I realize that I did an entire week of classics, but today’s film deserves a mention at any time. Even if you have never seen this film, you are very aware of the monster, in fact, I would bet that you know it as the definitive version. Today, I bring to you Frankenstein. Universal started their monster legacy with Dracula with Frankenstein closely on its heels. Most copies of the original version have the filmed opening by Edward Van Sloan, wherein he warns the audience. This was done because during the original screening, people fainted in their seats.
This film is easily a classic and deserves its iconic status. We have already covered The Bride of Frankenstein here. While the sequel is an amazing piece of cinema, it is a different beast than the original. In this first film, we see the driven doctor wanting so badly to play with the forces of life itself. After his success, he is ashamed of the violent nature of his creation and chains the creature. Boris Karloff’s performance as the monster, the pitiable beast shunned by its maker, is what you should watch this for. From his earliest moments, seeking sunshine and warmth, to his last frightened frames within a windmill, Karloff brings a sense of pathos to a monster that is more than just a horrible exterior.
Click below to pick up the entire Legacy collection featuring all 8 films of the original series. The official synopsis is listed below the cover.
Synopsis: Boris Karloff is the screen’s most memorable creature in the story of Dr. Frankenstein, who tampers with life and death when he pieces together salvaged body parts to create a human monster.
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