The Bride of Frankenstein

The Bride of Frankenstein is not a realistic title for a movie surrounded by alternative meanings, sexual undertones and a complex storyline. The movie begins with a summary from the first film, Frankenstein.  Unknowingly, the monster survives in the first film. The second film presented the monster as a misunderstood individual.  Dr. P presents an idea to Dr. Frankenstein. Initially, Dr. Frankenstein did not seem interested but in a peculiar fashion decides to place another experiment over his priority as a husband. Dr. Pretorious seems to act as a stalker. Eventually, he persuades the doctor into assisting him with his experiment to recreate life.  

However, the roles reversed. While the doctors appeared psychotic, the monster was portrayed as a misunderstood human with feelings. His relationship with the blind man mirrors the perception beauty is vain, a man should be judged by the content of the heart. He responded to kindness, care and concern. He felt the blind man was genuine. However, when the blind man was taken away, he returned to his defensive mechanisms and became enraged.

One of the few things that hold the film back is a lack of proper transition. The film seems to jump from one scene to another. Whatever happens in the previous scenes seems to be forgotten about, leading to the film to almost be a group of 5 minute segments stitched together. This lack of fluid transition pulls you out of the film.

The special effects were stupendous for their time. In a time when rockets were science fiction, it is quite impressive to give the effects of small people in jars. Makeup was also well done, from the distant scenes of the monster; he really did look like an amalgam of several bodies.

Although there are definitely hidden meanings beneath this film, reviewers and analysts attempt to find a meaning that is not necessarily there. These films were cranked out like comic books and there was little to no time for a director to delve to deeply into a film. Different meanings in the film are not that large or apparent. To me this film was truly about a monster trying to gain acceptance, with possible signs of repressed homosexuality to be mostly coincidental based on the acting of the main characters.

The creation of the bride appeared to be an after-thought. The bride was created within the last 20 minutes of the film. More insulting, she rejects the monster. In the end, the monster decides to save Dr. Frankenstein and his wife but commit murder suicide. It’s baffling to name a title of a movie after a character that appears insignificant to the movie’s principle meaning. The meaning of the film was lost in the various plots.

This movie is has a mixture of hidden agendas, comedy, and individual meaning. I recommend this movie for its sheer entertainment value.