Not too long ago, I went ahead and reviewed the old school Horror film 'Nosferatu.' With that, I think it's about time I review yet another classically well known Horror flick, perhaps known by everyone around the world.
While inevitably dated and primitive when comparing it to the standards of modern cinema, Frankenstein remains an impressive film to this day. While at the time of it's release, there were many other "talkies" that just seemed so hollow and forced, this film omits all of that, and prides itself in it's plot and how it's executed...something that many Horror films of today cannot make claim of. James Whale's work as a director shouldn't go unnoticed, either. At the time, his craft was very different than anything of that time in Cinema. He was always moving the camera, close-up's on the actors, it all almost lent itself to a very admirable form of Expressionist Photography.
While inevitably dated and primitive when comparing it to the standards of modern cinema, Frankenstein remains an impressive film to this day. While at the time of it's release, there were many other "talkies" that just seemed so hollow and forced, this film omits all of that, and prides itself in it's plot and how it's executed...something that many Horror films of today cannot make claim of. James Whale's work as a director shouldn't go unnoticed, either. At the time, his craft was very different than anything of that time in Cinema. He was always moving the camera, close-up's on the actors, it all almost lent itself to a very admirable form of Expressionist Photography.
And then...there is Boris Karloff. Known quintessentially for this role, along with other Universal Monsters, (oh, and the narrator/voice for The Grinch cartoon) while still only having very few scenes as well as no dialogue, he still manages to work his way through the wonderful makeup (done by Jack Pierce) and produces an intimidating and complex character, while still making the creature very sympathetic.
To many young and new viewers of the genre, I can see this film as getting passed by, or even given the wrong idea, simply because they're not willing to give it or chance or open their mind as to what it would have been like to see such a film like this around the time of it's release. And that's really sad, because this one will forever go down as a classic of the genre, and will forever leave a lasting impression.
To many young and new viewers of the genre, I can see this film as getting passed by, or even given the wrong idea, simply because they're not willing to give it or chance or open their mind as to what it would have been like to see such a film like this around the time of it's release. And that's really sad, because this one will forever go down as a classic of the genre, and will forever leave a lasting impression.
(I had to include a picture of 'the little flower girl.' The scene with her and Frankensteins monster is so memorable, and for it's time, down right frightening.)
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