Frankenstein

One story - three different versions!

It is of common knowledge the horrifying story of "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley.


Mary Shelley wrote "Frankenstein" - also known as "Modern Prometheus" - in 1818 being only 18 years old. I have recently read her novel, which ended up being one of the best books I have ever read.

With curiosity, I watched the two main movies released afterwards - "Frankenstein" (James Whale 1931) and "Frankenstein" (Kenneth Branagh 1994). Of course they can barely transmit everything the book can, especially because they both have differences. I will now try not to disclose the end of any of the three.

The former has a fantastic introduction by Edward Van Sloan, who also plays Dr. Waldman:

How are you? We are about to unfold the story of Frankenstein, a man of science who sought to create a man after his own image without reckoning upon God. It is one of the strangest tales ever told. It deals with the two great mysteries of creation – life and death. I think it will thrill you. It may shock you. It might even – horrify you. So if any of you feel that you do not care to subject your nerves to such a strain, now's your chance to – uh, well, we warned you.

The scenes and characters are based upon the 1920s play by Peggy Webling and the scenarios resemble "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" (Robert Wiene 1920). Here, the creature does not speak and its creator is called Henry Frankenstein, instead of Victor as in the book. Henry Clerval is Victor's best friend, and in 1931's "Frankenstein" it is the other way around. There are far more differences whose explanations are beyond my limits of "spoiler alert".

On the other hand, we have 1994's "Frankenstein" where the creature is played by Robert De Niro, Elizabeth by Helena Bonham Carter and Frankenstein by Kenneth Barnagh himself. Here the view is far more romantic than the book or the previous movie, and it seems it is running...trying to pack in just one movie as much as they could.

None of the movies succeeded in a truthful representation of the beast - both had their main focus on something other than the "fiend".

Therefore, it is my role, as a "cinema lover" and co-author of this blog, to advise you to start by the book, and then...if by any chance you really want to watch the movies, go for it.


Enjoy!