)
Ken Strickfaden	....	special electrical properties (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Brian J. McNamara	....	digital restoration artist (remastered version)

Camera and Electrical Department
Sherman Clark	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Jack Freulich	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mae Bruce	....	wardrobe assistant (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Maurice Pivar	....	supervising film editor

Music Department
Giuseppe Becce	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
David Broekman	....	musical director (uncredited)
Gilbert Kurland	....	music supervisor (uncredited)

Other crew
Carl Laemmle	....	presenter
Carl Laemmle	....	president: Universal Pictures Corp.
Frank Graves	....	electrical effects assistant (uncredited)
Raymond Lindsay	....	electrical effects (uncredited)
Robert Livingston	....	double: Colin Clive, closing distant shot (uncredited)
Cecil Reynolds	....	medical consultant (uncredited)
Gerald L.G. Sampson	....	technical advisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures (as Universal Pictures Corp.)

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1931) (USA) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (1932) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (1938) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Universal Pictures (1947) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Realart Pictures Inc. (1951) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Screen Gems (1957) (USA) (TV)
• MCA Videocassette (1980) (USA) (VHS)
• Net5 (2004) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures (2010) (Germany) (DVD)
• Fathom Events (2012) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)
• Universal Home Entertainment (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

70 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Latin

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Germany:16 | Sweden:11 | USA:Unrated | UK:A (original rating) (cut) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | UK:PG (video rating) (1986) (cinema version) (cut) | UK:PG (video rating) (2002) | Finland:K-15 (2004) | Iceland:16 | Spain:13 | South Korea:12 | Canada:(Banned) (Quebec) (original rating) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Norway:16 (video rating) | USA:TV-PG (TV rating) | Brazil:12

Filming Locations:

Busch Gardens - S. Grove Avenue, Pasadena, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

According to the TLC network program "Hunt for Amazing Treasures", a unique six-sheet poster for the original 1931 release, showing Karloff as The Monster menacing Mae Clarke, is worth at least $600,000 US and is possibly the most valuable movie poster in the world. The only known (original) copy is owned by a private collector.

Goofs:

Continuity: Baron Frankenstein says that Dr. Frankenstein's lab is in "an old abandoned windmill". In fact, it is in a castle or watchtower. According to the DVD commentary, this line of dialogue was from an early version of the script, and was left in the final version by mistake.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Dr. Henry Frankenstein:Down! Down, you fool!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Salem's Lot (1979) (TV)

a flawed but historic hour of cinema

Just as the Beatles influenced popular music for decades after they came and went, so did "Frankenstein" shape the landscape for cinematic horror. Had this film been an artistic and/or commercial failure, the American Horror Film would have evolved in a totally different direction, had it survived at all.

It is remarkable that the conventions established in this early talking film would continue to be utilized by serious filmmakers for over four decades, until "The Exorcist" (1973) changed the rules.

However, "Frankenstein" remains a flawed classic, partially because it's characters have, over time, become almost comical (even without the endless satires), partially because of some of the supporting performances (which inspired the endless satires), and partially because of the primitive technology available at Universal Studios in 1931. Even the tiny Hal Roach Studios produced more sophisticated product at the time.

But what of the assets? Charles D. Hall's art direction is striking, as are some of Arthur Edeson's photographic compositions. Colin Clive remains compelling as Henry Frankenstein, the intense medical adventurer, although he seems pushed to the brink at times by director James Whale, a smart, imaginative filmmaker who didn't always know when to apply restraint.

Then there is Boris Karloff as the monster; Karloff was (and is) underrated as an actor, mainly because he became content to lend himself more as a personality rather than as a performer in numerous films, especially after the mid-1940's. But Karloff, aided by magnificent makeup designed by Jack Pierce, perfectly captured the misery, desperation and loneliness of an artificially fabricated creature in this film, guided by Whale's unexpectedly sensitive direction.

"Frankenstein" survives as a flawed, but historic -- and necessary -- document that set the course for one of cinema's most enduring genres.