Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

On the set: Boris Karloff

James Whale

 

Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Whale

The Invisible Man (1933)

 

The Invisible Man (1933)

Just Imagine (1930)

Some of the props created for this film in this scene were later reused for James Whale’s Frankenstein

Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

Hell's Angels (1930)

Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

Gods and Monsters (1998)

The last days of the life of famed and disgraced film director James Whale.

Carefully staged period drama with an excellent cast and some lovable details, but a bit lighthearted considering the topic.

Halliwell**: "Enjoyable, if fictional, account of the last days of a director who reinvented himself in America as a middle-class Englishman and a master of horror; if the material is sometimes a little thin, the acting carries it through."

Maltin***1/2: "Exceptional (if entirely fictional) character study of film director James Whale...An exquisite rendering of time and place, with a superb performance by McKellen, matched by Fraser...and Redgrave...A quiet, deliberately paced film; beautifully rendered, with a unique blend of flashback and hallucination."

Frankenstein (1931)

The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

Frankenstein (1931)

The Invisible Man (1933)

A scientist finds a way of becoming invisible, but in doing so, he becomes murderously insane.

Brilliant (and close) adaptation of H.G. Wells' classic novel, a horror drama with a magnificent (if invisible) Claude Rains that entertains with thrills, humour and special effects that still convince today.

Halliwell****: "Superb blend of eccentric character comedy, melodrama and trick photography in a Hollywood English setting; remarkably faithful to the spirit of the book. It made a star of Claude Rains in his first film, even though he is seen for only a couple of seconds."

Maltin***1/2: "H.G. Wells' fantasy brilliantly materializes on screen...Rains' starring debut is dated but still enjoyable."

New acquisition: The Invisible Man (1933)

Completing my collection of James Whale classics.

The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

Mary Shelley reveals the main characters of her novel survived: Dr. Frankenstein (goaded by an even madder scientist) builds his monster a mate.

The rare event of a sequel just as great or even better than the classic original: atmosphere, settings and performances are top notch and set standards for the horror genre; and this movie presents the most alluring female monster of cinema history.

Halliwell****: "Frankenstein was startingly good in a primitive way; this sequel is the screen's sophisticated masterpiece of black comedy, with all the talents working deftly to one end. Every scene has its own delights, and they are woven together into a superb if wilful cinematic narrative, which, of its gentle mocking kind, has never been surpassed."

Maltin****: "Eye-filling sequel to FRANKENSTEIN is even better, with rich vein of dry wit running through the chills... Pastoral interlude with blind hermit and final, riotous creation scene are highlights of this truly classic movie."

The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

New acquisition: The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

After having recently rewatched Frankenstein I just had to get the continuation.

Frankenstein (1931)

An obsessed scientist assembles a living being from parts of exhumed corpses.

One of the truly great classics of the horror film: a tale simply and effectively told with superb atmosphere and imaginative settings and a spectacular performance by Boris Karloff.

Halliwell****: "Whole books have been written about this film and its sequels. Apart from being a fascinating if primitive cinematic work in its own right, it set its director and star on interesting paths and established a Hollywood attitude towards horror (mostly borrowed from German silents such as The Golem). A seminal film indeed, which at each repeated viewing belies its age."

Maltin***1/2: "Definitive monster movie...It's creaky at times, and cries for a music score, but it's still impressive...as is Karloff's performance in the role that made him a star."

New acquisition: Frankenstein (1931)

Recently found three movie classics for a tenner.