Bride of Frankenstein

Lore & Background

Preparation to film a sequel to Frankenstein began shortly after its 1931 premiere, but script problems delayed the project. James Whale initially refused to direct, believing he had already 'squeezed the idea dry'. After the success of Whale's The Invisible Man, producer Carl Laemmle, Jr. realized Whale was the only possible director. Principal photography commenced in January 1935, with creative personnel from the original returning. The film was released to critical and popular acclaim, though it encountered difficulties with some state and national censorship boards.

Reader's Guide

Since its release, Bride of Frankenstein's reputation has grown, and it is now frequently considered one of the greatest sequels ever made. Many critics consider it an improvement on the original and have hailed it as Whale's masterpiece. In 1998, it was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry, having been deemed 'culturally, historically or aesthetically significant'. The film's plot follows the Monster's survival of the windmill fire, his encounters with a blind hermit who teaches him words, and his eventual demand for a mate, leading to the creation of the Bride who rejects him. The film ends with the Monster triggering the destruction of the laboratory and tower.

Did You Know?

• Elsa Lanchester played both Mary Shelley in the prologue and the Bride, a decision made by director James Whale to represent how horror springs from the dark side of the imagination.
• The film's script went through multiple writers, including Robert Florey, Tom Reed, L. G. Blochman, Philip MacDonald, John L. Balderston, William James Hurlbut, and Edmund Pearson.
• Valerie Hobson replaced Mae Clarke as Elizabeth due to Clarke's ill health.
• Bela Lugosi and Claude Rains were considered for the role of Doctor Pretorius, though some sources say the role was created specifically for Ernest Thesiger.