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    The Bride of Frankenstein

    Reviewed by
    adamwatchesmovies@

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    "The Bride of Frankenstein" is a sequel that's just as good as the original, if not better. While it’s clear sequel wasn't planned, as a film it really works. The story introduces a villain that's wonderfully diabolical and adds dimension to all of the returning characters. The special effects are spectacular, the monster gets a lot more personality and becomes more than just a mindless brute, there’s plenty of good humour throughout and there are some touching, intellectual points raised as well. It’s one of my all-time favourite movies.

    At the end of the 1931 “Frankenstein”, a mob of torch-wielding peasants chased Frankenstein's monster (Boris Karloff) into a windmill. While the wooden structure was set ablaze, the monster and its creator Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive) confronted each other. While the creature showed sympathy and saved Frankenstein, the building collapsed and the monster was assumed dead. When the sequel begins, we learn that the monster fell into the flooded basement of the windmill and survived. Meanwhile, Frankenstein meets with Dr. Pretorious (Ernest Thesiger), a scientist who has also searching for a way to create artificial life. Through blackmail, Pretorious forces Frankenstein to work with him and when Pretorious allies himself with the re-emerging monster, they demand that Frankenstein creates a mate for his “son”.

    “Fantastic” is a pale words to describe the addition of Dr. Pretorious to the franchise. He is a wonderful villain. Diabolical and resorting to any means to get what he wants, he steals the show. He is completely at ease dwelling in crypts, manipulating people and there's even some implications that he deals in black magic. When Dr. Frankenstein was playing God in the first film and creating life, it felt like the man was simply too excited about his discovery to concern himself with safety and ethics. When Dr. Pretorious is discussing creating life, it's like he is defying God and wants to prove that he is on a higher level than other humans by creating man (or woman) in his own image. He sees everyone as beneath him and only has respect for Frankenstein because the man has knowledge that he wants. Despite his devilish ways, Pretorious is also very likeable. Throughout the film he's got two notable lines that really show off his sense of humour. Out of context I wouldn’t be able to do them justice, but it’s funny stuff.

    Director James Wale wisely decides to give the monster a lot more character in the movie. No longer is Frankenstein’s creation wandering around simply terrorizing residents without any understanding of what's going on. It's looking for a friend and has gained real intelligence. Anyone who really looked at the first film was torn about the creature’s fate when seeing it mistreated. Now you come to really recognize it as a misunderstood human being. Combined with the fact that its burns heal (souvenirs from the windmill accident) and the fact that it yearns for a mate (or a friend) it becomes clear that Karloff's character is very much alive and not just a re-animated corpse. You see that it has hopes and dreams, but also feels desperation and anger after being rejected by others.

    Doctor Frankenstein returns in “Bride” a changed man. After seeing the destruction that was caused by his experiment run amuck, he's reluctant to create life again but is too scared to go to the police or attempt to fight back. He just wants to get back to his life but feels some genuine guilt because he did not take responsibility for the creature he fashioned. It was tormented by everyone (including his assistant) and lashed out at the world. His part in the film is quite complex, particularly when layered on top of his manic display in the previous story. It’s another choice that makes you reconsider how you feel about the players involved in this game.

    One aspect that needs to be discussed are the religious aspects and symbols. In a scene where villagers pursue the monster (it wouldn’t be a good Universal Frankenstein movie if there wasn’t a torch-wielding mob) there are clear parallels to the crucifixion. This automatically makes you think of Jesus Christ, but the two figures are polar opposites. Christ was born as the son of God from a woman, was crucified and then came back to life as humanity's salvation. The monster was created from man without God's aid, is resurrected from the dead before being judged by the people and spreads terror wherever it goes. However, a scene where a blind lonely hermit (O. P. Heggie) admits that he takes the monster as a blessing since he has "prayed many times to God to bring him a friend" implies that it is divine intervention that brings these two misfits together. Because of his handicap, the old man is unable to judge people by their appearance and welcomes the monster in his home with open arms. He thanks God for taking pity on him and bringing him a companion, while the monster is grateful to find someone who will finally accept it. It's a touching scene, implying that even the lowliest, most hated creatures have a place in society and that there is someone out there that will accept them for who they are. As the scene fades, a crucifix behind the two characters is highlighted and "Ave Maria" is heard in the background.

    This sequence brings a whole new meaning to Dr. Pretorious' previous toast "To a new world, of gods and monsters!" While when you see it the first time around, it is clear that he is referring to himself and Frankenstein as the gods. They are able to create life at a whim and their creations are the monsters. However, after seeing the creature compared to Jesus Christ and after seeing it as a gift from Heaven, you reconsider. It appears that the monsters are Pretorious and Frankenstein. There are even some suggestions that Pretorious is a demonic character and not a man at all, with his mocking references to the Bible, ("Leave the charnel house and follow the ways of nature - or of God, if you like your Bible stories"), his obscure method of creating life and a scene where he is seen dining in a crypt. This aspect of the film alone will generate countless discussions. It's been a delight to analyze and re-watch “Bride of Frankenstein”.

    The best aspects of the first film are back. The mad scientist laboratory, Boris Karloff and Colin Clive as the monster and its creator, you even get the angry torch-wielding mob. But everything is pushed further. The laboratory is more elaborate, we get to see more of the monster creation process when it comes to the bride, the mob sequences are longer and both lead actors get to expand on their characters. There is no hunchback helper but instead we get second doctor, so it's a fair trade. The film also contains many humorous moments. While some of the jokes have been lost in the years since the film’s release there are no sequences that will leave you scratching your head wondering what everyone is talking about. Modern horror films were built on the Universal Monster movies, so audiences are unlikely to be frightened but the jokes still ring true today. Yes there are some sequences that are dated (the rubber bat in the cave might have been the best they could have done in 1935 but in 2013 it just looks silly) but the film still fires on all cylinders. You'll quickly forget the flubs because of the strength of the story and the multiple layers contained throughout.

    Not only is "Bride of Frankenstein" a landmark in filmmaking, it's genuinely impressive today. The sequences in the mad scientist laboratories don't get much better than they do here and the parts where Dr. Pretorious shows off his creations are spectacular. The film is still funny, touching and the implications about science running amuck are still relevant and disturbing. You'll be surprised how well ”Bride of Frankenstein” has aged and it has the added bonus of being a film that you can show to children, discussing with them the importance of not judging people on their appearance while you discuss the religious implications with your grown-up friends. Forget the fact that this is a black-and-white film that's nearly 70 years old, it stands the test of time and you'll be delighted to have seen it. It's a must-see if you're a fan of horror or just a fan of movies. (On DVD, June 9, 2013)

    10
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    adamwatchesmovies@  30.11.2015 age: 26-35 2,866 reviews

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