I had no plans to watch the first two Universal Frankenstein movies so early in the month, but Turner Classics was showing them. I won't follow the channel exclusively, as I do want to spread the films out past just one night. Son of Frankenstein (1939), particularly, I always want to save for the rainy day of the month. I just seem to do that, watch this one on a gloomy, sleepy day.
But back to Bride of Frankenstein (1935):
Anyway, Una O'Connor shrieks and wails, Thesiger gleefully summons his inner devils and relishes their presence in guiding him to do his work. Clive is embattled with that yearning to explore the depths of creation itself while torn betwixt two to leave it all behind for Hobson who herself seems to see the ghosts coming to take her man away. Karloff speaks (although the actor didn't want to), breaks chicken with Thesiger in an underground mausoleum, insists Clive obey Thesiger and agree to help him make a mate specifically for him, kill Dwight Frye yet again (the good ole "toss the creep off the balcony" murder), growl and cry, befriend a blind hermit just wanting a companion, finish off the poor family of the drowned Maria from the first film when they stay around the ruins of the fallen windmill, send villagers scattering in fear, hoisted up by hateful villagers on a cross like post before taken to a prison he easily escapes to once again send scared folks running, and is even blamed for murders he didn't commit (I think it is hinted that Frye and Ted Billings might be responsible for a few of these, active criminals Thesiger blackmails to assist him in his endeavors). The bottled little people Thesiger brought life to "from seed like cultures", his munching away on bread and taking to some wine inside the mausoleum, with skull and crossbones accompanying him until the Monster joins him, and the sparring with Hobson over Franky's companionship offer plentiful scene stealing for the actor. Clive is not as significant until the magnificent ending, his mug (and Thesiger's) lit so distinctly in up-close expression as the lightning storm stirs up and the machinery buzzes away. A pope statue in the graveyard is toppled over, while the priest creation of Thesiger disproves of the king creation's persistent interest in the queen creation. E.E. Clive, despite his high opinion of himself as the hoity-toity burgomaster, isn't exactly well favored by many, especially O'Connor, always taking him to task over this or that regarding the Monster. The convenient "destruction switch" lever that explodes the castle (why is this installed again?), the Bride getting her five minutes of fame, and the Monster realizing to his disappointment that even "one of his own" hates him: the ending doesn't fail to live up to "She's Alive! Alive!"
But back to Bride of Frankenstein (1935):
Anyway, Una O'Connor shrieks and wails, Thesiger gleefully summons his inner devils and relishes their presence in guiding him to do his work. Clive is embattled with that yearning to explore the depths of creation itself while torn betwixt two to leave it all behind for Hobson who herself seems to see the ghosts coming to take her man away. Karloff speaks (although the actor didn't want to), breaks chicken with Thesiger in an underground mausoleum, insists Clive obey Thesiger and agree to help him make a mate specifically for him, kill Dwight Frye yet again (the good ole "toss the creep off the balcony" murder), growl and cry, befriend a blind hermit just wanting a companion, finish off the poor family of the drowned Maria from the first film when they stay around the ruins of the fallen windmill, send villagers scattering in fear, hoisted up by hateful villagers on a cross like post before taken to a prison he easily escapes to once again send scared folks running, and is even blamed for murders he didn't commit (I think it is hinted that Frye and Ted Billings might be responsible for a few of these, active criminals Thesiger blackmails to assist him in his endeavors). The bottled little people Thesiger brought life to "from seed like cultures", his munching away on bread and taking to some wine inside the mausoleum, with skull and crossbones accompanying him until the Monster joins him, and the sparring with Hobson over Franky's companionship offer plentiful scene stealing for the actor. Clive is not as significant until the magnificent ending, his mug (and Thesiger's) lit so distinctly in up-close expression as the lightning storm stirs up and the machinery buzzes away. A pope statue in the graveyard is toppled over, while the priest creation of Thesiger disproves of the king creation's persistent interest in the queen creation. E.E. Clive, despite his high opinion of himself as the hoity-toity burgomaster, isn't exactly well favored by many, especially O'Connor, always taking him to task over this or that regarding the Monster. The convenient "destruction switch" lever that explodes the castle (why is this installed again?), the Bride getting her five minutes of fame, and the Monster realizing to his disappointment that even "one of his own" hates him: the ending doesn't fail to live up to "She's Alive! Alive!"
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