Frankenstein (1994)

When the brilliant but unorthodox scientist Dr. Victor Frankenstein rejects the artificial man that he has created, the Creature escapes and later swears revenge.

Director:

Kenneth Branagh

Writers:

Mary Shelley (novel), Steph Lady (screenplay)

Stars:

Robert De Niro, Kenneth Branagh, Helena Bonham Carter

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 19 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert De Niro	...	Creature / Sharp Featured Man
Kenneth Branagh	...	Victor
Tom Hulce	...	Henry
Helena Bonham Carter	...	Elizabeth
Aidan Quinn	...	Walton
Ian Holm	...	Victor's Father
Richard Briers	...	Grandfather
John Cleese	...	Professor Waldman
Robert Hardy	...	Professor Krempe
Cherie Lunghi	...	Victor's Mother
Celia Imrie	...	Mrs. Moritz
Trevyn McDowell	...	Justine
Gerard Horan	...	Claude
Mark Hadfield	...	Felix
Joanna Roth	...	Marie

Storyline

In 1794, in the Arctic Sea, Captain Robert Walton is a man obsessed to reach the North Pole, pushing his crew to exhaustion. When his ship hits an iceberg, it is stranded in the ice. Out of the blue, Captain Walton and his men overhear a dreadful cry and they see a stranger coming to the ship. He introduces himself as Victor Frankenstein and he tells the Captain the story of his life since he was a little boy in Geneva. Victor is a barilliant student, and in love with his stepsister Elizabeth, an orphan that was raised by his father Baron Victor von Frankenstein. In 1793, Victor moves to Ingolstadt to study at the university, and he promises to get married to Elizabeth. At the university, Victor befriends Henry Clerval, who becomes his best friend. Victor gets close to Professor Waldman and decides to create life to cheat death, but Waldman advises him that he should not try this experiment, since the result would be an abomination. When Waldman dies, Victor steals his notes and tries...

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Plot Keywords:

frankenstein's monster | remake | elizabeth frankenstein character | doctor victor frankenstein character | head transplant | 

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Taglines:

Be warned.

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Romance | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for horrific images

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Cleese previously played Frankenstein's Monster in Monty Python's Flying Circus: The BBC Entry for the Zinc Stoat of Budapest (or, It's the Arts) (1969).

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Goofs

When the grandfather is playing the recorder he takes breaths on notes instead of between notes.

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Quotes

Victor Frankenstein: You do speak!
The Creature: Yes, I speak, and read, and think, and know the ways of men.

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Alternate Versions

There is a workprint circulating which contains gore which was cut to earn an "R" rating, as well as other scenes, including the Fay Ripley scene and the re-animated dog scene.

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Connections

Referenced in Very Important Pennis: Very Important Pennis: Part 1 (1996)

User Reviews

Embarrassing

In the interest of full disclosure, I should say that I've never seen the entire movie. I lasted about on hour or so (maybe a little longer) before the limit of my tolerance was reached.

What was wrong with this movie? Kenneth Branagh, ham though he may be, was decent enough in this movie. The exact same goes for Robert DeNiro, who got to ham it up a lot while wearing lots of monster makeup. John Cleese was surprisingly good as a medical professor. Helena Bonham Carter is always easy on the eyes. The sets, the costumes, the cinematography, the story, all good.

What really wrecked this movie was its ham-fisted direction. Branagh the Director is infatuated with Branagh the Actor, and seems to work only to highlight to best effect the object of his admiration. This only serves to make Branagh the Actor look particularly hammy and over the top. I could feel my face flush with embarrassment as I watch this disgusting display of narcissism.

Kenny boy, if you're reading this, may I make a suggestion? Next time you want to make another adaptation of a Shakespeare play, or a Gothic novel, please consider handing over the directorial reins to someone else who can approach the overarching talent of Branagh the Actor with a little more, uh.... detachment.

Think about it, won't you? Thank you.

Details

Country:

USA Japan UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 November 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Frankenstein

Filming Locations:

England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$45,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$11,212,889, 6 November 1994

Gross USA:

$22,006,296

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$112,006,296

Company Credits

Production Co:

TriStar Pictures, Japan Satellite Broadcasting (JBS), IndieProd Company Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

123 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS (8 channels) Dolby SR Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1