BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN: The Definitive History of the Horror Classic

In celebration of the film's 90th Anniversary, this book on Amazon offers the complete and authenticated history of Universal Picture’s classic horror film “Bride of Frankenstein”, released in 1935. It is the only in-depth book in publication solely dedicated to this iconic film; from conception, to production, and beyond. 430 pages, 425 photos and graphics.A provocative subplot in Mary Shelley’s 1818 Gothic novel “Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus” involves the Creature’s demand for a mate from his own creator. Despite its bewitching undertones, its narrative was not part of Universal’s original “Frankenstein (1931)”. So when the studio explored the opportunity for a sequel, they returned to Shelley’s novel for inspiration, resulting in the greatest horror film of the Golden Age of Hollywood.With electrifying performances by Boris Karloff, Colin Clive, Ernest Thesiger, and Elsa Lanchester, combined with the brilliance of director James Whale, one can’t help but wonder how “Bride” could not have failed. But it almost did. Delays in script development, performer’s physical and personal struggles, and Universal’s financial difficulties nearly kept it from production. Even after shooting ended, Whale faced an uphill battle with the censors to retain the film’s provocative themes. Fortunately, the final print resulted in critical acclaim.This in-depth, intensely researched book begins with the background of English author Mary Shelley and her inspirations for writing her 19th century Gothic novel. It then explores the stage and silver screen adaptations of her novel over the next 113 years, including a comprehensive account of “Frankenstein (1931)”. The challenges and descriptive narrative surrounding Bride of Frankenstein’s script and pre-production is covered, including casting, direction, and technical planning. The book then encompasses Bride’s complete shooting schedule, scene-by-scene analysis, and pre-release editing and marketing. This is followed by an intimate description of the film’s world premiere in Chicago, and an illustrative storyline of the entire script. The book then dives into Bride’s critical reception, censorship, interpretations, and aftermath. Pre- and post-release profiles of the performers and crew are also provided, as well as subsequent and modern-day sequels, remakes, and marketing.For many, “Bride of Frankenstein” is a far better film than its predecessor. Certainly, it is a superiorly produced film, with much credit going to director James Whale who vowed it would be a “memorable hoot”. Bride is a beautifully woven tapestry of in-your-face premises and underlining themes. It manages to perfectly combine horror, drama, romance, and comedy into a single ball of wonderment. In the vast history of horror films, no female character is as recognized, revered, or mimicked more than Elsa Lanchester’s female creation. Much like the Monster, her creature is rooted in a unique performance, Whale’s unrestrained direction, and the innovative makeup of Jack Pierce, complete with an electrified hairdo. Though the Monster’s mate is only revealed for three minutes at the end of the film, it provided enough of a visual and audio impact to thrive into the 21st century.In the nearly 90 years since its release in the spring of 1935, “Bride of Frankenstein” is still regarded as the absolute apex of Universal's monster movies. And despite Whale's preference not to be regarded as a director of horror, “Bride” is his undeniable masterpiece. Most certainly, its plot, performances, technical imagery, and dialog places it not only as the greatest horror film of all time, but one of the greatest of any genre. To quote the film’s flamboyant Dr. Pretorius: “To a new world of Gods and Monsters!” Read more