The sequel to 1931's Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein is the story of how the Monster attempts to connect with society and ultimately find love. It celebrates a grand tradition of the Monster that is feared by people because he's different, a tradition that continued through Son of Frankenstein (1939), Young Frankenstein (1974), and the epic Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948).
Our story so far: Dr. Frankenstein, with the help of his assistant Igor, has cobbled together a monster out of various body parts taken from dead people. Thanks to a bit of electricity, he lives, only he doesn't exactly fit in, and therefore ends up going on a rampage. This, of course, does little to endear him to the townsfolk, who do their best to burn him alive. It doesn't work.
While an effective horror film (and clearly a good choice for a Halloween movie marathon), Bride of Frankenstein actually works best as social criticism and moral warning. Dr. Frankenstein has seen first-hand what happens when man attempts to play God, and has sworn off the experiments, but is persuaded and then blackmailed by his old mentor, Dr. Pretorius, to construct another monster — a bride — and with it a monster race. The monster (Boris Karloff) is simply lonely and willing to help in any efforts to create a companion. The assumption around town is that the monster is a dangerous killing machine, hell-bent on destruction, but we see quickly that he is simply misunderstood.
In a touching scene, he stumbles upon the cabin of a blind violin player. The monster cannot speak and the old man cannot see, but he is perceptive enough to realize the monster is injured, hungry, and inherently docile. Naturally, he has no idea the monster has been assembled from the body parts of other people; all that matters to him is that he has prayed for a companion and God has sent him one. They form a fast friendship. The old man teaches the monster how to speak basic words ("friend good") and plays the violin for him, once again showing us that even the most repulsive creatures can be captivated by beautiful music. The domestic bliss is interrupted, however, when a search party tries to take the monster away and in the ensuing struggle, the cabin catches fire.
Article comments
1 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
good review--I especially appreciated the on-target tidbit about Elsa Lanchester's inspiration.
2 - Mat Brewster
That ending scene towards the end when the bride screams in horror is absolutely classic.
I can no longer think of the blind man without thinking of Gene Hackman's hilarious spoof in Young Frankenstein, I mean Frankensteen