Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
Written: May 09 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Funny, scary, beautiful, sad
Cons: Not enough Dwight Frye!
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| fdknight's Full Review: Bride of Frankenstein |
The best sequel and the best monster movie every made, Bride of Frankenstein starts where the original left off. Miraculously, the monster has survived the destruction of the mill and is wandering the countryside. Henry Frankenstein wants to marry his fiancée Elizabeth and forget about his creation. He is visited by Dr. Pretorius, an evil scientist who wants him to continue his experiments. The monster is captured and escapes. He is given shelter and love by a blind Hermit, but some men from the village destroy that. The monster returns to the crypts where he came from and meets Pretorius. The two join forces to make Henry create a woman, a creature who will not reject the monster because she will be like him.
James Whale's Frankenstein is about isolation, first the isolation of Henry Frankenstein as solitary genius is a stolid world and later the isolation of the unloved creature. Here, there is an emphasis on parallel relationships, with almost every character having one or more doubles.
Frankenstein's and Brides
Of course, there are two Frankenstein's and two brides. In this film the popular identification of creature and creator is subtly encouraged: they don't quite call the monster "Frankenstein," but Pretorius does herald the creation of the second monster by saying, "The Bride of Frankenstein." Pretorius and the monster use Elizabeth, Henry's bride, to force the compassion that he should have felt for the creature from the beginning. Since the monster is without a mate, Henry will be, too.
Although the overall film is better, neither Boris Karloff or Colin Clive is quite as effective as in the original. Karloff thought that the fatal mistake in this film was allowing the monster to speak. I don't agree- I think it is the monster's increased screen time and Karloff's less emaciated appearance that weaken the impact of the character. Of course, his performance is still one of the best in any movie. Henry is not written as the single-minded lunatic of the original, so Clive isn't given the scenes that showcase his unique brilliance.
The best that can be said of Valerie Hobson's Elizabeth is that she's much better than Mae Clarke Really, she'd be fine if she didn't have that embarrassing, hysterical clairvoyant scene, which nobody would be able to do. Well, maybe Elsa Lanchester could. In the double role of Mary Shelley and the Monster's Bride, she is a delightful creator and creature. I love her sparkling intelligence in the prologue, but it's the screaming, hissing Bride that steals the show.
Scientists and Friends
We've also got two mad scientists. Dr. Pretorius is a great character: having abandoned Henry's pretension of conventional morality, he has a lot more fun. The sardonic Ernest Thesiger is ideally cast, with his angular face (like busybody Una O'Connor) and bushy hair (like the Bride). Pretorius is one of two men to show kindness to the monster.
The other is O.P. Heggie's Hermit. When this blind man is able to show kindness to the creature, we confront the tragedy at the heart of the Whale Frankenstein films: the monster could always have been happy and functional. Rejected by his creator, tortured by his keeper, hunted and abused, Karloff's monster still has a heart so pure that he responds immediately to the Hermit by giving his affection without reserve and by learning.
Music
This movie was made four years after Frankenstein, and it's interesting to see how much film making technique had developed between 1931 and 1935. The use of music is most notable. The original film's lack of music is unsettling at times. Franz Waxman's famous score is a great boon to the sequel, even though at times it is intrusive and inappropriately light. I love the Bride's sensual, exotic theme, strikingly similar to "Bali Ha'i" from South Pacific. Notice how the theme appears whenever the second creature is discussed.
If you like, you can see my review of the first movie here:
http://musicals.epinions.com/mvie-review-4F7B-83C8C8A-38FD3EDC-prod1
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
fdknight
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Member: F. Douglas Knight
Location: Astoria, OR
Reviews written: 115
Trusted by: 101 members
About Me:
When he awakes the summer night is filled with screams.
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