Top 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsMost Popular Video GamesMost Popular Music VideosMost Popular Podcasts
    Release CalendarBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersSundance Film FestivalIndependent Spirit AwardsBlack History MonthSXSWSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Frankenstein

  • 19311931
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 10m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
75K
YOUR RATING
Frankenstein (1931)
Trailer for Frankenstein
Play trailer1:38
1 Video
99+ Photos
DramaHorrorSci-Fi
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
75K
YOUR RATING
    • James Whale
  • Writers
    • John L. Balderston(based upon the composition by)
    • Mary Shelley(from the novel by)
    • Peggy Webling(adapted from the play by)
  • Stars
    • Colin Clive
    • Mae Clarke
    • Boris Karloff
    • James Whale
  • Writers
    • John L. Balderston(based upon the composition by)
    • Mary Shelley(from the novel by)
    • Peggy Webling(adapted from the play by)
  • Stars
    • Colin Clive
    • Mae Clarke
    • Boris Karloff
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 664User reviews
    • 159Critic reviews
    • 91Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos1

    Frankenstein
    Trailer 1:38
    Watch Frankenstein

    Photos168

    Boris Karloff in Frankenstein (1931)
    Boris Karloff in Frankenstein (1931)
    Boris Karloff in Frankenstein (1931)
    Boris Karloff in Frankenstein (1931)
    Boris Karloff in Frankenstein (1931)
    Boris Karloff in Frankenstein (1931)
    Boris Karloff in Frankenstein (1931)
    Colin Clive and Dwight Frye in Frankenstein (1931)
    Boris Karloff in Frankenstein (1931)
    Boris Karloff in Frankenstein (1931)
    Colin Clive and Dwight Frye in Frankenstein (1931)
    Boris Karloff in Frankenstein (1931)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Colin Clive
    Colin Clive
    • Henry Frankenstein
    Mae Clarke
    Mae Clarke
    • Elizabeth
    Boris Karloff
    Boris Karloff
    • The Monster
    John Boles
    John Boles
    • Victor Moritz
    Edward Van Sloan
    Edward Van Sloan
    • Doctor Waldman
    Frederick Kerr
    Frederick Kerr
    • Baron Frankenstein
    Dwight Frye
    Dwight Frye
    • Fritz
    Lionel Belmore
    Lionel Belmore
    • The Burgomaster
    Marilyn Harris
    Marilyn Harris
    • Little Maria
    Ted Billings
    • Villager
    • (uncredited)
    Mae Bruce
    • Screaming Maid
    • (uncredited)
    Jack Curtis
    Jack Curtis
    • Villager
    • (uncredited)
    Arletta Duncan
    Arletta Duncan
    • Bridesmaid
    • (uncredited)
    William Dyer
    • Gravedigger
    • (uncredited)
    Francis Ford
    Francis Ford
    • Hans
    • (uncredited)
    Soledad Jiménez
    Soledad Jiménez
    • Mourner
    • (uncredited)
    Carmencita Johnson
    Carmencita Johnson
    • Little Girl
    • (uncredited)
    Seessel Anne Johnson
    • Little Girl
    • (uncredited)
      • James Whale
    • Writers
      • John L. Balderston(based upon the composition by)
      • Mary Shelley(from the novel by)
      • Peggy Webling(adapted from the play by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    The Bride of Frankenstein
    7.8
    The Bride of Frankenstein
    Dracula
    7.4
    Dracula
    The Invisible Man
    7.6
    The Invisible Man
    The Wolf Man
    7.2
    The Wolf Man
    The Mummy
    7.0
    The Mummy
    Son of Frankenstein
    7.1
    Son of Frankenstein
    Creature from the Black Lagoon
    6.9
    Creature from the Black Lagoon
    King Kong
    7.9
    King Kong
    Nosferatu
    7.9
    Nosferatu
    Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man
    6.4
    Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man
    The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
    8.0
    The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
    Night of the Living Dead
    7.8
    Night of the Living Dead

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      During 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".
    • Goofs
      According 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 credits
      In the opening credits: The Monster - ?
    • Alternate versions
      SPOILERS: 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, The 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.
    • Connections
      Edited into Boo! (1932)
    • Soundtracks
      Grand Appassionato
      (uncredited)

      Music by Giuseppe Becce

      [End title & end cast music]

    User reviews664

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    A True Classic of its Time
    The first thing one needs to realize when watching this movie is that it is useless to compare it to Mary Shelleys book. It has borrowed very little from the book, and has a soul that is all its own. Taken as its own piece of art, it is truly an instant classic: the performance of Karloff is wondrous to behold. He can get more emotion through his eyes than other actors can with a great piece of dialogue. A great great movie.
    helpful•19
    0
    • mikeith
    • Jan 22, 2001

    FAQ14

    • Why did Bela Lugosi turn down the role?
    • Is the monster called Frankenstein?
    • What is 'Frankenstein' about?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 21, 1931 (United States)
      • United States
      • Official Facebook
      • English
      • Latin
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Malibou Lake, Agoura, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Universal Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 10 minutes
      • Black and White

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Frankenstein (1931)
    Top Gap
    What was the official certification given to Frankenstein (1931) in Mexico?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.