The Bride (1985)

After years of research, the doctor finally succeeds in creating the perfect woman, who gets the name "Eva".

Director:

Franc Roddam

Writer:

Lloyd Fonvielle (screenplay)

Stars:

Sting, Jennifer Beals, Anthony Higgins

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sting	...	Frankenstein
Jennifer Beals	...	Eva
Anthony Higgins	...	Clerval
Clancy Brown	...	Viktor
David Rappaport	...	Rinaldo
Geraldine Page	...	Mrs. Baumann
Alexei Sayle	...	Magar
Phil Daniels	...	Bela
Veruschka von Lehndorff	...	Countess (as Veruschka)
Quentin Crisp	...	Dr. Zahlus
Cary Elwes	...	Josef
Timothy Spall	...	Paulus (as Tim Spall)
Ken Campbell	...	Pedlar
Guy Rolfe	...	Count
Andy de la Tour	...	Priest (as Andrew de la Tour)

Storyline

After the creation of his creature, Dr. Frankenstein researches and creates the perfect woman, Eva, to be the mate of the creature. However, the anxiety of the creature creates havoc in the laboratory, which is burnt down and explodes, killing Frankenstein's assistants, Dr. Zahlus and Paulus. Dr. Frankenstein believes the creature died too, but he has fled to the woods. Soon he meets and befriends the dwarf Rinaldo, who gives him the name Viktor, and invites him to work in a circus in Budapest. Meanwhile, Frankenstein and his house keeper, Mrs. Baumann (Geraldine Page), teach Eva how to behave and to be independent. One day, Frankenstein introduces Eva to the high-society, telling her that she was an amnesic found in the woods and has become his protégée. Frankenstein becomes obsessed with Eva, while she and Viktor have a strange connection. What will happen to Eva?

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Plot Keywords:

female full frontal nudity | telepathic link | budapest hungary | cat | impalement | 

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Taglines:

Here Comes . . .The BRIDE

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Genres:

Fantasy | Horror | Romance | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

PG-13

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of three 1985 movies where a female creature / perfect woman is created from scientific endeavor. The other films were Creator (1985) and Weird Science (1985). In Creator (1985), a scientist clones his late wife in order to bring her back to life in another female form whilst in Weird Science (1985), the creators create the perfect sexy woman being inspired by the movie Frankenstein (1931). In The Bride (1985), Baron Frankenstein creates a female intended as a bride for his already in existence male creation.

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Quotes

Eva: What is 'dead'?
Baron Charles Frankenstein: Sleeping... sleeping forever. One day we go to sleep and we don't wake up.
Eva: I don't think I could sleep that long.

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Connections

Spoofed in Mistress Frankenstein (2000)

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Soundtracks

Eine Kleine Nachtsmusik
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

User Reviews

Eye-candy cinematography, thought-provoking story...

A beautiful movie! It was really quite lusciously filmed, where everything - the set designs, the costumes, outdoor locations, and luscious depiction of an early 18th century Transylvania setting – are absolutely top-notch, and give the film an almost magical sort of quality. This is "must see" film making.

The movie basically deals with the lives and fates of two living creations of Dr. Frankenstein (played by Sting): one, Viktor, (whom you might think of as "Frankenstein's Monster") is a big scary guy. The other, Eva (played by Jennifer Beals), is a beautiful young woman. Both have been created from spare body parts, and then brought to life by Dr. Frankenstein in the laboratory. There is a storm and a fire, the tower in which the laboratory is housed is destroyed, and Viktor escapes to fend for himself out in the countryside of Transylvania. Eva is taken care of by Dr. Frankenstein who, along with others in the castle, helps to educate the helpless young woman.

That, essentially, is the setting for the movie, and it is told in a surprisingly effective "dual tales" sort of technique. In one story, we watch as Viktor goes out on his own, and meets up with Rinaldo, a sly but very lovable midget (played by David Rappaport). Rinaldo convinces Viktor that the two of them would make a good living by going off to join the circus, and so off they go, getting involved in a couple of amusing scrapes along the way. Eventually they do indeed end up with the circus, where both are mercilessly exploited by the circus entrepreneurs Magar and Bela (played by Alexei Sayles and Phil Daniels).

Meanwhile, back at the castle... We watch how Eva is carefully groomed and schooled in the finest European fashion, and meticulously transformed, Eliza Doolittle-style, into quite the proper upper class young lady.

The movie carefully, and with nicely-timed pacing, switches back and forth between these two stories, and these stories prove to be very enjoyable watching.

I didn't find it distracting whatsoever to see Sting playing Dr. Frankenstein. Sure, they could have found a different and arguably better actor to play the good (?) doctor, but at the time this movie was made (1985) Sting was "the Man" – you know, the dude with the star-power name who could pull in the teenagers. And probably the same could be said for Jennifer Beals, who was still riding high from her recent fame in 1983's Flashdance. They need to fill those seats in the theaters, folks! No, they aren't that bad: don't let that deter you from seeing the movie. (And if you are a Sting fan or a Jennifer Beals fan (and we know how painful THAT can be) then you will be even more delighted with this film).

Oh yes, I said in the summary bar above that this is also a thought-provoking story. Well, basically, both Viktor and Eva are subjected to varying degrees of exploitation by their "benefactors," and one can't help but feel that the movie is an allegory for how the strong exploit the weak. This was especially true back in the days of old, where man exploited man. Now, thankfully, we live in a modern and enlightened age, and it's just the opposite!

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Movie Channel [United States]

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 August 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Bride

Filming Locations:

Ain, Rhône-Alpes, France

Box Office

Budget:

$13,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,763,277, 18 August 1985

Gross USA:

$3,558,669

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,558,669

Company Credits

Production Co:

Colgems Productions Ltd., Columbia Pictures, Delphi III Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Rankcolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1