Frankenstein Resources

The Turner Classic Movies page on James Whale includes a lengthy biography and a filmography with links to whales and whales of info on his film (see what we did there?).

Okay, there aren't quite one billion Frankenstein films, but there are a lot of them, and this site talks about them all (plus Frankenstein comics, Frankenstein plays, and other monstrosities).

Lots of mad scientists have built lots of imitations, but the most monstrous monster remains Mary Shelley's original novel—which is analyzed, vivisected, and reassembled in our handy study guide.

The 1935 sequel was also directed by James Whale, and once against starred Karloff as the monster, with Elsa Lanchester as his female monster counterpart. The film is even more famous and critically acclaimed than the original.

Son of Frankenstein is no Bride of Frankenstein; James Whale doesn't direct, and no one thinks that highly of this 1939 film. Still, it's notable as Boris Karloff's last stint as the monster (though there would be other Universal sequels. Frankenstein's critter is hard to kill).

This is a 1974 parody of the first three Universal Frankenstein films, directed by Mel Brooks. It's extremely silly.

Film critic Eric D. Snider explains why the Frankenstein monster still matters.

Encyclopedia Britannica's biography of James Whale tells about his roots and all his movies with mad scientists.

The original New York Times review of Frankenstein. The reviewer sounds like he got a little over-excited.

This is the original trailer for the 1931 film. They use the bit where Frankenstein screams, "It's alive!" because of course they do.

This is a famous clip from James Whale's sequel to Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein. It looks familiar, huh?

The 1998 film Gods and Monsters focuses on director James Whale's later years, especially his relationship with his (much younger) gardener (the gardener never existed, though Whale did have a relationship with a younger man late in his life). This trailer gives you a taste of the plot.

A National Public Radio segment on how all those horrible monsters like Dracula and the Wolf Man aren't so bad after all. The difference between Frankenstein's monster in the original book and in the movie is discussed.

A mad scientist creates a monster baseball pitcher. At least that's what it looks like in this oddly awkward and un-scary 1931 poster for the original film.

In one of the many famous stills from the film, Frankenstein's evil henchman torments Frankenstein's evil monster. Poor evil monster.

Do you wonder what Karloff looked like without his makeup? Well, wonder no more; here he is (and he's very dapper, too).