Frankenstein

Starring: Augustus Phillips, Charles Ogle, Mary Fuller
Directed by: J. Searle Dawley
Rating: Not rated
Genre: Short, Horror, Science Fiction
Length: 16 minutes
1910

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: Frankenstein (Augustus Phillips) tries to create a perfect human being. Instead, he creates a terrifying monster.

Review:
Tim: This 1910 version of Frankenstein is noteworthy because it's the very first time in cinema history that the famous monster is depicted on screen. It's a short film, but I was surprised by how much ground is covered in about 16 minutes. We get the whole story- Frankenstein leaving for college, discovering the secret of life, creating the monster, his breakdown in horror, returning home, getting married, and confronting the monster. Each of these moments is depicted in a scene that didn't feel overly rushed- we were given time to understand what was happening (the title cards helped quite a bit, though).

The movie has deteriorated some, so you can't expect a very clear picture. Still, given the age of the movie, it's wonderful that you can see as much as you do. That's even more noteworthy because this was considered a lost film for so many years. It was only until the 1970s when people could actually view this film. I'm really, really glad it survived.

The film does have some real strengths- the use of the mirror was a clever gimmick that generated some of the short's most memorable moments. I also liked that the film chose to focus more on the psychological aspects of the story, rather than going for pure horror. It made you think about things like guilt, and how that can weigh you down. The scene of the creation of the monster is definitely a highlight- I read that they burned a monster costume and then played the film backwards. It creates a frightening, memorable scene.

The movie has some obvious flaws as well. I laughed out loud at the title card that said after Frankenstein went to college, he discovered the secret of life two years later. The guy obviously works very fast. Two years into my own college experience, I barely figured out how to wake myself up on time. Frankenstein here was able to figure out the secret of life. Impressive. The other limitations of the film come with the fact that it's only 16 minutes, so it doesn't get to explore too many aspects of the story.

Still, I'd certainly recommend seeing this film, especially if you're a Frankenstein fan. Frankenstein's monster would be adapted countless times, so it's great fun to see its very first appearance.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: N/A


If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Frankenstein (1931)