 "Ah yes, a classic horror film. It's my only vice..." | 2009-08-13 |
| - Reviewed By User: A364W6U6YL219D |
The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) The first movie is truly a landmark and despite its dated elements, a true classic. And while I do think this sequel is an even better movie in many ways, they actually work best taken together, as one big story told in two parts.
The plot has Henry Frankenstein and his creation surviving the fiery end of the first movie. Henry (Colin Clive) just wants to get on with his life and marry his fiancee Elizabeth. The monster (Boris Karloff) doesn't know what he wants, at least until he meets up with Dr. Praetorius (Ernest Thesiger), another dabbler in the science of life and death and former teacher of Henry Frankenstein. Dr. Praetorius uses the monster to force Henry back into the lab where the dotty Dr. P conceives of a bride for the monster. Of course, these things never go smoothly, and soon there is terror, and murder, and oh yes, there is blood. Director James Whale mixes whimsical light moments with horror, pathos and high drama, and it's more entertaining than any 70+ year old movie has any right to be. Franz Waxman's score is poetic and gorgeous, and the performances are delicious, if a little high strung. This one is an absolute must, even for those who prefer their horror movies a little more recent. Followed by The Son of Frankenstein. Also with Valerie Hobson. |
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 "3 stars out of 4" | 2009-05-25 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1X054KUYG5V |
The Bottom Line:
One of the few sequels that's unequivocably better than the original, "Bride" benefits from a greater exploration into the monster's character, a wonderfully over-the-top performance by Ernest Thesiger as Dr. Pretorius, and the swan-like Elsa Lancaster as The Bride herself; you can pretty much avoid the original and just watch this superior film instead. |
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| "A Masterpiece of Cinema" | 2009-04-13 |
| - Reviewed By joshmiller34 |
Four years after the original horror classic, James Whale returned to direct Bride of Frankenstein. The original classic is generally considered the masterpiece, but this film more than equals it despite the change in tone.
Despite being released in 1931, the original Frankenstein (75th Anniversary Edition) (Universal Legacy Series) had a grim, gloomy tone to it. It isn't horrifying by today's standards of that word, but you can see how people would've been horrified by it in 1931. Bride of Frankenstein is a horror film that balances drama, poignancy, and campiness (not sure if that's a word).
The film opens with Mary Shelley, her husband Percy, and their friend Lord Byron imagining a sequel to Ms. Shelley's tale of horror. The film then picks up right where Frankenstein left off. The windmill has burned down and the Monster is thought to be dead. As Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive) recovers, Dr. Pretorius (Ernest Thesiger) arrives and suggests they continue Frankenstein's work together. Pretorius proposes that since Frankenstein created a man, they together will create his mate. Meanwhile, the Monster roams the countryside occasionally encountering an angry mob of villagers.
In one of the films best scenes, the Monster encounters a lonely, blind violinist. This scene is strangely touching and poignant.
And, of course, we hear the Monster speak. While in the first film he only growled, here (even with the simplicity of his dialogue) he's given some of the most memorable lines of the movie. Ironic, considering Karloff was initially opposed to The Monster speaking.
And I can't forget to mention The Bride played by an uncredited Elsa Lanchester. Despite very little screen time (3 minutes, I believe), this is one of the most iconic images in cinema history. Lanchester also plays Mary Shelley in the opening scene.
The art direction, beyond being influential, is brilliant. As mention before, it's not as ominous as the first film but terrific all the same.
Karloff once again brings tremendous pathos to his character. You empathize more with the Monster than anyone else in the film. Colin Clive is really the unsung hero of the Frankenstein films. He brings such a demented genius to the role with his facial expressions, mannerisms, and voice.
Finally, much has been made about Bride of Frankenstein being a gay parable. There is almost certainly a gay subtext flowing beneath the story, but I think Roger Ebert was correct when he observed that the film is much more fun when you just take it for what it is.
Bride of Frankenstein is a masterpiece, pure and simple. The final scenes of the movie are both poignant and surprisingly heartbreaking. Frankenstein entertained me, Bride of Frankenstein affected me.
GRADE: A
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| "EXCELLENT IN EVERY WAY...!" | 2009-04-12 |
| - Reviewed By User: A352WZ0WV61R3K |
| MAN OH MAN! THAT BORIS KNOW HE RESLLY OUTDONE HIMSELF IN THIS FILM..!! IN FACT ALL OF THE ACTORS WERE SUPERB ESPECIALLY THE MONSTER FOR THE BRIDE. I LOVE THE DIMPLE IN HER CHIN!(Elsa Lanchester) I LOVED THE BLIND MAN AND FRANKIE,I FELT SORRY FOR BOTH OF THEM,AS THESE SCENES SHOWED THE EMOTIONS OF THE MONSTER. AS FOR THE RATER WHO GOT LESS WHAT THEY SO-CALL EXPECTED, THE MOVIE IS WHAT YOU WERE SUPPOSE TO BE RATING,NOT THE FORMAT. THESE BLACK AND WHITES COULD ONLY BE REMASTERED SO MUCH,USE YOUR INTELLENCE FOOR THAT. BUT THE MOVIE WAS GREAT..AS WE KNOW BECAUSE IIT IS THE RESON YOU BOUGHT IT IN THE FIRST PLACE..THIS MOVIE IS A WINNER! |
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| "BRIDE IS STILL SCARY" | 2008-10-29 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1HINMIADQPOR |
I JUST WATCHED "THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN" FOR THE FIRST TIME (73 YEARS AFTER ITS MAKING). WHILE MOVIE MAKING HAS OBVIOUSLY TRAVELED LIGHT YEARS FROM THE TECHNIQUES USED IS THIS FILM, IT IS STILL A TRUE CLASSIC IN HORROR FILMDOM.
ASIDE FROM JUST A FEW OUT OF FOCUS SHOTS LEFT IN THE FILM, SUCH AS THE TOUCHING OF HANDS IN THE "REBUFFED" SCENE, THIS IS STILL A CREEPY AND RATHER SCARY FILM THAT IS TRULY TIMELESS.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO SEE A LITTLE MORE OF THE BRIDE..BUT MAYBE THE BEST WAS TRULY SAVED FOR THE END THIS TIME.
I COULDN'T HELP BUT FEEL SORRY FOR THE BIG FELLA AS HE TRIED AND TRIED TO BEFRIEND MANY HE CAME INTO CONTACT WITH...BUT WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF A 7 FOOT SQUARE HEADED MAN-CREATURE HAPPENED UPON YOU?
THIS IS A GREAT FILM. I WOULD PAY TO SEE THIS MOVIE ON THE BIG SCREEN.
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| "First class movie making" | 2008-08-20 |
| - Reviewed By bucksmusic2 |
Bride of Frankenstein is one, if not THE best, Universal horror movie made in their golden era of the 1930's. A direct sequel to Frankenstein, but in nearly every way a better movie. This is a much more artistic work. Sure there is still some hammy acting and the not so special effects are, by comparison to today laughable.
However, as a movie, this has many things that most modern horror films lack. The cinematography is marvellous. There are dozens of moments in the film where I wished I could have stopped the DVD and taken a copy of the image on the screen. No more so than near the end when the bride appears. The lighting in this scene combined with the photography produces a marvellous almost surreal effect. It also has a few moments of great pathos, most noteably when the monster meets the blind hermit. Here we do get some fine acting by Karloff (which is how he is credited in the film) and O.P.Heggie who plays the hermit.
So whilst this doesn't have the blood and guts of a modern horror film, you are getting something completely different, that for its time was a remarkable piece of filmmaking. Even today 73 years after it was made it is ranked in the top 250 films of all time on the IMDB database. |
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