Bride of Frankenstein

Day 287 - 10/14/09 - Movie #287

BEFORE: It's interesting to note that the role of The Monster was uncredited in the opening credits of the original 1931 movie, to maintain the mystery of what was about to unfold. The Monster was listed with a question mark, although Boris Karloff was listed in the closing credits.
The sequel continued this tradition, with the Monster's Bride credited with a question mark in the opening credits.

This film seems to cover the 2nd half of Shelley's original novel, but of course there are major differences....

THE PLOT: Dr. Frankenstein (goaded by an even madder scientist) builds his monster a mate.

AFTER: In this movie, you can see a lot of the elements which Mel Brooks chose to parody in "Young Frankenstein" - the blind old hermit who takes in the monster, and Minnie, the older housekeeper, the obvious inspiration for Frau Blucher (insert horse whinny here).

There's a framing sequence with Mary Shelley relating part of her cautionary tale to her husband, Percy Shelley, and Lord Byron. The part of Mary Shelley was played by Elsa Lanchester, who also played the Bride. She was quite attractive, when not rocking that giant electrified beehive hairdo...

In this film, the Monster learns a few words, has his first cigar and enjoys some music, but he just can't seem to keep his hands away from the villagers' necks, so cue up the angry mob again. There's another mad scientist, Dr. Pretorius, who visits Victor, I mean Henry, and shows him some "miniature life" he has created - a tiny king, queen mermaid and ballerina in little glass vials (what is THAT all about?) Pretorius is a sort of foil for Dr. Frankenstein, and part of the impetus to create a mate for the Monster. Like Henry, Pretorius enjoys digging up graves for spare parts (and apparently having picnics in tombs...he's a bit of an odd duck)

The Bride has a stolen heart, but an artificial brain, whereas the Monster has a stolen brain, and (one would assume) an artificial heart. Alas, some relationships are doomed from the start...guess she doesn't go for tall, dark and gruesome...

RATING: 5 out of 10 homunculi

SPOOK-O-METER: 2 out of 10 (the Monster's less scary once he learns to talk)