Bride of Frankenstein: A World of Gods and Monsters
Contains spoilers!
Bride of Frankenstein (1935) serves as the sequel to 1931’s Frankenstein, following its major success. The film, directed by James Whale, shows Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive) being pressured to return to his experiments by Dr. Pretorious (Ernest Thesiger), who insists that the pair create a bride (Elsa Lanchester) for the OG creature (Boris Karloff).
Clive’s Frankenstein, in this go around, is much more reluctant to continue his experiments, given the events of the previous film. Nevertheless, Clive still brings his A-game to this film, still able to convincingly relay his character’s fascination with restoring life to the dead.
Pretorious is, by far, the most interesting and funniest character in the film. He has a morbid sense of humor that is shown throughout the duration, such as eating dinner in a crypt and finding charm in the slime upon a set of stairs. On the flip side, he is much more deranged than Henry, willing to go so far as to recruit the monster to achieve his goals.
Once again, Karloff’s simultaneously brings menace and sympathy to his portrayal of the monster. In a surprising turn of events, the creature is taught to speak by a blind hermit (O.P. Heggie, who was just about to make Espresso). Though some, including Karloff during the making of the film, would argue that it’s unnecessary for the creature to speak, I would argue that A) the creature is capable of both learning and adapting, and B) some parts of his brain-specifically the left hemisphere, which controls speech- are staring to regain some of its previous functions.
There are only two complaints I would levy against the film. The first would be the opening scene in which Mary Shelley (a dual role by Lanchester) relays the story one storm night. As a modern viewer, I had a suspicion it would flip back and forth, like what The Princess Bride did with its stories of Wesley and Buttercup and the grandson and grandfather. Though it is cool to see Shelley “brought” into an adaptation of her work, I found it largely unnecessary and felt the film would’ve benefitted to jumping straight to the end of the previous film.
The second complaint I would bring against the film is the titular Bride. The film is dedicated to her creation, but her on-screen appearance doesn’t last long. She comes alive, rejects her would-be mate, and the monster kills her, Pretorious, and himself out of grief and anger. Nevertheless, the Bride has left a great impact on horror and film, with the iconic hair becoming a staple of the Frankenstein franchise. I just wish we would’ve got more time with her.
The first time I watched this film was out of a want to write this review. Midway through our viewing, I asked my wife, “Why did it take me so long to watch this?” I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, especially the laughs that Pretorious brings. I will return to this film again and will be ready for another shocking good time.
Cast
Boris Karloff as The Monster
Colin Clive as Henry Frankenstein
Valerie Hobson as Elizabeth
Ernest Thesiger as Dr. Pretorious
Elsa Lanchester as the Bride and Mary Shelley
