The Michigan Daily - Weekend etc. - Friday, November 4, 1994 - 5 Frankenstein redux A look back at the monster By FRED RICE The hulking figure raises his long c sand extends his hands stitched on the wrists. His head is shaped like a box with a tremendously thick ridge along his forehead. Two fat corks plug his neck and keep his head from falling off. He moans and screams. He bru- tally strangles his victims. This was the horrific vision of Dr. Frankenstein's monster, played by Boris Karloff, in the 1931 "Franken- stein." The illiterate masses no doubt .terpreted the title to be the name of e monster rather than the mad doctor who created him. But the name and the gruesome looking Karloff have stuck together for the past six decades. Today you can find Karloff's image on countless cheap plastic Halloween costumes. He ap- pears on the boxes of Frankenberry Cereal. His image was the basis for the d character in the classic TV show, heMounsters." The original film also spawned a host of sequels, inspiring everything from "The Son of Frankenstein" to "The Bride of Frankenstein." But sadly enough, the original movie was rather lousy, so it has been rather surprising that the monster's image has become so imbedded in pop culture. Even more interesting is the fact tat very few people seem to remember that "Frankenstein" was originally a book written by Mary Shelley in 1816. The Karloff film takes place in the 1930s and is confined to small sets that are out of place in the expansive scale of a gothic novel. The Karloff film opens with Dr. Frankenstein stealing bodyparts, madly preparing to create his monster so that he canexclaimtothe world, "It's alive! It's alive!" But the opening of the book ignores these more horrific events and instead sends acharacteron anexpedi- tion to pursue personal enlightenment in the cold North Atlantic. There he finds Dr. Frankenstein in a near dead state resting upon a glacier. The Karloff film ignores many im- portant themes in favor of delivering a cheap thrill. Hollywood sets out with the clear intention of making the mon- ster an inherently evil villain, a large hulking killer into which Frankenstein has inserted the brain of a criminal. In the book, people mistreat the monsterendlessly. Helearnshis wicked behavior from the wicked society around him. Dr. Frankenstein is ulti- mately the villain of the novel. He abandons his creation at its birth, ig- noring his responsibility to care for it. The creature spends his life hound- ing Frankenstein. He expresses his an- ger at his abandonment by lashing out at society, and in particular, atthepeople close to Dr. Frankenstein. The film concludes with a town delivering justiceto the evil creature by burning down the castle that the crea- ture has escaped to. In the book, the creature catches up with his creator and admits that despite his abandonment, he still loves Dr. Frankenstein. Mel Brooks musthave realized what Here we see Kenneth Branagh who plays the role of Frankenstein as well as directs the new film "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein." an awful job the Karloff film did in adapting the novel. Brooks' "Young Frankenstein" (1970) brilliantly paro- dies the original movie. At the end of the film, the creature exchanges "brain fluid" with his creator and is finally able to speak. He tells the townspeople who have come to kill him that all he ever wanted was to be loved, and successfully makes friendships with all of them. An important question now is whether or not the new "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein," from direc- tor Kenneth Branagh, will be faithful to the novel in the way that no film has yet. Based on the trailers, the answer is probably yes. The new Frankenstein film ap- pears to have captured the gothic mood of the novel. Judging by the costumes, it will also be the first major Franken- stein film to be set in the 18th century, which is when the novel's events ac- tually took place. The best sign yet: director Branagh does not have his name attached to the title while au- thor Shelley does. Hopefully, "Mary Shelley's Fran- kenstein" will set the record straight. At the very least, the make-up job on Robert DeNiro, who plays the new monster, should usurp that of Karloff. Frankenstein:A selected filmography s By FRED RICE Frankenstein ('31) Even though it's terrible, Boris Karloff's performance defined the monster for subsequent horror films. Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man ('43) An exciting pairing of terrors. This the only time that Bela Lugosi, better known for portraying Dracula, plays the monster. Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein ('51) Greathorror-comedy. Draculaplans o put Abbott's brain in the monster. The Wolf Man tires to save him. The Curse of Frankenstein ('57) The retelling of the Shelley story with Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. Followed by six sequels. Frankenstein .... ML w Conquers the World ('66) A Japanese version of Frankenstein. Monsters are only terrifying in Japan if they're over 50 feet tall, so the crea- ture here serves as a substitute for Godzilla. Young Frankenstein (70) Mel Brooks' hilarious retelling fea- tures Gene Wilder as the good doctor and Peter Boyle as the hulking, drool- ing monster. Andy Warhol's Frankenstein ('74) The absolute goriest Frankenstein ever made. It was originally rated X. Frankenhooker ('90) An all time low in Frankenstein history. Frankenstein Unbound ('90) B-movie king RogerCorman takes a crack at the Frankenstein story with a notable cast including John Hurt, Bridget Fonda and the late Raul Julia. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein ('94) Orchestrated by Kenneth Branagh (who doubles as the doctor), and fea- turing the great Robert Deniro as the monster, this is sure to be the best rendering yet. Or is it? I .. 1 ,, y r ,.:, (' ' 'f '' -lappy N-oun 3-8 V-50 Pitchers adrirks DJ. John King At night 19 Whel (former N-arnibakj $2.25 Bottle Beer Gokdschlager $425 Pitchers B~ef ait Rash wl The Navarores Misb~s 2eriefEI ALL AGS show wl/The Maitres Schemne Chore no Alcohol Served m2oo Pitchers STEP fitnessstudio SLIDE + botique SCULPT CALL TODAY FOR I MOREt A COMPLIMENTARY &1 MORE! ONE-WEEK PASS " ":: 14% mmwFm LUM a Is wo & I /, Ice Night Qpecials Ice Teas X2.25 Ice Beer music From New Orleans w/ Dash Pip Rock "Nigh Energy cowpunk" From nouder CO AccomU!c Junction wl The Bartonian and Prother Rabbit *Bagels *Pasta Salads *Muff ins *Soups *Frozen Yogurt *Vegetable Salads (Gish-Glace) *Fruit Salads eDeli Sandwiches p 715 N. 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