- published: 06 Mar 2016
- views: 56
Frankenstein is a 1931 pre-Code horror monster film from Universal Pictures directed by James Whale and adapted from the play by Peggy Webling, which in turn is based on the novel of the same name by Mary Shelley. The film stars Colin Clive, Mae Clarke, John Boles and Boris Karloff and features Dwight Frye and Edward van Sloan. The Webling play was adapted by John L. Balderston and the screenplay written by Francis Edward Faragoh and Garrett Fort with uncredited contributions from Robert Florey and John Russell. The make-up artist was Jack Pierce.
Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive), an ardent young scientist, and his devoted assistant Fritz (Dwight Frye), a hunchback, piece together a human body, the parts of which have been secretly collected from various sources. Frankenstein's consuming desire is to create human life through various electrical devices which he has perfected.
Elizabeth Lavenza (Mae Clarke), his fiancée, is worried to distraction over his peculiar actions. She cannot understand why he secludes himself in an abandoned watch tower, which he has equipped as a laboratory, refusing to see anyone. She and her friend, Victor Moritz (John Boles), go to Dr. Waldman (Edward Van Sloan), his old medical professor, and ask Dr. Waldman's help in reclaiming the young scientist from his absorbing experiments. Waldman tells them that Frankenstein has been working on creating life. Elizabeth, intent on rescuing Frankenstein, arrives just as Henry is making his final tests. He tells them to watch, claiming to have discovered the ray that brought life into the world. They all watch Frankenstein and the hunchback as they raise the dead creature on an operating table, high into the room, toward an opening at the top of the laboratory. Then a terrific crash of thunder, the crackling of Frankenstein's electric machines, and the hand of Frankenstein's monster (Boris Karloff) begins to move. This causes Frankenstein to shout the film's most famous line, 'It's alive!'
Somethin' must have happened over Manhattan
Who can expound all the children this time?
Did they ever, could they ever
Expect such a Frankenstein, a Frankenstein?
I remember when you were jam, jam, jammin'
You worked at 'em and any of them
There was never nothin' you would ever understand
But you know who was there to be your master
Making his demands and plans
As though he's making his friends
And when those plans they don't mix your style
You get a feeling of your own ordeal
That's when he starts calling you, wow
And you just don't know what to do
So now you come around here
And you're trying to take over the town
Just because of back home, baby
Oh, he puts you down
Oh, baby, how he puts you down
I know they put you down
So now, you're off starting 'round here
Here you ask and your demands
In a place where they don't expect nothing
You're trying not to dirty your hands
We're asking you as a person
Is it a crime? Is it a crime?
For you to fall in love with Frankenstein
Is it wrong? Could it be wrong?
Wrong, baby, don't you want a friend
'Cause you're trying to be so selective
You never realize the whole time
Who's the one you're loving
Misunderstood like a Frankenstein
And down, down, down, just go, just down
Like Frankenstein, like a Frankenstein
So now you're tellin' me
What everytime you can get down home
Well, don't you know there's place, it is my home
So where am I gonna go?
You know when you don't expect nothin'
Know you're not alone, you know you're not alone
'Cause something must have happened over them higher
Who can expound all the children this time?
Did they ever, could they ever
Expect such a Frankenstein, Frankenstein, Frankenstein
And all this shoes are too big
And house jacket's too small
How don't you know Frankenstein, a Frankenstein
We're asking you as a person
Is it a crime? Is it a crime?
For you to fall in love in with Frankenstein
Is it wrong, could it be wrong
Wrong baby, don't you want a friend
Well, Frankenstein, oh, Frankenstein, Frankenstein
Frankenstein, Frankenstein, Frankenstein
Frankenstein, Frankenstein, Frankenstein, Frankenstein
You're gonna get it, you're gonna get it
You're gonna get it, from Frankenstein
That's what I'm gonna shout about
You're gonna get it, you're gonna get it
You're gonna get it, from Frankenstein
That's what I'm gonna shout about
I'm gonna scream about, I'm gonna shout about, scream about
Scream about, shout about a Frankenstein
Frankenstein, Frankenstein, Frankenstein, Frankenstein
Frankenstein, Frankenstein, Frankenstein, Frankenstein
Frankenstein, Frankenstein
I've gotta ask you one question