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 | Grave Robbing | Drowning Someone | Body Part

Awards:

1 win

US TV Schedule:

Wed. June 6

6:00 AM

TCM

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)

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	....	presents
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 (1938) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Universal Pictures (1947) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Realart Pictures (1951) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Screen Gems (1957) (USA) (TV)
• Universal Pictures (1932) (Austria) (theatrical)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)
• Net5 (2004) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Universal Home Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures (2010) (Germany) (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:

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) | USA:TV-PG (TV rating) | Brazil:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Germany:16 | Sweden:11 | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

What are commonly called bolts on the neck of the monster are in reality electrodes.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the monster is injected and finally falls to the floor, he passes out on his back. When the pick him up to drag him back into his cell, he is face-down.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "ER: Calling Dr. Hathaway (#3.19)" (1997)

The best ever telling of this classic story.

Oh,the many tellings and variations of this classic story.This,without question,is the best presentation of the classic story by Mary Shelley. The film was presented in such a way that makes you feel as though you are watching a stage play rather than a film.A creature is given the complicated thing called life.His large,overpowering human form,coupled with the limited capacity to grow,and learn,turn out to be very deadly indeed.He is,basically,a very large baby,who does not understand the world around him.He wreaks havoc on those who he feels are out to hurt him.I have seen the completed version of this film,complete with the disturbing sequence involving the little girl with the flowers,which was cut out of the film for many years.It is indeed shocking,and once you see it,you will understand why this was done.While you are shocked at this,at the same time you are sympathetic with the creature,knowing that he does not understand what he is doing,and meant no harm.Most movie monsters,particularly of this era,are just evil beings that make us cheer with delight at the sight of their destruction.When it comes to Frankenstein,we are almost sad to see this creature,who did not ask for life to begin with,meet his end.Classic horror,classic film.