Henry Frankenstein pieces together body parts in the hope of bringing a human-like creature to life. The mad scientist’s dreams are shattered by his monstrous creation awakening with rage to a world that hates and fears him.
Acting
Boris Karloff's 70 minutes of grunts and pathos—no dialogue, total devastation.
Production
Jack Pierce's flat-top, bolt-neck design that defined monsters forever.
Direction
Whale's German Expressionist shadows make every set look like a scream.
Director
James Whale
Colin Clive
Henry Frankenstein
Mae Clarke
Elizabeth
John Boles
Victor Moritz
Boris Karloff
The Monster
Edward Van Sloan
Doctor Waldman
Frederick Kerr
Baron Frankenstein
Dwight Frye
Fritz
Lionel Belmore
The Burgomaster
Marilyn Harris
Little Maria
Ted Billings
Villager (uncredited)
Arletta Duncan
Bridesmaid (uncredited)
William Dyer
Gravedigger (uncredited)
Francis Ford
Hans (uncredited)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Boris Karloff wasn't credited as 'The Monster'—only a question mark appeared. Studio thought his name would disappoint audiences expecting a star.
The famous 'It's alive!' line was censored in some territories for being 'blasphemous'—apparently creating life was God's job, not Universal's.
US
