Dr. Frankenstein dares to tamper with life and death by creating a human monster out of lifeless body parts.Dr. Frankenstein dares to tamper with life and death by creating a human monster out of lifeless body parts.Dr. Frankenstein dares to tamper with life and death by creating a human monster out of lifeless body parts.
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
71K
YOUR RATING
- Director
- Writers
- John L. Balderston(based upon the composition by)
- Mary Shelley(from the novel by)
- Peggy Webling(adapted from the play by)
- Stars
Top credits
- Director
- Writers
- John L. Balderston(based upon the composition by)
- Mary Shelley(from the novel by)
- Peggy Webling(adapted from the play by)
- Stars
- Awards
- 4 wins & 3 nominations
Videos1
Ted Billings
- Villageras Villager
- (uncredited)
Mae Bruce
- Screaming Maidas Screaming Maid
- (uncredited)
Jack Curtis
- Villageras Villager
- (uncredited)
Arletta Duncan
- Bridesmaidas Bridesmaid
- (uncredited)
William Dyer
- Gravediggeras Gravedigger
- (uncredited)
Francis Ford
- Hansas Hans
- (uncredited)
Mary Gordon
- Mourneras Mourner
- (uncredited)
Soledad Jiménez
- Mourneras Mourner
- (uncredited)
Carmencita Johnson
- Little Girlas Little Girl
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- John L. Balderston(based upon the composition by)
- Mary Shelley(from the novel by)
- Peggy Webling(adapted from the play by)
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
- All cast & crew
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDuring production, there was some concern that seven-year-old Marilyn Harris, who played Maria, the little girl thrown into the lake by The Monster, would be overly frightened by the sight of Boris Karloff in costume and make-up when it came time to shoot the scene. When the cast was assembled to travel to the location, Harris ran from her car directly up to Karloff, who was in full make-up and costume, took his hand, and asked "May I drive with you?" Delighted, and in typical Karloff fashion, he responded, "Would you, darling?" She then rode to the location with "The Monster".
- GoofsAccording to DVD commentary for this film, director James Whale intended this film to take place in an "alternate universe" and therefore freely mixed 19th Century and 1930s technology, hair fashions, etc.
- Quotes
Henry Frankenstein: Look! It's moving. It's alive. It's alive... It's alive, it's moving, it's alive, it's alive, it's alive, it's alive, IT'S ALIVE!
Victor Moritz: Henry - In the name of God!
Henry Frankenstein: Oh, in the name of God! Now I know what it feels like to be God!
- Crazy creditsIn the opening credits: The Monster - ?
- Alternate versionsSPOILERS: The picture was scripted and filmed with Dr. Frankenstein seeming to die in the mill with his creation, but was instead released with a hastily re-shot happy ending, wherein Henry survives to marry Elizabeth (see "Trivia"). However, the sequel, Bride of Frankenstein (1935) literally followed the first scenario, and consequently just before "Bride" opened this film was reissued with the original finale restored. This movie was seen this way in all subsequent theatrical releases of the old Hollywood era, but when the entire package of classic Universal horror films was made available to television in the 1950s, the prints of the original movie carried the happy ending, and the incompatibility with the opening scene of "Bride..." confused new viewers.
- ConnectionsEdited into Boo! (1932)
Top review
Wow! What a movie! A horror classic and still pure entertainment.
'Frankenstein', like Todd Browning's 'Dracula' released earlier the same year (1931, a landmark year which also saw the release of Fritz Lang's dazzling serial killer thriller 'M'!), is an important movie and should be compulsory viewing for any SF/horror fan, but it isn't a dull movie to be studied, it is a wonderfully entertaining movie to be ENJOYED. Okay, the modern viewer has to try and watch it without jaded and cynical eyes and take it in its historical context to really appreciate it, but that isn't difficult. The acting is often hokey, the special effects, which were astonishing 70+ years ago, may look a little primitive by our standards, and the movie isn't anywhere near as terrifying to us as it was to 1930s movie audiences, but even so, I can't see how anyone can not LOVE this movie! Director James Whale was a lot more sophisticated and original than Todd Browning, and as much as I enjoy 'Dracula', 'Frankenstein' is a much better movie, and the best from this era, not counting its brilliant sequel 'Bride Of Frankenstein' which to mind mind actually surpasses it. Talented character actors Edward Van Sloan and Dwight Frye, both from 'Dracula', reappear in different but similar roles, and Colin Clive is fine as Henry Frankenstein, the prototype mad scientist, but the real star of the show, and the main reason this movie has lived for so many years, is the utterly superb performance by the legendary Boris Karloff as The Monster. I think Karloff is amazing in this and doesn't get the respect he deserves because many dismiss it as "just a horror movie". 'Frankenstein' is one of the most important and influential movies ever made, and is one movie I NEVER tire of no matter how many times I watch it, and James Whale is one of the most underrated directors of all time, looking at his innovative work in this, 'The Invisible Man', and especially 'Bride Of Frankenstein', the greatest sequel in the history of motion pictures. What a movie! What a director!
helpful•140
- Infofreak
- Apr 16, 2003
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Languages
- Also known as
- Frankenstein, el autor del monstruo
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $291,000 (estimated)
- Gross worldwide
- $1,626
- Runtime1 hour 10 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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