Number 335 on the top 1000 films of all time is the pre-code Gothic drama 'Frankenstein.'
Based on Mary Shelley's book of the same name, Frankenstein follows the Bavarian scientist Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive) in his attempts to create life. This culminates in him creating a monster played by Boris Karloff. This monster is made out of dead bodies. Meanwhile, his fiancee Elizabeth (Mae Clarke) and cousin Victor (John Boles) try to talk him out of his madness.
Frankenstien is a film that needs no introduction. Even if you haven't read the book you are familiar with the story. I have read the book and I think the film over-simplified the plot and characters.
At seventy minutes long, there wasn't enough time to properly explore the characters in any depth. As a result, they felt shallow, superficial and under-developed. Neither Dr Frankenstein or his monster had the humanity they had in the book.
Frankenstein's monster was little more than a simple killing brute and not the misunderstood yet articulate being he was in the book. He's supposed to be somebody you both pity and are scared off - not just something to be feared. Similarly, Dr Frankenstein lent a little too much into the "mad" aspect of "mad scientist." he wasn't so much of an evil genius, as just evil. It was a radical departure from the books where he was a brilliant if misguided scientist.
This film is beloved by many - having spurned countless sequels, parodies and imitators, so I'm obviously in the minority with my opinions. But I didn't care for Frankenstein. It was an overly-stripped affair that lacked the heart and humanity which made the book so beloved.
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