Frankenstein: Film Variations How the ancient tale of a monster was turned into a green skinned terror by the silver screen.

Mary Shelley Born Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin- her mother died in childbirth. She later married Percy Bysshe Shelley becoming Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. In 1816, she published Frankenstein, though not under her own name until later. It is not her only work, but the only one that gained any type of fame. Another notable work of hers was The Last Man. Frankenstein began as a challenge on a stormy night between Shelley, her husband Percy, and Lord Byron. However, she also later said the idea was inspired by a dream. Her husband Percy died in 1822 leaving her in a perpetual state of mourning for several years. She kept his heart wrapped in the pages of Adonais with her everywhere she went until her death. She died of a brain tumor in 1851.

Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley 1797-1851 The Writer of Frankenstein- 1816

When adapting Frankenstein for film the directors made a huge mistake that has stayed glued to the text ever since. When you hear the name Frankenstein there is a common misconception that Frankenstein is the monster. This is wrong. Frankenstein is the doctor; today that seems to be something only readers of the book know without question.

Frankenstein by director James Whale-1931 In making this film the studio was hoping to make money during the Great Depression. They got the idea following the success of Dracula. This film adaptation however, does not follow the book. It is completely different. It turned Shelley’s tale from the doctors tale to that of the monster. This could be the reason for the confusion as to who is monster and who is creator.

The Look of the monster When trying to figure out the look for Shelley’s iconic monster, the costume director Jack Pierce made the mistake of making the creature look untrue to the words of the novel. Not surprising considering they didn’t really use the book in adapting the film. They were seeking to shock the audience with the look of Boris Karloff’s creature- the same would be done in later adaptations like The Rocky Horror Picture Show and the Munster’s Herman Munster. Today while the Boris Karloff image is known world wide, the actual way of doing it is copyrighted by the film’s studio. Meaning they need their permission to use it. They continued to make Frankenstein movies until they could no longer make money off of them.

The Many Faces of the creature Boris Karloff 1931 Fred Gwynne 1964-1966 Peter Boyle 1974

The many faces of Frankenstein Colin Clive 1931 Gene Wilder 1974 Shelley’s Frankenstein Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is one of many novels that have been failed by film makers. Because of the mistakes made in adapting her text to film, not only are the characters mixed up, but her monster has become something it was never meant to be. Frankenstein was never meant to scream its alive and his creature was not supposed to have bolts in the neck.