The Bride of Frankenstein Reviews

A wonderful, cinematic feat as beautiful in its visual presentation as it is in its touching tale of the human condition as represented by Dr. Frankenstein's repulsive monster, who has become more 'human' than in the first installment.

The Bride of Frankenstein may be the best of the classic horror movies of the era. Directed by James Whale and featuring Boris Karloff as the Monster, it is a continuation of the classic Frankenstein story, with the creation of a bride for the Monster. Although only on screen for five minutes at the end, Elsa Lanchester is wonderful in the role. It has scenes that are touching, frightful, and humorous. A highly entertaining classic.

The Bride of Frankenstein is just another proof that they really don't make movies like they used to. In the 1930s there was no high tech anything, so directors had to rely on story telling and pure movie craftsmanship. Lighting techniques that have been studied by film makers for years, fine sound editing, sets that have been copied by countless modern day set directors, exceptional makeup and of course over the top acting. Who else could make you feel sorry for a monster longing for companionship but Boris Karloff? To quote Jerry Seinfeld: "There's something about a monster in a blazer."

Following the magnificent and mesmerizing directing piece of Frankenstein. Its follow up stretches new territory from Whale's sense of humor displayed in different styles. The concept of allowing the monster to speak a little is fairly new and concerning and yet doesn't plague the whole film. To set the record straight this is not the story of the Monster and his Bride, its the story of how the Bride was invented and how the Monster grew after the events that faded from the first film. Elsa Lanchester however few minutes of screen time she had at the end is outstanding and worth looking back on especially for coming of age actresses wanting to start off in the buisness

Bride of Frankenstein sequel to Frankenstein directed by James Whale. Starring Boris Karloff as The Monster, and Elsa Lanchester in the dual role. This is classic note of following in the footsteps of the original, from where it ends and begins. A great classic-non-stop romantic-horror film. Last half hour of the film is worth everything the movie has generated its popularity from.

NOTE: Re-watched since 2010

A lean, briskly paced Golden-age horror film featuring beautiful set design and solid performances.

With spectacular visuals, a great villain, and the monster being able to talk, Bride of Frankenstein is undeniably superior to the original.

This is a perfect film as well. People say that the Godfather Part II is the best sequal of all time, and I'm not trying to suggest otherwise (i don't feel like going there here and now), but to those who are convinced of this should give this film a chance. I don't feel that Bride is superior to Frankenstein, but i do suspect that this could be the best sequel of all time. I only suspect this though. i haven't quite made up my mind yet. More to come.

Creo que pierde mucho de el ambiente tétrico y serio del filme. pero Whale hizo un filme tan cercano a la perfección como el primero. Con un nuevo villano que hace palidecer al Doctor Frankenstein y aún un excelente desarrollo en el Monstruo, está vez no solo sentimos empatía con el: Reimos y lloramos con el. La imagen de la novia es icónica pero dudo que la gente haya siquiera visto la primera, así que de esta solo pasa por el colectivo pop de la sociedad. Pero vale verla, comentarla, analizarla y sobre todo disfrutar de un filme hecho con tanta dedicación y pasión que influye en un sinnúmero de cineastas.

Even though 1931's "Frankenstein" was neatly wrapped up at the end, killing off the doctor and his monster, Universal intended to make a sequel to the monsterously successful film (Universal's policy was to use the same crew for the next film, which is why production was delayed four years, waiting for the director to become available again). Director James Whale wasn't crazy about making a sequel, and with "Bride of Frankenstein", he chose to have the monster speak (something Karloff was set against). The film begins with Mary Shelley and Lord Byron discussing the "complete" story of Frankenstein, the one never heard before. Of course the Doctor and the monster survived the fire at the wind mill, and as the doctor rested and recouped, the monster continued to reek havok on the villagers, exacting revenge upon them. That is, until he meets an old blind hermit who takes him in, and teaches him to speak. Doctor Frankenstein, meanwhile, is visited by a Doctor Pretorius, a scientist who, like himself, is in the business of creating life. But whereas Frankenstein does it by piecing together old bodies, Pretorius creates life from scratch (the flaw being that they're little miniature people). Pretorius wants to combine his work with Frankenstein's so that they might create a race of manmade people, and proposes that they work together to create a mate for the creature.

The film is a contrivance to be sure, but the uncomfortable creepiness of the monster is still there. In Mary Shelley's book, Frankenstein's monster was literate, capable of thought and feeling but evil because it had been created not by God, but by man and therefore was without a soul. In the film version of Frankenstein, the Creature is a failure of science, an aberration of nature, a sub-human. It's horrific by nature of it's existence. We may feel pity for it, but we cannot suffer it to live. "We belong dead!" screams the monster in it's horror, it's horror of self-awareness. Every fiber of it's being screams out for death, and yet it exists in spite of mother nature and God himself. Even the brief respite bought from friendship and food and wine can't satisfy. For the creature, life is only pain. And yet, it clings to it in spite of itself. It's one of the great mysteries of the monster, of "Frankenstein", and life in general. For some, "life is pain", for the rest, we can only shield ourselves from it's inevitable conclusion.

One of the few sequels to really surpass the first film on all levels. James Whale's use of tracking shots and self parody are really ahead of its time which makes this film feel timeless in a sense.

So Frankenstein gets a sequel because the original was a hit. You can tell they had a bigger budget for this one with new sets and effects. Most people might not like that the monster talks in this one but I think it actually helps the movie move along better than the first. The story is peppered with a bit more humor and a bit more drama and it really helps. I actually like this one a bit better than the original.

A sequel to the film "Frankenstein" this film from director James Whale does a much more adequate job of showing the plight of the monster. While the original dealt more with the animation and creation of the monster, and the crazed state of his creator, Dr. Frankenstein, this film deals more with what's happened in the aftermath. The original film showed the monster as a lifeless monstrosity, incapable of connecting with another person in a way that didn't ignite fear, and that was much more about the ugliness and fear brought about from the monster's rampage. This film humanized the monster, gave him the ability to speak, to yearn for another soul that understood him, and/or possibly love him. Painting the now injured and married Dr. Frankenstein as a man coming out of the fog of madness and yet not guilty for his crimes against those in the village, he isn't even prosecuted for his crimes. Instead he heals himself while locked away in his castle with his new wife Elizabeth and all his servants. Blackmailed by a Dr. Pretorius, who has Dr. Frankenstein's wife captive thanks to the muscle of the monster, Frankenstein has to animate a corpse for the monster to have a mate. The monster crawls around the countryside, finds a friend in a blind man, and is hunted by angry villagers. You feel bad for the monster in contrast to the original, mostly because he doesn't kill a little girl on accident. He still kills people, has the emotional and mental maturity of a child, but there's something so hopeless to his anguish. You wonder how he could possibly feel anything whilst being undead and all. Still, the compassion, misanthropic vantage point, and ambitious effects and cinematography make this a classic film on par with the original.

Up to par with the first Boris Karloff version but the goofy little mini scene derailed a few moments for me. Still, everything that was cool about the first is similar in this.

My third favorite film of all time. Everything about this movie is fantastic.

This is the perfect example of a great film. The symbolism, Art Direction, acting, directing, and score is nothing short of pure perfection. This sequel is better than the original film. We really get to know the Monster better than ever.

A great follow up to the original Frankenstein film which might be better described as the second half of a full feature since each one is an hour and change long. The opening sequence with Mary Shelly describing the success of the original novel to two fellow members of higher society and indicating there was more to tell was a bit of a clever moment, almost slightly modern since more than one films do a similar technique today. Watching the evolution of the monster as he continues his escape through the forests while trying to find a friend or soulmate of sorts is extremely interesting as Dr Frankenstiens former mentor tries to compel him into hell to continue his research into resurrection which results in the making of the Bride. Still had a chuckle at the sequence with the friar and the monster since it is parodied so brilliantly in Young Frankenstein. A great addition to the Universal Monster series.

95%

"Made me from dead. I love dead. Hate living."-Frankenstein's Monster (Boris Karloff)

By far the best sequel to a film I've ever seen. Frankenstein was just okay to me. I get that it's a classic but it just didn't do anything for me. Bride of Frankenstein was astonishing. So ahead of its time visually and the special effects were probably very innovative as well. The scene where the monster meets the blind man in the woods will probably be one of my favorite cinematic scenes for the rest of my life. I was nearly in tears.

Of all the great Universal monster movies, "Bride of the Frankenstein" is absolutely the best. "Bride" is filled with so much imagination that it's become James Whale's masterpiece. Its social and religious satire is very effective, with scenes like the monster tipping over the statue of a bishop and it being tide up on a stake by the locals, resembling the passion of the Christ. For these scenes to be passed by the "Christian League of Decency" in 1934 is amazing. The action, especially in Dr. Frankenstein's laboratory is incredible. It stands up even to today's production standards. if there is any weakness in the movie, it's probable the over posturing of Dr. Septimus Pretorius. Don't get me wrong, I loved the character, by sometimes his actions are quite absurd (the experiments in the glass jars comes to mind). This is a classic movie that I would suggest to anyone.

Having wanted to move on from Frankenstein's monster director James Whale initially refused to be involved in the sequel but later agreed taking on the project as a comedy. Audiences, nonetheless, often hold THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN in higher regard than its neatly sutured predecessor.