1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die- Frankenstein

#61- Frankenstein (1931)
Starring: Boris Karloff, Colin Clive, Mae Clarke
Directed by: James Whale


Plot Summary: Dr. Henry Frankenstein's latest experiment is to piece together a body from various sources and re-animate it, creating life from death. While his experiment is a success, Dr. Frankenstein discovers that the brain he used in his experiment was an abnormal brain. With his creation declared a "monster", Dr. Frankenstein realizes that the creature must be destroyed.  But the unthinkable happens when the monster escapes and finds his presence felt in the local village.


One of my favorite film genres is horror. I can't entirely explain why I enjoy it. While I know that most horror movies (especially modern horror movies) are not usually successful with the critics, there is something about the cheesiness and cult followings that many horror films have that I am entertained by. When I was younger, I didn't have the biggest appreciation for the older horror films. I always thought that the characters didn't look scary, they looked a little goofy to me, so I figured the movies probably weren't that good. That opinion changed when I was able to actually sit down and see Frankenstein. Once I saw Frankenstein, I could see why it is one of the most famous horror movies of all time. It's a movie that really helps set the standard for what horror films would later become.

The first thing most people think about when talking about Frankenstein is Boris Karloff's performance as The Monster. Karloff has a difficult task in playing the role. The Monster is only allowed to show emotion through facial expressions and body movements, as well as only being able to communicate in grunts. Despite the amount of make-up that is used to create the look, Karloff is still able to add a surprising amount of depth and emotion to the character. The audience can tell when he's happy, scared, angry and sad, as well as being able to see why he feels that way based on his actions. Karloff's look of the monster has now become the look most associated with the Frankenstein brand name, making Karloff's performance of the monster iconic not just for horror characters, but movie characters in general.

Colin Clive also deserves credit for playing the titular character, Dr. Henry Frankenstein (despite a common misconception that many people have thinking that Frankenstein is the name of the monster). Clive's portrayal as Frankenstein is one of the true highlights of the film. While most people would watch the movie to see Karloff, I enjoy watching it for Clive. As much as Karloff sets the standard for movie monsters, I feel Clive also sets the standard for mad scientists on film. Most moviegoers are familiar with the scenes in the laboratory. Even if you haven't seen the movie, you are probably familiar with Dr. Frankenstein shouting "It's Alive!" None of the equipment in his lab is ever fully explained, but I don't think that it needs to be. The audience believes that Frankenstein knows what he is doing in terms of being a brilliant scientist. 

Frankenstein also creates a haunting atmosphere that helps set the horror tone. I was pleasantly surprised that a movie that came out in 1931 could have such a visual style with its sets and props. Some moviegoers that are used to movies in color might be turned off by seeing a movie in black and white, but I really feel that it helps the give the film a classical look to compliment the horror tone being set for the film. I feel like if the movie was in color, and I saw Karloff in green make-up playing The Monster, I would not be able to take that film as seriously as I can with version we have. The sets are also filmed in a way that helps give the film a chilling look and atmosphere. The film starts with Dr. Frankenstein digging up corpses in a graveyard helps set the tone for the rest of the film.

Does the movie have some flaws? Of course it does, I think its biggest flaw is that it needed more time on-screen. The movie is only an hour and ten minutes and could use about 20 extra minutes to flush out some issues and questions that some audience members would have. My biggest question, and possibly the most obvious continuity goof up, is something along the lines of "If Dr. Frankenstein is a brilliant scientist studying the human body, how would he not notice that the brain he used was an abnormal brain? I mean, the audience saw a scene where the differences between brains was discussed so WE would know, but wouldn't he be able to tell the difference?" Questions like that could be answered with a longer movie to help the pacing of the story. That's my only real gripe with the film, and it really is a positive note, that I like the film enough to say that it needed more time.

When looking at Frankenstein, it is easy to see that it serves as a prototype for the horror genre. Even if people have not seen the movie, they know of the scenes that help paint the modern picture of Frankenstein in media. For example, Dr. Frankenstein has a hunchbacked assistant named Fritz (not named Igor, he is introduced in Son of Frankenstein and spelled Ygor), which is now a common element when telling the Frankenstein tale, either through parody or modern adaptations. From the electrifying creation of The Monster in the laboratory, to a mob of angry villagers chasing The Monster through the woods, Frankenstein has iconic scenes and story elements that have been incorporated into the horror genre, making it a film that deserves respect from all fans of horror.


Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

While it may not be the scariest horror film ever made, the film industry owes a lot to Frankenstein for helping horror become a mainstream genre. If you consider yourself a fan of horror, I recommend owning it in your collection. If you are a casual moviegoer, still check it out as a rental, particularly in October to get in the mood for the Halloween season.

Comment below to share your thoughts on the movie or to discuss a topic that I left out of my review

Frankenstein and movie images are copyrighted by Universal Pictures