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Frankenstein

  • 1931
  • Approved
  • 1h 10m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
84K
YOUR RATING
Boris Karloff, John Boles, Mae Clarke, Colin Clive, and Dwight Frye in Frankenstein (1931)
Trailer for Frankenstein
Play trailer1:38
2 Videos
99+ Photos
Body HorrorMonster HorrorTragedyDramaHorrorSci-FiThriller

Dr Henry Frankenstein is obsessed with assembling a living being from parts of several exhumed corpses.Dr Henry Frankenstein is obsessed with assembling a living being from parts of several exhumed corpses.Dr Henry Frankenstein is obsessed with assembling a living being from parts of several exhumed corpses.

  • Director
    • James Whale
  • Writers
    • John L. Balderston
    • Mary Shelley
    • Peggy Webling
  • Stars
    • Colin Clive
    • Mae Clarke
    • Boris Karloff
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    7.8/10
    84K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • James Whale
    • Writers
      • John L. Balderston
      • Mary Shelley
      • Peggy Webling
    • Stars
      • Colin Clive
      • Mae Clarke
      • Boris Karloff
    • 711User reviews
    • 149Critic reviews
    • 91Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 7 wins & 3 nominations total

    Videos2

    Frankenstein
    Trailer 1:38
    Frankenstein
    Frankenstein: I'm Maria
    Clip 1:32
    Frankenstein: I'm Maria
    Frankenstein: I'm Maria
    Clip 1:32
    Frankenstein: I'm Maria

    Photos186

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    + 178
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    Top cast28

    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)
    • Director
      • James Whale
    • Writers
      • John L. Balderston
      • Mary Shelley
      • Peggy Webling
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The Monster's make-up design by Jack P. Pierce is under copyright to Universal Pictures until to January 1, 2026 and licensed by Universal Studios Licensing, Inc.
    • 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, 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 reviews711

    Featured review

    WHAT MORE CAN YOU SAY ABOUT ONE OF THE GREATEST?

    MORD39 RATING: **** out of ****

    Dark, cloudy nights. Thunder and lightning. Colin Clive's Frankenstein shouts: "It's Alive!", and Boris Karloff lurches forth in Jack Pierce's greatest monster makeup of all time....What more can be said about this classic?

    It's one of the first (and greatest) horror movies of all time and required viewing. Karloff's sympathetic monster can evoke fear as well as break our hearts. This film made him a huge star after years of working as an unknown in tons of features.

    James Whale is a masterful director, though there are less "light moments" in FRANKENSTEIN than some of his later horror films. Interestingly enough, the lack of a music score in this movie actually works in its favor.

    Tight, brisk, and oozing with the stuff nightmares are made of, this grandaddy of all monster films needs no further selling.
    • mord39
    • Oct 2, 2000
    • Permalink

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    • How long is Frankenstein?Powered by Alexa
    • Why was Frankenstein's first name changed from Victor to Henry?
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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 21, 1931 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Languages
      • English
      • Latin
    • Also known as
      • Frankenštajn
    • Filming locations
      • Malibou Lake, Agoura Hills, California, USA(creature and young girl by the lake scene)
    • Production company
      • Universal Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $291,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,924
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 10 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Cinesound
      • Magnaphone Western Electric
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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