Questions
When did Bride of Frankenstein come out and who directed it?
It is a 1935 horror film directed by James Whale. It premiered April 19 in San Francisco and went into general U.S. release the next day.
Is this a sequel to the original Frankenstein?
Yes, it is the first sequel to Universal’s 1931 Frankenstein. Many modern critics consider it superior to the original and one of Whale’s finest films.
Who played the Monster?
Boris Karloff returned as the Monster, with Colin Clive back as Baron Henry Frankenstein and Ernest Thesiger as the villainous Dr. Pretorius.
Who played the Bride?
Elsa Lanchester, and she pulled double duty. She also played author Mary Shelley in the film’s prologue.
What is the prologue about?
It opens with Percy Bysshe Shelley and Lord Byron praising Mary Shelley for her Frankenstein story during a storm, and she reveals she has more of the tale to tell.
What inspired the Bride’s iconic hair?
Makeup artist Jack Pierce styled her famous lightning-streaked look after the Egyptian queen Nefertiti, using a Marcel wave over a wire frame.
How did Elsa Lanchester create the Bride’s hissing sound?
She reportedly based the Bride’s distinctive hiss on swan vocalizations, and developed a sore throat while filming those scenes.
Does the Monster talk in this movie?
Yes, and Karloff objected, saying "The moment he spoke you might as well play it straight." Whale and a studio psychiatrist reportedly picked 44 simple words for the Monster’s vocabulary.
What are the most famous lines?
The Monster’s heartbreaking "She hate me! Like others" after the Bride rejects him, and his final "You stay. We belong dead."
Did anything go wrong during filming?
Reportedly Karloff broke his hip wading in water on the first day and a stunt double stepped in, and Colin Clive also broke his leg during production.
How much did the movie cost and how long is it?
The final budget was $397,023, running more than $100,000 over budget, and the film runs 75 minutes.
Who wrote the music?
Franz Waxman composed the score, with separate themes for the Monster, the Bride, and Pretorius, ending on a powerful dissonant chord.
Did it win any Academy Awards?
It received one Oscar nomination, for Sound Recording (Gilbert Kurland).
How is the film regarded today?
It was selected for the National Film Registry in 1998 as culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant, and it holds near-universal critical praise.
