A couple of thoughts on Frankenstein from 1931; I’m curious if they resonate with anyone.
It’s an iconic movie. It had to have been bone chilling to people in 1931 who were seeing movies from the first time. It was probably among the first few talkie films and could have been the first monster movie. The first quick shots of the monster could have freaked people out! The story concept is timeless, it’s the granddaddy of all horror films.
That said, being a sofa critic 80 years later. I don’t see this standing up to time as well as other very early films and it surprises me. They’re weren’t many timelessly clever moments characteristic of pre-code/early movies (even silent movies). Much of the time the story wasn’t a step ahead of the viewer. I was very surprised they didn’t show an early love story between Dr. Frankenstein and his love before he began to obsess on creating life- which would have bonded the audience to the main character better. Overall the characters were dull, with the exception of Barron Frankenstein who stole every scene he was in. Why try to humanize the monster with the flowers in the little girl scene? They could have shown him walking up to her and then faded ominously away.
Anyway, great film, just more basic story telling than many other early movies were capable of.
Yes, the story of man-made man, the most horrifying evidenced by women's lib.
Frankenstein, written by a woman, was the prophetic allegory of "feminism" (like "liberal" standing for the opposite of its label) AKA beautiful, soft, lovely women recreating themselves to try to be like men.
As an aficionada of Twenties and Thirties films, I love to concentrate on all the details regardless of imperfect story lines, i.e., the clothes of the period, the room furnishings, the vocal accents, those wonderful, huge dining rooms in the manors, even the graininess of the film itself.....well, you get my drift.
I love Halloween night when all the oldie, goodies are scheduled.
Just me, my flickering screen and my Milk Duds, BOO !
LOL.....
Leni