# Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

### reviewed by
Jerry Saravia

1935's "The Bride of Frankenstein" remains one of the great horror films of all time. It is cheerful, dark, mysterious, comical, compelling and quite frightening at times. It is the sequel to 1931's "Frankenstein," which starred Boris Karloff, and is significantly superior in every aspect.

The opening prologue is set in 1816 with Elsa Lanchester as the lovely author of the "Frankenstein" novel, Mary Shelley, who tells her close admirers, Percy Shelley, her husband, and Lord Byron, "London's greatest sinner," how her story didn't really end. Thus, we get the sequel with the Monster (Karloff again) escaping from the burning windmill and wrecking vengeance on everything and everyone who crosses his path. He attacks village women, gypsies, peasants and so on. He encounters a blind old man in one of the most famous sequences in history as the old man teaches him the virtues of fire, smoking, music ("Ave Maria"), and how to speak. Of course, two men (one of them is played by John Carradine) find the Monster and try to kill him. The Monster escapes again and is caught by all the villagers, tied to a pole in crucifixion-style, and eventually chained in prison before escaping yet again.

Dr. Frankenstein (Colin Clive) managed to survive the fiery debacle of the original, and is all set to marry his sweet Elizabeth (Valerie Hobson who was only 17 at the time) before being convinced to create a mate for the Monster by the evil Dr. Praetorius (Ernest Thesiger). Naturally, they create a mate with the help of a drooling assistant, Karl (Dwight Frye in reportedly a combination of two roles) who memorably shrieks "It's a very fresh one," after killing a bystander on the street to get a fresh heart. The Monster finally has a new mate (Elsa Lanchester) who memorably shrieks herself and turns her head in jerky, robotic movements recalling Brigitte Helm in Metropolis. The film ends with the fiery explosion of Praetorius's castle, and the good doctor and Elizabeth manage to escape and embrace in a happy ending devised to let the good doctor live.

"The Bride of Frankenstein" has some oddball moments although I can't say I know what era the film is set in. At one point, Dr. Praetorius lets Frankenstein communicate with Elizabeth through a voice transmission device! However, the villagers and every other citizen travel by horse and carriage, so is it set before the 1900's? And there's an abrupt finale where simply pulling a lever causes an explosion (this is how most mad scientist movies would end).

Still, "The Bride of Frankenstein" is a great film with some horrifying moments and some weirdly funny ones such as Dr. Praetorius's own creations which are life-like dolls in glass containers, including a smitten king, a ballerina, and a mermaid. "This is not science. This is black magic," says the dumbfounded Frankenstein. The scene is darkly comic yet there's something fundamentally horrific about it too - it shows a man who has gone at extreme lengths to give life to dead beings for his own pleasure, like Frankenstein himself. There are also several religious symbols throughout, especially during a quixotic moment when a crucifix shines brightly in the background while the blind man weeps after finding a companion in his home again. The entrance of the Bride towards the end is one of the loveliest sights in history as we see a ravishing beauty given life to please a monster whom she despises.

The performances are top-notch. Colin Clive is credibly and constantly uptight - he gets to yell the immortal line "She's alive! She's alive!" Ernest Thesiger plays the most evil villain in eons, and is unmatched in its baneful nature until Henry Fonda's cold killer in Once Upon a Time in the West. Thesiger has some delicious quips throughout and appears to be more frightening than the Monster itself. Karloff is given more to do this time as he's allowed to speak threateningly to Frankenstein, and even laugh! Elsa Lanchester is grandly beautiful and tremendously adept playing two roles: first as a delightful Mary Shelley in the wonderful prologue, and then in an extended cameo as the shrilly Bride with Nefertiti-shock hair and piercing eyes (if only screenwriters John L. Balderston and William Hurlbut gave her more to do). Also noteworthy is Una O'Connor who is hilarious as Frankenstein's maid servant, Minnie, who screams every time she sees the Monster - I love the way she utters "Dr. Praaeeetttorius!" when the doctor enters the house. Her role is quite similar to her equally delectable parts in "The Invisible Man" and "The Adventures of Robin Hood." Another small but significant role is the pompous burgomaster played by E.E. Clive with a big mustache - he was also cast in "The Invisible Man."

Other pluses in "Bride of Frankenstein" are the moody, evocative cinematography by John Mescall, including the justly famous graveyard scenes populated by fog and crucifixes; the creepy music score by Frank Waxman that is among the greatest ever composed for the silver screen and was used in many films since; and James Whale's fine direction and his extraordinary feel for the supernatural and the monstrous ironies in Shelley's text. There is simply not a better film about Frankenstein to see and, although it doesn't follow the novel too closely, this is among the finest and most visually spectacular Universal horror films ever made.

For more reviews, check out JERRY AT THE MOVIES at http://buffs.moviething.com/buffs/faust/

E-mail me with comments, suggestions, or complaints at Faust667@aol.com or at jerry@movieluver.com

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