Vintage Lab Week: Frankenstein
Through the fantastic laboratory creations of Ken Strickfaden, electrical special effects creator, Universal Studios brought one of the most fantastic tales of a Mad Scientist to the Silver Screen. Dr. Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive) brings his creation to life in Frankenstein (1931) and the tale resumes in The Bride of Frankenstein (1935).
In the shadow of the monster, Dr. Frankenstein is unaware of the terror his machinations will release!
“This storm will be magnificent. All the electrical secrets of Heaven. And this time we’re ready, eh Fritz? Ready.” (with actor Dwight Frye)
Put a laboratory in a towering medieval structure and next thing I find is that my mouth is watering!
Moving on to the sequel–a magnificent film–we find that Dr. Frankenstein has given up meddling with Science, until Dr. Septimus Pretorius (Ernest Thesiger) coerces him to produce a mate for the monster.
Henry, as you see, is always so happy to be working with Septimus. But how could he not have this huge ear to ear grin with all that apparatus at hand?
Shy of posting too many similar images from these great sets, I will leave you with one more jolt from The Bride of Frankenstein.
SheWalksSoftly 
August 27, 2012 at 12:31 am
I must confess a secret…I have never seen the old B&W Frankenstein films…I know right!! I see you both now with your jaws dropped and shaking your heads…BUT I’m a huge fan on the book! I am a book person. It is so rare for me to watch shows/movies. Maybe I should start my week of monster watching with Frankenstein? I have to say these images have me hooked! 🙂
August 27, 2012 at 1:37 am
[…] Vintage Lab Week: Frankenstein […]
August 27, 2012 at 3:42 am
Miss Carrie Filetti, had you confided your secret rather than blabbed it to the world, I may have helped bring you up to speed with few people the wiser!
The beauty of these films lies in the camera work, the pathos, and the fun acting styles. While books feed the imagination, films feed our appreciation of art and beauty, in whatever guise.
May I suggest, from the start of the Talkie age of Horror:
Dracula (1931)
Frankenstein (1931)
Svengali (1931) + White Zombie (1932) (make sure both are the Roan DVD versions, or the prints are pretty wretched)
The Mummy (1932)
The Most Dangerous Game (1932)
The Invisible Man (1933)
Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933)
August 27, 2012 at 5:10 am
How could you forget Dr. Caligair?? Now that is one cabinet I do visit from time to time! But you might have already known this. I agree with you about the beauty of these films, and some of these I have seen but there are a few I haven’t. Thank you for this list, shall visit the monster world tomorrow 🙂
August 27, 2012 at 5:35 am
Who’s forgetting Caligari? You will be getting a Silent Film Must See list via email!
August 27, 2012 at 5:00 am
I love the look and feel of old black and white films. While I love the story of Dracula, I actually liked the book Frankenstein better.
August 27, 2012 at 5:37 am
I love so many films of all genres, but the Black & Whites hold a particularly strong hold over me. I used to reread Dracula every few years, but it has been close to ten years since I sat with it or Frankenstein. You may have inspired me to grab Frankenstein this week.
August 28, 2012 at 3:47 am
You won’t regret it if you do! There’s a sweet humanity that speaks to me when I read Frankenstein.
August 28, 2012 at 3:04 pm
Good grief, that last one is utterly absurd in an utterly wonderful way.
August 25, 2013 at 9:05 pm
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