IMDb > Frankenstein (1931)
Frankenstein
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Frankenstein (1931) More at IMDbPro »

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Frankenstein (1931) -- Horror classic in which an obsessed scientist assembles a living being from parts of exhumed corpses.
Frankenstein (1931) -- Movieplayer.it - Trailer (Flash)

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Overview

User Rating:
8.1/10   21,661 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 14% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Contact:
View company contact information for Frankenstein on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
21 November 1931 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
A Monster Science Created - But Could Not Destroy! more
Plot:
Horror classic in which an obsessed scientist assembles a living being from parts of exhumed corpses. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
1 win more
NewsDesk:
(57 articles)
cinemadaily | The Invisible Auteur
 (From indieWIRE. 4 December 2009, 7:52 AM, PST)

Beatty Hangs Onto "Dick Tracy"...
 (From SneakPeek. 4 December 2009, 5:58 AM, PST)

User Reviews:
A Classic! more (227 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Directed by
James Whale 
 
Writing credits
Mary Shelley (novel) (as Mrs. Percy B. Shelley)

Peggy Webling (play)

John L. Balderston (adaptation)

Francis Edward Faragoh (writer) &
Garrett Fort (writer)

Robert Florey  uncredited &
John Russell  uncredited

Produced by
E.M. Asher .... associate producer
Carl Laemmle Jr. .... producer
 
Original Music by
Bernhard Kaun (uncredited)
 
Cinematography by
Arthur Edeson 
Paul Ivano (uncredited)
 
Film Editing by
Clarence Kolster 
 
Art Direction by
Charles D. Hall 
 
Makeup Department
Pauline Eells .... wig maker (uncredited)
Jack P. Pierce .... makeup artist (uncredited)
Jack P. Pierce .... makeup designer (uncredited)
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joseph A. McDonough .... assistant director (uncredited)
 
Art Department
Ed Keyes .... property master (uncredited)
Herman Rosse .... set designer (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
C. Roy Hunter .... recording supervisor
William Hedgcock .... sound recordist (uncredited)
 
Special Effects by
Franz Dallons .... props
Oscar Dallons .... props
Paul Dallons .... props
John P. Fulton .... special effects (uncredited)
Ken Strickfaden .... electrical effects (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Sherman Clark .... still photographer (uncredited)
Jack Freulich .... still photographer (uncredited)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mae Bruce .... wardrobe assistant (uncredited)
 
Editorial Department
Maurice Pivar .... supervising editor
 
Music Department
Giuseppe Becce .... composer: stock music (uncredited)
David Broekman .... musical director (uncredited)
 
Other crew
Carl Laemmle .... presenter
Richard Schayer .... scenario editor
Frank Graves .... electrical effects assistant (uncredited)
Raymond Lindsay .... electrical effects assistant (uncredited)
Robert Livingston .... double: Colin Clive, closing distant shot (uncredited)
Cecil Reynolds .... medical consultant (uncredited)
Gerald L.G. Sampson .... technical advisor (uncredited)
 
Crew believed to be complete


Production CompaniesDistributors

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Frankenstein (Austria) (Germany) [de]
El doctor Frankenstein (Spain) [es]
Frankenstayn (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Frankenstein (Greece) [el]
Frankenstein (Poland) [pl]
more
Runtime:
71 min
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Sound System)
Certification:
UK:A (original rating) (cut) | UK:PG (video rating) (1986) (cinema version) (cut) | UK:PG (video rating) (2002) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Finland:K-15 (2004) | Iceland:16 | Spain:13 | South Korea:12 | Canada:(Banned) (Quebec) (original rating) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Norway:16 (video rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Germany:16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Unrated

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Carl Laemmle Jr. offered James Whale a list of 30+ film adaptations he could direct and Whale picked this one. Whale said he did so because he wanted to get away from the war pictures with which he had so far been associated. Ironically, Whale is now, by far, best-remembered for his four horror films. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Maria meets the Monster by the lake and talks to him, the close shots of her show some vegetation and the lake in the background. She then takes the Monster by the hand and walks him closer to the edge of the lake. When she next talks to the Monster, the background in the close shot is the same as it was before, as though she has not moved at all. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Dr. Henry Frankenstein: Down! Down, you fool!
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Van Helsing (2004) more

FAQ

How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
How closely does the film follow Shelley's novel?
How many Universal Studios "Frankenstein" sequels followed this movie?
more
7 out of 7 people found the following review useful.
A Classic!, 5 May 2009
10/10
Author: mike finch from United Kingdom

I just wonder in awe at the uniqueness and charm of this movie, the atmospherics, sets, backgrounds, lighting, effects, sound and visuals etc. Even by watching you just get a totally uncanny sense of being part of and being real-time witness of a magnificent period of cinematic history.

You can almost taste the 1930's. It's the nearest thing you'll ever experience of whats its actually like to get in a time machine. Just switch off the lights and you can even imagine yourself being a 1930's cinema goer. Beautiful experience!

This film is nothing less than a classic! It just encapsulates the best of everything involved in movie making!

Was the above review useful to you?
more (227 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Frankenstein (1931)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Frankenstein in Color? judsoncrouch
aw man no longer on top 250... pitsburghfuzz
Ted Danson born to play this role! padfoot7726
True to the novel incense_peppermints
Need help finding a Frankenstein TV Film? stanwoodcraig
I always thought... chumface
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