The Bride of Frankenstein

Name: The Bride of Frankenstein
Genre: Sci-Fi, Drama, Horror
Released: May 6, 1935
Duration: 75 min
Rating: 95
Cast: Boris Karloff, Colin Clive, Douglas Walton, E.E. Clive, Elsa Lanchester

1935

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 16 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 38 Ratings

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7.7

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7.7	Your Score
7.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 38 Ratings

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The Bride Of Frankenstein

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Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: May 6, 1935 | TV-PG

Starring: Boris Karloff, Colin Clive, Douglas Walton, E.E. Clive, Elsa Lanchester, Ernest Thesiger, Gavin Gordon, Lucien Prival, Una O'Connor, Valerie Hobson

Summary: Mary Shelley reveals the main characters of her novel survived: Dr. Frankenstein, goaded by an even madder scientist, builds his monster a mate.

Director: James Whale

Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Drama, Horror

Rating: TV-PG

Runtime: 75 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Roger Ebert

It's satirical, exciting, funny, and an influential masterpiece of art direction. Read full review

100

Empire Simon Braund

Whale's erudite genius brings it all together. He sculpts every nuance of self-parody, social satire, horror, humour, wit and whimsy into a dazzling whole, keeping every one of his fantastical plates spinning until the tragic, inevitable finale. Read full review

100

Crosby Day

Probably the greatest, wittiest and most eccentric of all classic horror films. [13 Feb 2000, p.F1]

100

Staff (Not Credited)

Whale's most perfectly realised movie, a delight from start to finish. Read full review

Pauline Kael

A macabre comedy classic.

The Guardian Phelim O'Neill

Bride is a wild ride, even today. It flits between the classical and the gutter, the camp and the serious in a manner that's hard to pin down. Read full review

Don Druker

Whale added an element of playful sexuality to this version, casting the proceedings in a bizarre visual framework that makes this film a good deal more surreal than the original. Read full review

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User Reviews

kyle20ellis

Apr 25, 2022

I love the first Frankenstein, it was shocking and enthralling despite the complaints of it being dated and slow. Maybe so but I still love it. The Bride of Frankenstein is a wonderful sequel to an already wonderful film, and surpasses it technically I feel. Even if the acting is a littleI love the first Frankenstein, it was shocking and enthralling despite the complaints of it being dated and slow. Maybe so but I still love it. The Bride of Frankenstein is a wonderful sequel to an already wonderful film, and surpasses it technically I feel. Even if the acting is a little forced in the beginning scene, with the exception of Elsa Lanchester, that is such a minor flaw compared to how good and enjoyable this film was. If you ask me Bride of Frankenstein is one of the greatest achievements in the history of horrordom.

First of all, it is extravagantly produced. The sets are really imaginative, the cinematography is beautiful and the costumes are extravagant. Along the way I noticed two improvements compared to the first film. One is that Bride of Frankenstein is faster in pace, and two the music score is more haunting and melancholic here, Franz Waxman was the perfect choice for composer. Bride of Frankenstein also has some really effective scenes, the ending was very well done as was the unveiling of the bride to the sound of wedding bells and the miniature people in the bell jars, but I found the scene between the monster and the blind hermit especially touching. James Whale's direction is innovative just like in the first film, and the script is also very good and adds to the atmosphere. The acting is excellent, Colin Clive is very good once again as the eccentric Henry Frankenstein, and Ernest Thesiger gives a genius turn as Doctor Pretorious. Valerie Hobson is alluring and sympathetic as Elizabeth, occasionally overdoing it with the hysteria but she was fine overall, while Elsa Lanchester is good as Mary Shelley but electrifyingly beautiful as the bride. Once again though, Boris Karloff gives the finest performance, his towering presence and frightening look ensures for some scares, but he is very poignant as well, as his monster only wants to fit in and is rejected by everybody.

Overall, a wonderful sequel, and not to be missed! 10/10 Bethany Cox… Expand

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codyz

Jul 19, 2023

I was surprised how comedic, and sometimes very silly and inane the movie was ( ie tiny people in bottles, this scene should've been cut )

But the impressive large scale atmospheric sets, and now classic sequences, far make up for the weak spots. Especially the finale, that sceneI was surprised how comedic, and sometimes very silly and inane the movie was ( ie tiny people in bottles, this scene should've been cut )

But the impressive large scale atmospheric sets, and now classic sequences, far make up for the weak spots.

Especially the finale, that scene alone, qualifies as movie legend wow.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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