Frankenstein (1931)

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Director:

James Whale

Writers:

Mary Shelley (novel)
Peggy Webling (play)
(more)

Release Date:

21 November 1931 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

A Monster Science Created - But Could Not Destroy!

Plot:

Horror classic in which an obsessed scientist assembles a living being from parts of exhumed corpses.

Plot Keywords:

Monster | Frankenstein | Torch | Grave Robbing | Science Runs Amok

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Colin Clive	...	Dr. Henry Frankenstein
Mae Clarke	...	Elizabeth
John Boles	...	Victor Moritz
Boris Karloff	...	The Monster (as ?)
Edward Van Sloan	...	Dr. Waldman
Frederick Kerr	...	Baron Frankenstein
Dwight Frye	...	Fritz
Lionel Belmore	...	Herr Vogel
Marilyn Harris	...	Little Maria
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ted Billings	...	Villager (uncredited)
Mae Bruce	...	Screaming Maid (uncredited)
Arletta Duncan	...	Bridesmaid (uncredited)
Francis Ford	...	Hans (uncredited)
Mary Gordon	...	Mourner (uncredited)
Soledad Jiménez	...	Mourner (uncredited)
Michael Mark	...	Ludwig (uncredited)
Pauline Moore	...	Bridesmaid (uncredited)
Inez Palange	...	Villager (uncredited)
Paul Panzer	...	Mourner at gravesite (uncredited)
Cecilia Parker	...	Maid (uncredited)
Rose Plumer	...	Villager (uncredited)
Cecil Reynolds	...	Waldman's secretary (uncredited)
Ellinor Vanderveer	...	Medical student (uncredited)

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)

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1931) (USA) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (1938) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Universal Pictures (1947) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Realart Pictures (1951) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Screen Gems (1957) (USA) (TV)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)
• Net5 (2004) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Universal Home Entertainment (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Frankenstein (Austria) (Germany) [de]
El doctor Frankenstein (Spain) [es]
Frankenstayn (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Frankenstein (Greece) [el]

Runtime:

71 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

UK:A (original rating) (cut) | UK:PG (video rating) (1986) (cinema version) (cut) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | UK:PG (video rating) (2002) | 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

Filming Locations:

Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Those originally considered for the cast included Leslie Howard as Henry Frankenstein and Bette Davis as Elizabeth. Director James Whale insisted on Colin Clive for the role of Henry.

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.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Dr. Henry Frankenstein: Down! Down, you fool!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie: The Mad, Mad, Mad Monsters" (1972)

The best ever telling of this classic story.

Oh,the many tellings and variations of this classic story.This,without question,is the best presentation of the classic story by Mary Shelley. The film was presented in such a way that makes you feel as though you are watching a stage play rather than a film.A creature is given the complicated thing called life.His large,overpowering human form,coupled with the limited capacity to grow,and learn,turn out to be very deadly indeed.He is,basically,a very large baby,who does not understand the world around him.He wreaks havoc on those who he feels are out to hurt him.I have seen the completed version of this film,complete with the disturbing sequence involving the little girl with the flowers,which was cut out of the film for many years.It is indeed shocking,and once you see it,you will understand why this was done.While you are shocked at this,at the same time you are sympathetic with the creature,knowing that he does not understand what he is doing,and meant no harm.Most movie monsters,particularly of this era,are just evil beings that make us cheer with delight at the sight of their destruction.When it comes to Frankenstein,we are almost sad to see this creature,who did not ask for life to begin with,meet his end.Classic horror,classic film.