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{{Infobox film
| image          = Frankenstein poster 1931.jpg
| caption        = Theatrical release poster by [[Karoly Grosz (illustrator)|Karoly Grosz]]<ref>Nourmand & Marsh. pg. 134</ref>
| director       = [[James Whale]]
| producer       = [[Carl Laemmle Jr.]]
| screenplay     = {{Plainlist|
* [[Garrett Fort]]
* [[Francis Edward Faragoh]]
}}
{{Infobox|decat=yes|child=yes|label1=Adaptation by|data1=[[John L. Balderston]]{{efn|Credited onscreen with "Based upon the composition by".}}}}
| based_on       = {{Plainlist|
* {{Based on|''[[Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus]]''|[[Mary Shelley]]{{efn|Named in promotional material as "Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley", and onscreen as "Mrs. Percy B. Shelley".}}}}
* {{Based on|''Frankenstein: An Adventure in the Macabre''|[[Peggy Webling]]}}
}}
| starring       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Colin Clive]]
* [[Mae Clarke]]
* [[John Boles (actor)|John Boles]]
* [[Boris Karloff]]
* [[Dwight Frye]]
* [[Edward Van Sloan]]
* [[Frederick Kerr]]
}}
| cinematography = [[Arthur Edeson]]
| editing        = [[Maurice Pivar]]
| music          = [[Bernhard Kaun]]
| studio         = [[Universal Pictures]]
| distributor    = Universal Pictures
| released       = {{Film date|1931|11|21}}
| runtime        = 70 minutes
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = $262,007<ref name="universal">Michael Brunas, John Brunas & Tom Weaver, ''Universal Horrors: The Studios Classic Films, 1931–46'', McFarland, 1990 p24</ref>
| gross          = $12&nbsp;million<ref>[https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1931/0FS31.php Box Office Information for ''Frankenstein.''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223162844/http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1931/0FS31.php |date=February 23, 2014 }} The Numbers. Retrieved April 13, 2012.</ref>
}}

'''''Frankenstein''''' is a 1931 American [[Pre-Code Hollywood|pre-Code]] [[horror film]] directed by [[James Whale]] and produced by [[Carl Laemmle Jr.]]. It is adapted from the 1927 play ''Frankenstein: An Adventure in the Macabre'' by [[Peggy Webling]], which in turn was based on [[Mary Shelley]]'s 1818 novel ''[[Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus]]''. The Webling play was adapted by [[John L. Balderston]], while the screenplay was written by [[Garrett Fort]] and [[Francis Edward Faragoh]], with uncredited contributions from [[Robert Florey]] and [[John Russell (screenwriter)|John Russell]].

''Frankenstein'' stars [[Colin Clive]] as [[Victor Frankenstein|Henry Frankenstein]], an obsessed scientist who digs up corpses with his assistant to assemble a living being from body parts. The resulting creature, often known as [[Frankenstein's monster]], is portrayed by [[Boris Karloff]]. The makeup for the monster was provided by [[Jack Pierce (makeup artist)|Jack Pierce]]. Alongside Clive and Karloff, the film's cast also includes [[Mae Clarke]], [[John Boles (actor)|John Boles]], [[Dwight Frye]], and [[Edward Van Sloan]].

Produced and distributed by [[Universal Pictures]], the film was a commercial success upon release, and was generally well received by both critics and audiences. It spawned [[Frankenstein (Universal film series)|a number of sequels]] and [[Spin-off (media)|spin-offs]], and has had a significant impact on popular culture: the imagery of a maniacal "mad" scientist with a [[Igor (character)|hunchbacked assistant]] and the film's depiction of Frankenstein's monster have since become iconic. In 1991, the United States [[Library of Congress]] selected ''Frankenstein'' for preservation in the [[National Film Registry]] as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kehr|first=Dave|title=U.S. Film Registry Adds 25 'Significant' Movies|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1991-09-26-9103130465-story.html|access-date=June 16, 2020|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=September 26, 1991|language=en-US|archive-date=June 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617031520/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1991-09-26-9103130465-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Complete National Film Registry Listing: National Film Preservation Board|via=The Library of Congress|url=https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-film-preservation-board/film-registry/complete-national-film-registry-listing/|access-date=June 16, 2020|archive-date=December 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217172059/https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-film-preservation-board/film-registry/complete-national-film-registry-listing/|url-status=live}}</ref>

As a published work from 1931, the film will enter the American public domain on January 1, 2027.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-01-02 |title=These notable works are officially in the public domain as 2026 arrives - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-public-domain-works-2026/ |access-date=2026-02-12 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Plot==
[[File: Frankenstein trailer (1931).webm|thumb|250px|Play the film's trailer]]
[[File:Poster - Frankenstein 02.jpg|right|thumb|250px|''Frankenstein'' lobby card]]
In a village in the [[Bavarian Alps]], scientist [[Victor Frankenstein|Henry Frankenstein]] and his hunchbacked assistant Fritz piece together a human body. Some of the parts are from freshly buried bodies, others from recently hanged criminals. Henry desires to create a human, giving this body life through electrical devices. He still needs a brain for his creation. Henry's former teacher [[Dr. Waldman]] shows his class the brain of an average human being and the corrupted brain of a criminal for comparison. Henry sends Fritz to steal the healthy brain from Waldman's class. Fritz accidentally damages it, and so brings Henry the criminal brain.

Henry's fiancée [[Elizabeth Lavenza]] speaks with their friend Victor about the scientist's peculiar actions and his seclusion. Elizabeth and Victor ask Waldman for help understanding Henry's behavior, and Waldman reveals he is aware Henry wishes to create life. Concerned for Henry, they arrive at his lab just as he makes his final preparations, the lifeless body on an operating table. As a storm rages, Henry invites Elizabeth and the others to watch. Henry and Fritz raise the operating table toward an opening at the top of the tower. The creature and Henry's equipment are exposed to the lightning storm and empowered, bringing the creature to life. Henry is ecstatic at the sight of the creature moving and has to be restrained by Victor and Waldman. Henry proclaims he now knows what it feels like [[God complex|to be God]].

[[Frankenstein's Monster]], despite its grotesque form, seems to be an innocent, childlike creation. Henry welcomes it into his laboratory and asks it to sit. He opens up the roof, causing the Monster to reach out towards the sunlight. Fritz enters with a flaming torch, which frightens the Monster. Its fright is mistaken by Henry and Waldman for an attempt to attack them, and it is chained in the dungeon, where Fritz antagonizes it with a torch. Hearing Fritz screaming in the dungeon, Henry and Waldman find that the Monster has hanged Fritz. The Monster lunges at the two but they lock it inside. Realizing the Monster must be destroyed, Henry prepares an injection of a powerful drug and Waldman injects the drug into the Monster's back, rendering it unconscious.

Henry collapses from exhaustion, and Elizabeth and Henry's father take him home. There, he eventually recovers and prepares for his wedding, while Waldman examines the Monster. As he prepares to vivisect it, the Monster revives and strangles him. It escapes from the tower and wanders through the landscape, encountering a farmer's child, Maria. She asks him to play a game with her in which they toss flowers onto a lake. The Monster enjoys the game, but when he runs out of flowers, he throws Maria into the lake, inadvertently drowning her.

With preparations for the wedding completed, Henry is happy with Elizabeth. They are to marry as soon as Waldman arrives. Victor rushes in, saying that Waldman has been found strangled. Henry suspects the Monster. The Monster enters Elizabeth's room, causing her to scream. When the searchers arrive, they find Elizabeth in shock, then unconscious. The Monster has escaped.

Maria's father arrives, carrying his drowned daughter's body. He says she was murdered, and the villagers form a [[Lynching|lynch mob]] to capture the Monster. During the search, Henry is attacked by the Monster. The Monster knocks Henry unconscious and carries him to an old windmill. The peasants hear the creature carrying Henry and find it climbing to the top, dragging Henry with it. The Monster hurls the scientist to the ground. His fall is broken by the wooden blades of the windmill, saving his life. Some of the villagers bring him home while the rest of the mob set the windmill ablaze, with the Monster trapped inside.

At Castle Frankenstein, Henry's father celebrates the wedding of his recovered son with a toast to a future grandchild.

==Cast==
[[Image:1931 lugosi frankenstein.jpg|right|thumb|upright|[[Bela Lugosi]] casting notice, 1931]]
{{Cast listing|
* [[Colin Clive]] as [[Henry Frankenstein]]
* [[Mae Clarke]] as [[Elizabeth Lavenza]], Henry's fiancée
* [[John Boles (actor)|John Boles]] as Victor Moritz, Henry's friend
* [[Boris Karloff]] as [[Frankenstein's monster|The Monster]] (credited as '''?''' in opening credits)
* [[Edward Van Sloan]] as [[Dr. Waldman]]
* [[Frederick Kerr]] as Baron Frankenstein
* [[Dwight Frye]] as Fritz, Henry's assistant
* [[Lionel Belmore]] as The [[Burgomaster]], Herr Vogel.
* [[Marilyn Harris (actress)|Marilyn Harris]] as Little Maria, a little girl
* [[Michael Mark (actor)|Michael Mark]] as Ludwig, Maria's father
* [[Francis Ford (actor)|Francis Ford]] as Hans (uncredited)<ref>Harty, John P. (2016). The CInematic Challenge: Filming Colonial American (Volume 1) (Paperback ed.). Minneapolis, MN: Langdon Street Press. p. 262. ISBN 1635051460.</ref>
}}

==Production==
[[File:KarloffFrankensteinRealart.png|thumb|left|1951 re-release lobby card]]
In 1930, [[Universal Pictures|Universal Studios]] had lost $2.2&nbsp;million in revenues. Within 48 hours of its opening at New York's [[Roxy Theatre (New York City)|Roxy Theatre]] on February 12, 1931, ''[[Dracula (1931 English-language film)|Dracula]]'' starring [[Bela Lugosi]] had sold 50,000 tickets, building a momentum that culminated in a $700,000 profit, the largest of Universal's 1931 releases. As a result, the head of production, [[Carl Laemmle Jr.]], announced immediate plans for more horror films.<ref name="Vieira">{{cite book
|last1=Vieira | first1=Mark A. | title=Hollywood Horror: From Gothic to Cosmic
|url=https://archive.org/details/hollywoodhorrorf0000viei |url-access=registration |year=2003 | publisher=Harry N. Abrams, Inc. | location=New York
|isbn=0-8109-4535-5 | page=[https://archive.org/details/hollywoodhorrorf0000viei/page/35 35]}}</ref> It purchased the film rights to [[John L. Balderston]]'s planned stage adaptation of [[Peggy Webling]]'s British stage adaptation of [[Mary Shelley|Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley]]'s original novel.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Frankenstein|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/3925-FRANKENSTEIN?sid=8fdc4626-4375-40ca-874e-4a2ebe770cdf&sr=22.609112&cp=1&pos=0|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-03|website=catalog.afi.com|archive-date=December 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203051533/https://catalog.afi.com/Film/3925-FRANKENSTEIN?sid=8fdc4626-4375-40ca-874e-4a2ebe770cdf&sr=22.609112&cp=1&pos=0}}</ref>

Immediately following his success in ''Dracula'', Lugosi had hoped to play Henry Frankenstein in Universal's original film concept. However, the actor was expected by producer Carl Laemmle Jr. to play the Monster<ref>Gregory William Mank. 1981. ''It's Alive! The Classic Cinema Saga of Frankenstein''. San Diego: A. S. Barnes.</ref> (a common move for a contract player in a film studio at the time) to keep his famous name on the bill.<ref>{{cite news |title="Frankenstein" Cast Chosen. |quote=The Universal production of Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" is taking shape under the knowing guidance of [[James Whale]]. [[Boris Karloff]] and not Bela Lugosi is the final choice to play the Monster. |newspaper=The New York Times |date=August 30, 1931}}</ref>

''Frankenstein'' was also inspired by ''[[The Golem (Meyrink novel)|The Golem]]'', a surreal novel based on [[Jewish folklore]], and its film adaptation, ''[[The Golem: How He Came into the World]]''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-07 |title=Frankenstein |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Frankenstein |access-date=2023-05-31 |publisher=[[Encyclopedia Britannica]] |language=en |archive-date=March 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180309230348/https://www.britannica.com/topic/Frankenstein |url-status=live }}</ref> a silent horror film where the Golem is a literal being rather than the ambiguous existence it was in the novel.

Although Lugosi's departure from the production is often regarded as one of the worst decisions in any actor's career, in actuality, the part that Lugosi was offered was not the same character that Karloff eventually played. The initial director was [[Robert Florey]], who had re-characterized the Monster as a simple killing machine, without a touch of human interest or pathos, unlike in the original Shelley novel. This reportedly caused Lugosi to complain, "I was a star in my country<ref>Bela Lugosi was born outside the western border of [[Transylvania]] in [[Austria-Hungary]] (now [[Lugoj]], Romania).</ref> and I will not be a scarecrow over here!"<ref name="Sin42-43">Vieira. pgs. 42–3</ref> Florey later wrote that "the Hungarian actor didn't show himself very enthusiastic for the role and didn't want to play it". However, the decision may not have been Lugosi's in any case, since recent evidence suggests that he was kicked off the project, along with director Robert Florey, when the newly arrived [[James Whale]] asked for the property and later cast Karloff, who resembled Whale.<ref>{{cite book |last=Riley |first=Philip J. |date= 2010|title=Robert Florey's Frankenstein Starring Bela Lugosi|location=Albany, GA |publisher=BearManor Media |page=15 |isbn=978-1-59393-479-8}}</ref>
 
Actors who worked on the project either were, or shortly became familiar to the fans of the Universal horror films. These included [[Frederick Kerr]] as the old Baron Frankenstein, Henry's father; [[Lionel Belmore]] as Herr Vogel, the Bürgermeister; [[Marilyn Harris (actor)|Marilyn Harris]] as Little Maria, the girl the Monster accidentally kills; [[Dwight Frye]] as Frankenstein's hunchbacked assistant, Fritz; and [[Michael Mark (actor)|Michael Mark]] as Ludwig, Maria's father.

[[Kenneth Strickfaden]] designed the electrical effects that were used in the "creation scene". They were so successful that such effects came to be considered an essential part of every subsequent Universal film involving Frankenstein's Monster. Accordingly, the equipment used to produce them has come to be referred to in fan circles as "Strickfadens". It appears that Strickfaden managed to secure the use of at least one [[Tesla Coil]] built by the inventor [[Nikola Tesla]] himself.<ref>
{{cite book | last = Golman | first = Harry
| title = Kenneth Strickfaden, Dr. Frankenstein's Electrician
| publisher = McFarland & Company | date = November 11, 2005
| isbn = 0-7864-2064-2}}</ref>

The film opened in New York City at the [[Sony Hall|Mayfair Theatre]] on December 4, 1931, and grossed $53,000 in one week.<ref name="Sin42-43"/>

Florey and Lugosi were given the ''[[Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932 film)|Murders in the Rue Morgue]]'' (1932) project as a consolation. Lugosi would later go on to play Frankenstein's Monster in ''[[Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man]]'' a decade later, when his career was in decline (in the original shooting script the Monster spoke, cancelling Lugosi's initial objection to the part, but his filmed dialogue sequences were cut prior to release, along with the premise that the Monster was blind, which was the way Lugosi had played it).<ref>''MagicImage Filmbooks Series: Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man''</ref>

==Pre-Code era scenes and censorship history==
[[File:FrankensteinLobbyCardKarloffandClive.png|right|thumb|[[Colin Clive]] and Karloff in colorized photograph from ''Frankenstein'' (1931).]]
The scene in which the Monster throws Maria, the little girl, into the lake and accidentally drowns her has long been controversial. Upon its original 1931 release, the second part of this scene was cut by state censorship boards in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and New York.<ref name="Sin42-43" /> Those states also objected to a line they considered [[Blasphemy|blasphemous]] that occurred during Frankenstein's exuberance when he first learns that his creature is alive. The original relevant passage was:
<blockquote>VICTOR: "Henry, in the name of God!"<br>
HENRY: "In the name of God? Now I know what it feels like to BE God!"<ref name="Sin42-43"/></blockquote>
Kansas requested the cutting of 32 scenes which, if they had been removed, would have cut half of the film.<ref>Doherty. pg. 297</ref> Jason Joy of the [[Studio Relations Committee]] sent [[Censorship|censor]] representative [[Joseph Breen]] to urge them to reconsider. Eventually, an edited version was released in Kansas.<ref name="Sin42-43"/>

As with many [[Pre-Code Hollywood|pre-Code]] films that were reissued after strict enforcement of the [[Motion Picture Production Code|Production Code]] in 1934, Universal made cuts from the [[original camera negative]],<ref name="Sin48">Vieira. pg. 48</ref> and thus most of the excised footage is often lost. However, the scene of the girl being thrown into the lake was rediscovered during the early 1980s in the collection of the British [[BFI National Archive|National Film Archive]],<ref>{{cite news |title='FRANKENSTEIN': REVIVED ONCE MORE |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1986/01/26/frankenstein-revived-once-more/ |access-date=4 March 2025 |publisher=The Chicago Tribune |date=2021 |archive-date=April 8, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250408145420/https://www.chicagotribune.com/1986/01/26/frankenstein-revived-once-more/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and it has been restored to modern prints of the film.<ref>Robert Horton [https://books.google.com/books?id=o9irAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA24 ''Frankenstein''], New York & Chichester: Wallflower Press & Columbia University Press, 2014, p.24</ref>

In the [[Irish Free State]], the film was banned on February 5, 1932, for being demoralizing and unsuitable for children or "nervous people" – [[Irish Film Classification Office#Certificates|age-restricted certificates]] were not introduced in the country until 1965. The decision was overturned by the Appeal Board on March 8, and the film was passed uncut on March 9.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tcd.ie/irishfilm/censor/show.php?fid=1935|title=Irish Film Censors' Records – Trinity College Dublin|website=www.tcd.ie|access-date=May 14, 2019|archive-date=February 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212011748/https://www.tcd.ie/irishfilm/censor/show.php?fid=1935|url-status=live}}</ref> The film was successfully banned in Northern Ireland, Quebec, Sweden, [[Fascist Italy (1922–1943)|Italy]], and [[First Czechoslovak Republic|Czechoslovakia]].<ref name=":0" />

==Reception==
[[File:Frankenstein (1931 teaser poster - Style B).jpg|thumb|Theatrical teaser poster by 1930s Universal art director [[Karoly Grosz (illustrator)|Karoly Grosz]]: "Warning! The Monster Is Loose!"<ref>Nourmand & Marsh. pg. 133</ref>]]

''[[The New York Times]]'' film critic [[Mordaunt Hall]] gave ''Frankenstein'' a very positive review. He said that the film "aroused so much excitement at the Mayfair yesterday that many in the audience laughed to cover their true feelings. [T]here is no denying that it is far and away the most effective thing of its kind. Beside it [[Dracula (1931 English-language film)|''Dracula'']] is tame and, incidentally, ''Dracula'' was produced by the same firm".<ref>[https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9901E5D6143DEE32A25756C0A9649D946094D6CF Review] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120619162039/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9901E5D6143DEE32A25756C0A9649D946094D6CF |date=June 19, 2012 }} by [[Mordaunt Hall]], ''[[The New York Times]]''</ref>

''[[Film Daily]]'' also lauded the picture, calling it a "gruesome, chill-producing and exciting drama" that was "produced intelligently and lavishly and with a grade of photography that is superb".<ref>{{cite journal |date=December 6, 1931 |title=Frankenstein |journal=[[Film Daily]] |location=New York |publisher=Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. |page=10}}</ref>

''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' reported that it "looks like a ''Dracula'' plus, touching a new peak in horror plays", and described Karloff's performance as "a fascinating acting bit of mesmerism". Its review also singled out the look of the film as uniquely praiseworthy, calling the photography "splendid" and the lighting "the last word in ingenuity, since much of the footage calls for dim or night effect and the manipulation of shadows to intensify the ghostly atmosphere".<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Greason |first=Alfred Rushford |date=December 8, 1931 |title=Frankenstein |url=https://variety.com/1931/film/reviews/frankenstein-2-1200410509/ |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |location=New York |publisher=Variety, Inc. |page=14 |access-date=December 9, 2017 |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308165830/https://variety.com/1931/film/reviews/frankenstein-2-1200410509/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[John Mosher (writer)|John Mosher]] of ''[[The New Yorker]]'' was less enthused, calling the film only a "moderate success" and writing that "the makeup department has a triumph to its credit in the monster and there lie the thrills of the picture, but the general fantasy lacks the vitality which that little Mrs. P.B. Shelley was able to give her book".<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Mosher |first=John |author-link=John Mosher (writer) |date=December 12, 1931 |title=The Current Cinema |magazine=[[The New Yorker]] |location=New York |publisher=P-B Publishing Corporation |page=81}}</ref>

The film was banned in China due to falling under the category of "superstitious films" as a result of its "strangeness" and unscientific elements.<ref name="china">{{Cite book|title=Cinema and Urban Culture in Shanghai, 1922–1943|last=Yingjin|first=Zhang|date=1999|publisher=Stanford University Press|isbn=9780804735728|pages=190|oclc=40230511}}</ref>

''Frankenstein'' has continued to receive acclaim from critics and is widely regarded as one of the best films of 1931,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.filmsite.org/1931.html |title=The Greatest Films of 1931 |publisher=[[AMC (TV channel)|AMC Filmsite.org]] |access-date=July 2, 2010 |archive-date=February 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203021046/https://www.filmsite.org/1931.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.films101.com/y1931r.htm |title=The Best Movies of 1931 by Rank |publisher=Films101.com |access-date=July 2, 2010 |archive-date=March 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301122001/http://www.films101.com/y1931r.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.listal.com/list/best-films-of-1931 |title=The Best Films of 1931 |publisher=listal.com |access-date=July 2, 2010 |archive-date=March 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310073544/http://www.listal.com/list/best-films-of-1931 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/year/1931 |title=Most Popular Feature Films Released in 1931 |publisher=[[IMDb]].com |access-date=July 2, 2010 |archive-date=June 5, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605104150/http://www.imdb.com/year/1931/ |url-status=live }}</ref> as well as one of the greatest movies of all time.<ref name="AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies">{{cite web |url=http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/movies100.pdf?docID=264 |title=AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies |publisher=[[American Film Institute|AFI.com]] |access-date=July 2, 2010 |archive-date=February 14, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100214191259/http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/movies100.pdf?docID=264 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.films101.com/5starr.htm |title=5-Star Movies by Rank |publisher=Films101.com |access-date=July 2, 2010 |archive-date=March 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301071759/http://www.films101.com/5starr.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> {{RT prose|score=94|2=8.8|count=95|consensus=Still unnerving to this day, ''Frankenstein'' adroitly explores the fine line between genius and madness, and features Boris Karloff's legendary, frightening performance as the monster.|access-date=}}<ref>{{cite Rotten Tomatoes|type=movie|access-date=November 11, 2023|id=1007818}}</ref> {{Metacritic film prose|score= 91|count=15}}<ref>{{Cite Metacritic|id=frankenstein|title=Frankenstein (1931)|type=movie|access-date=March 3, 2023}}</ref>

In 1991, the film was selected for preservation in the United States [[National Film Registry]] as being deemed "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.loc.gov/film/titles.html |title=Films Selected to the National Film Registry, Library of Congress 1989 to 2009 |publisher=[[Library of Congress|LOC.gov]] |access-date=July 2, 2010 |archive-date=August 29, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829144902/http://www.loc.gov/film/titles.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0021884/awards |title=''Frankenstein'': Award Wins and Nominations |publisher=[[IMDb]].com |access-date=July 2, 2010 |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308105146/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0021884/awards |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2004, ''[[The New York Times]]'' placed the film on its ''Best 1000 Movies Ever'' list.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/ref/movies/1000best.html | work=[[The New York Times]] | title=The Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made | date=April 29, 2003 | access-date=July 2, 2010 | archive-date=December 22, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222124411/https://www.nytimes.com/ref/movies/1000best.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

''Frankenstein'' also received recognition from the [[American Film Institute]]. It was named the 87th greatest movie of all time on ''[[AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies|100 Years... 100 Movies]]''.<ref name="AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies"/> The line "It's alive! It's alive!" was ranked as the [[AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes|49th greatest movie quote in American cinema]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/quotes100.pdf?docID=242 |title=AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes |publisher=[[American Film Institute|AFI.com]] |access-date=July 2, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716070844/http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/quotes100.pdf?docID=242 |archive-date=July 16, 2011}}</ref> The film was on the ballot for several of AFI's ''100 series'' lists, including AFI's ''[[AFI's 10 Top 10|10 Top 10]]'' for the [[Science fiction|sci-fi]] category,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/10top10.pdf?docID=381&AddInterest=1781 |title=AFI's 10 Top 10 Official Ballot |publisher=[[American Film Institute|AFI.com]] |access-date=July 2, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716071937/http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/10top10.pdf?docID=381&AddInterest=1781 |archive-date=July 16, 2011}}</ref> ''[[AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies (10th Anniversary Edition)|100 Years... 100 Movies (10th Anniversary Edition)]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/Movies_ballot_06.pdf?docID=141 |title=AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies (10th Anniversary Edition) Official Ballot |publisher=[[American Film Institute|AFI.com]] |access-date=July 2, 2010 |archive-date=September 19, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090919175116/http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/Movies_ballot_06.pdf?docID=141 |url-status=live }}</ref> and twice on ''[[AFI's 100 Years... 100 Heroes and Villains|100 Years... 100 Heroes and Villains]]'' for both Henry Frankenstein and the Monster in the villains category.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/handv400.pdf?docID=245 |title=AFI's 100 Years... 100 Heroes and Villains: The 400 Nominated Characters |publisher=[[American Film Institute|AFI.com]] |access-date=July 2, 2010 |archive-date=August 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807135603/http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/handv400.pdf?docID=245 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The film was ranked number 56 on AFI's ''[[AFI's 100 Years... 100 Thrills|100 Years... 100 Thrills]]'', a list of America's most heart-pounding movies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/thrills100.pdf?docID=250 |title=AFI's 100 Years... 100 Thrills |publisher=[[American Film Institute|AFI.com]] |access-date=July 2, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716072119/http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/thrills100.pdf?docID=250 |archive-date=July 16, 2011}}</ref> It was also ranked number 27 on [[Bravo (US TV channel)|Bravo]]'s ''[[The 100 Scariest Movie Moments|100 Scariest Movie Moments]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bravotv.com/The_100_Scariest_Movie_Moments/index.shtml |title= Bravo's The 100 Scariest Movie Moments |access-date= May 21, 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071030070540/http://www.bravotv.com/The_100_Scariest_Movie_Moments/index.shtml |archive-date = October 30, 2007}}</ref> Additionally, the [[Chicago Film Critics Association]] named it the 14th scariest film ever made.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.altfg.com/blog/hollywood/chicago-critics-scariest-films/ |title=Chicago Critics' Scariest Films |publisher=AltFilmGuide.com |access-date=July 2, 2010 |archive-date=June 4, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150604013812/http://www.altfg.com/blog/hollywood/chicago-critics-scariest-films/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Box office===
The film was a commercial success. In June 1932, the film had earned reported rentals of $1.4&nbsp;million. In 1943, Universal reported it had earned a profit of $708,871. By 1953, all the Frankenstein re-releases earned an estimated profit of $12&nbsp;million.<ref name="karloff">Stephen Jacobs, ''Boris Karloff: More Than a Monster'', Tomahawk Press 2011 p 107</ref>

==Home media==
In 1986, [[MCA Home Video]] released ''Frankenstein'' on [[LaserDisc]]. This release restored all the cut footage, as well as most of Frankenstein's "In the name of God!" line.<ref>{{cite book|editor-last=Riley|editor-first=Philip J.|year=1989|title=MagicImage Filmbooks Presents Frankenstein|publisher=MagicImage Filmbooks|page=42|isbn=978-1882127054}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/43118/23002/Frankenstein|title=Frankenstein (1931)|website=LaserDisc Database|access-date=January 19, 2020|archive-date=July 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731200457/https://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/43118/23002/Frankenstein|url-status=live}}</ref> In the 1990s, MCA/Universal Home Video released the film on [[VHS]] as part of the "Universal Monsters Classic Collection", a series of releases of [[Universal Classic Monsters]] films.<ref>{{cite book|title=Frankenstein (Universal Monsters Classic Collection) [VHS]|asin=6300181286}}</ref>

In 1999, Universal released ''Frankenstein'' on VHS and DVD as part of the "Classic Monster Collection"; this release restored the rest of the censored material.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Frankenstein-VHS-Colin-Clive/dp/B00000JPHF/|title=Frankenstein (Classic Monster Collection) [VHS]|website=[[Amazon.com]]|date=August 28, 2001 |access-date=January 16, 2020|archive-date=March 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307191521/https://www.amazon.com/Frankenstein-VHS-Colin-Clive/dp/B00000JPHF/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Frankenstein-Universal-Studios-Classic-Collection/dp/B00000JMOF/|title=Frankenstein (Universal Studios Classic Monster Collection) [DVD]|website=[[Amazon.com]]|date=August 17, 1999 |access-date=January 19, 2020|archive-date=February 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220103117/https://www.amazon.com/Frankenstein-Universal-Studios-Classic-Collection/dp/B00000JMOF|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/601/frankenstein/|title=Frankenstein|last=Arrington|first=Chuck|date=May 4, 2000|website=[[DVD Talk]]|access-date=January 19, 2020|archive-date=July 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731202017/https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/601/frankenstein/|url-status=live}}</ref> In April 2004, Universal released ''Frankenstein: The Legacy Collection'' on DVD as part of the "Universal Legacy Collection".<ref name=amazon2004>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Frankenstein-Legacy-Collection-Bride-Ghost/dp/B0001CNRLQ/|title=Frankenstein: The Legacy Collection (Frankenstein / The Bride of Frankenstein / Son of Frankenstein / The Ghost of Frankenstein / House of Frankenstein) [DVD]|website=[[Amazon.com]]|date=April 27, 2004 |access-date=January 19, 2020|archive-date=October 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191027071222/https://www.amazon.com/Frankenstein-Legacy-Collection-Bride-Ghost/dp/B0001CNRLQ|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=dvdtalk2004>{{cite web|url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/10443/frankenstein-the-legacy-collection-frankenstein-bride-of-son-of-ghost-of-house-of/|title=Frankenstein – The Legacy Collection (Frankenstein / Bride of / Son of / Ghost of / House of)|last=Jane|first=Ian|date=April 22, 2004|website=[[DVD Talk]]|access-date=January 19, 2020|archive-date=April 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418041742/https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/10443/frankenstein-the-legacy-collection-frankenstein-bride-of-son-of-ghost-of-house-of/|url-status=live}}</ref> This two-disc release includes ''Frankenstein'', ''[[Bride of Frankenstein]]'', ''[[Son of Frankenstein]]'', ''[[The Ghost of Frankenstein]]'' and ''[[The House of Frankenstein (film)|The House of Frankenstein]]''.<ref name=amazon2004 /><ref name=dvdtalk2004 /> In September 2006, Universal released ''Frankenstein'' on DVD as a two-disc "75th Anniversary Edition", as part of the "Universal Legacy Series".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Frankenstein-75th-Anniversary-Universal-Legacy/dp/B000GPIPT2/|title=Frankenstein (75th Anniversary Edition) [DVD]|website=[[Amazon.com]]|date=September 26, 2006 |access-date=January 19, 2020|archive-date=March 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190305011733/https://www.amazon.com/Frankenstein-75th-Anniversary-Universal-Legacy/dp/B000GPIPT2|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/24003/frankenstein-75th-anniversary-edition/|title=Frankenstein: 75th Anniversary Edition|last=Erickson|first=Glenn|date=September 23, 2006|website=[[DVD Talk]]|access-date=January 19, 2020|archive-date=July 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731192925/https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/24003/frankenstein-75th-anniversary-edition/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2012, ''Frankenstein'' was released on [[Blu-ray]] as part of the ''Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection'' box set, which also includes a total of nine films from the Universal Classic Monsters series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Classic-Monsters-Essential-Collection/dp/B008FL8OTK/|title=Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection [Blu-ray]|website=[[Amazon.com]]|date=October 2, 2012 |access-date=January 19, 2020|archive-date=January 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200121041755/https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Classic-Monsters-Essential-Collection/dp/B008FL8OTK/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Universal-Classic-Monsters-The-Essential-Collection-Blu-ray/35661/|title=Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection Blu-ray|website=Blu-ray.com|access-date=January 19, 2020|archive-date=January 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200121041923/https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Universal-Classic-Monsters-The-Essential-Collection-Blu-ray/35661/|url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2013, ''Frankenstein'' received a standalone Blu-ray release.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Frankenstein-Blu-ray/36566/|title=Frankenstein Blu-ray|website=Blu-ray.com|access-date=January 19, 2020|archive-date=April 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421141049/https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Frankenstein-Blu-ray/36566/|url-status=live}}</ref> That same year, ''Frankenstein'' was included as part of the six-film Blu-ray set ''Universal Classic Monsters Collection'', which also includes ''Dracula'', ''[[The Mummy (1932 film)|The Mummy]]'', ''[[The Invisible Man (1933 film)|The Invisible Man]]'', ''Bride of Frankenstein'', and ''[[The Wolf Man (1941 film)|The Wolf Man]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Universal-Classic-Monsters-Collection-Blu-ray/93890/|title=Universal Classic Monsters Collection Blu-ray|website=Blu-ray.com|access-date=January 19, 2020|archive-date=January 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200121042536/https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Universal-Classic-Monsters-Collection-Blu-ray/93890/|url-status=live}}</ref> The next year, Universal released ''Frankenstein: Complete Legacy Collection'' on DVD.<ref name=amazon2014dvd>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Frankenstein-Complete-Collection-Boris-Karloff/dp/B00L8QOYG6/|title=Frankenstein: Complete Legacy Collection [DVD]|website=[[Amazon.com]]|date=September 2, 2014 |access-date=January 19, 2020|archive-date=October 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211005032951/https://www.amazon.com/Frankenstein-Complete-Collection-Boris-Karloff/dp/B00L8QOYG6|url-status=live}}</ref> This set contains eight films: ''Frankenstein'', ''Bride of Frankenstein'', ''Son of Frankenstein'', ''Ghost of Frankenstein'', ''Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man'', ''The House of Frankenstein'', ''[[House of Dracula]]'', and ''[[Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein]]''.<ref name=amazon2014dvd /> In 2015, the six-film ''Universal Classic Monsters Collection'' was released on DVD.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Classic-Monsters-Collection-Lugosi/dp/B00ZR3W3YQ/|title=Universal Classic Monsters Collection|website=[[Amazon.com]]|date=September 8, 2015 |access-date=January 16, 2020|archive-date=December 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181230073951/https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Classic-Monsters-Collection-Lugosi/dp/B00ZR3W3YQ|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2016, ''Frankenstein'' received a [[Walmart]]-exclusive Blu-ray release featuring a [[Phosphorescence|glow-in-the-dark]] cover.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ihorror.com/walmart-releases-universal-monsters-classics-glow-dark-covers/|title=Walmart Releases Universal Monsters Classics With Glow-In-Dark Covers!|last=Squires|first=John|date=September 13, 2016|website=iHorror.com|access-date=January 16, 2020|archive-date=January 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200121042917/https://www.ihorror.com/walmart-releases-universal-monsters-classics-glow-dark-covers/|url-status=live}}</ref> That same year, the ''Complete Legacy Collection'' was released on Blu-ray.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Frankenstein-Complete-Legacy-Collection-Blu-ray/dp/B01IFWT4B0/|title=Frankenstein: Complete Legacy Collection [Blu-ray]|website=[[Amazon.com]]|date=September 13, 2016 |access-date=January 19, 2020|archive-date=November 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191119213231/https://www.amazon.com/Frankenstein-Complete-Legacy-Collection-Blu-ray/dp/B01IFWT4B0|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Frankenstein-Complete-Legacy-Collection-Blu-ray/159992/|title=Frankenstein: Complete Legacy Collection Blu-ray|website=Blu-ray.com|access-date=January 19, 2020|archive-date=April 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417042822/https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Frankenstein-Complete-Legacy-Collection-Blu-ray/159992/|url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2017, the film received a [[Best Buy]]-exclusive [[SteelBook]] Blu-ray release with cover artwork by [[Alex Ross]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3443969/best-buy-getting-universal-monsters-steelbooks-stunning-alex-ross-art/|title=Best Buy Getting Universal Monsters Steelbooks With Stunning Alex Ross Art|last=Squires|first=John|date=June 27, 2017|website=[[Bloody Disgusting]]|access-date=January 19, 2020|archive-date=January 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200121043055/https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3443969/best-buy-getting-universal-monsters-steelbooks-stunning-alex-ross-art/|url-status=live}}</ref>

''Frankenstein'' and its sequels were included in the ''Universal Classic Monsters: Complete 30-Film Collection'' Blu-ray box set in August 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Classic-Monsters-Complete-Collection/dp/B07DKY35N5/|title=Universal Classic Monsters: Complete 30-Film Collection [Blu-ray]|website=[[Amazon.com]]|date=August 28, 2018 |access-date=January 19, 2020|archive-date=January 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200121043921/https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Classic-Monsters-Complete-Collection/dp/B07DKY35N5/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Universal-Classic-Monsters-Complete-30-Film-Collection-Blu-ray/207464/|title=Universal Classic Monsters: Complete 30-Film Collection Blu-ray|website=Blu-ray.com|access-date=January 19, 2020|archive-date=January 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200121044128/https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Universal-Classic-Monsters-Complete-30-Film-Collection-Blu-ray/207464/|url-status=live}}</ref> This box set also received a DVD release.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Classic-Monsters-Complete-30-Film-Collection/dp/B00L8QP082/|title=Classic Monsters (Complete 30-Film Collection) [DVD]|website=[[Amazon.com]]|date=September 2, 2014 |access-date=January 19, 2020|archive-date=January 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200121044256/https://www.amazon.com/Classic-Monsters-Complete-30-Film-Collection/dp/B00L8QP082/|url-status=live}}</ref> Later in October, ''Frankenstein'' was included as part of a limited edition Best Buy-exclusive Blu-ray set titled ''Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection'', which features artwork by Alex Ross.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Universal-Classic-Monsters-The-Essential-Collection-Blu-ray/210238/|title=Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection Blu-ray|website=Blu-ray.com|access-date=January 16, 2020|archive-date=January 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200121044431/https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Universal-Classic-Monsters-The-Essential-Collection-Blu-ray/210238/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Universal Pictures Home Entertainment]] released the film on [[4K resolution|4K]] [[Ultra HD Blu-ray]] on October 5, 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vorel |first=Jim |date=August 3, 2021 |title=The Universal Monsters Are Creeping to 4K UHD for the First Time |work=Paste Magazine |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/horror-movies/universal-monsters-4k-uhd-release-box-set-date-price/ |access-date=August 3, 2022 |archive-date=August 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803042045/https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/horror-movies/universal-monsters-4k-uhd-release-box-set-date-price/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Sequels==
[[File:BrideOfFrankenseinCrop.png|right|thumb|upright|Karloff in ''Bride of Frankenstein'']]
[[File:Frankenstein's monster (Boris Karloff).jpg|left|thumb|upright|Karloff in ''Bride of Frankenstein'' (1935)]]
[[File:BrideofFrankenstein13B.jpg|right|thumb|upright|Colin Clive, [[Elsa Lanchester]], Karloff and [[Ernest Thesiger]] in ''Bride of Frankenstein'']]
[[File:The-ghost-of-frankenstein-lobby-card001.jpg|right|thumb|upright|[[Lon Chaney Jr.]] as the monster, [[Evelyn Ankers]], and [[Bela Lugosi]] as Ygor in ''[[The Ghost of Frankenstein]]'' (1942)]]
[[File:HouseOfDraculaCrop003a.png|right|thumb|upright|[[Glenn Strange]] as the monster in ''[[House of Dracula]]'' (1945)]]

''Frankenstein'' was followed by a string of sequels, beginning with ''[[Bride of Frankenstein]]'' (1935), in which [[Elsa Lanchester]] plays the Monster's bride.

The next sequel, ''[[Son of Frankenstein]]'' (1939), was made, like all those that followed, without Whale or Clive (the latter of whom had died in 1937). This film featured Karloff's last full film performance as the Monster. ''Son of Frankenstein'' presented [[Basil Rathbone]] as [[Wolf Frankenstein|Baron Wolf von Frankenstein]], [[Bela Lugosi]] as bearded hunchback Ygor, and [[Lionel Atwill]] as Inspector Krogh.

''[[The Ghost of Frankenstein]]'' was released in 1942. The film features [[Lon Chaney Jr.]] as the Monster, taking over from Boris Karloff, who played the role in the first three films of the series, and Bela Lugosi in his second appearance as the demented Ygor.

The fifth installment, ''[[Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man]],'' was released in 1943, directed by [[Roy William Neill]] and starring [[Bela Lugosi]] as [[Frankenstein's monster]]. This is also the sequel to ''[[The Wolf Man (1941 film)|The Wolf Man]]'', with [[Lon Chaney Jr.]] returning as the Wolf Man.

In the follow-up, ''[[House of Frankenstein (1944 film)|House of Frankenstein]]'' (1944), Karloff returned to the series, but not to reprise his role as the monster but as the Mad Doctor; the monster was this time portrayed by [[Glenn Strange]]. Chaney Jr. returned as the Wolf Man. Dracula was also featured in the film, played by [[John Carradine]].

Its sequel, ''[[House of Dracula]]'' (1945), featured the same three monsters—Dracula, Frankenstein's monster and the Wolf Man—with the same cast in their portrayals.

Many of the subsequent films which featured Frankenstein's monster demote the creature to a robotic henchman in someone else's plots, such as in its final Universal film appearance in the deliberately [[farce|farcical]] ''[[Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein]]'' (1948) as well as the aforementioned ''House of Frankenstein'' and ''House of Dracula''.

==Other adaptations==
{{original research section|date=December 2020}}
* Karloff would return to the wearing of the makeup and to the role of the monster one last time in a 1962 episode of the television show ''[[Route 66 (TV series)|Route 66]]''.
* The popular 1960s television sitcom, ''[[The Munsters]]'', depicts the family's father [[Herman Munster|Herman]] as Frankenstein's monster, who married [[Count Dracula]]'s daughter. The makeup for Herman is based on the makeup of Boris Karloff.
* Frankenstein appears in ''[[Mad Monster Party?]]'' (1967), a [[Rankin/Bass Productions]] [[Halloween]] special, where Dr. [[Victor Frankenstein|Boris von Frankenstein]] (voiced by Karloff) invites various classic monsters to a reunion at his castle with intentions to announce his retirement and to name his successor.
* [[Mel Brooks]]' comedy ''[[Young Frankenstein]]'' (1974) parodied elements of the first three [[Universal Pictures|Universal]] ''Frankenstein'' films, while also using the original props built for the 1935 film, provided by their designer [[Kenneth Strickfaden]]. Brooks also recreated the movie into a 2007 [[Young Frankenstein (musical)|Broadway musical of the same name]].
* A live-action parody short film, ''[[Frankenweenie (1984 film)|Frankenweenie]]'' (1984), depicting Victor Frankenstein as a modern American boy and his deceased pet dog as the monster, was made by [[Tim Burton]] in 1984. Burton remade it as [[Frankenweenie (2012 film)|a full-length animated film]] in 2012.

===Frankenstein's assistant===
[[File:Frankenstein1931CliveKarloffCrop.jpg|left|thumb|Colin Clive as Dr. Frankenstein and Dwight Frye as Fritz in ''Frankenstein'' (1931)]]
[[File:LugosiChaney001.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Re-release lobby card for ''[[Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man]]'' (1943) with [[Bela Lugosi]] as the monster and [[Lon Chaney Jr.]] as the werewolf]]
Although Frankenstein's hunchbacked assistant is often referred to as "[[Igor (fictional character)|Igor]]" in descriptions of the films, he is not so called in the earliest films. In both ''Frankenstein'' and ''Bride of Frankenstein'', Frankenstein has disabled assistants, played both times by [[Dwight Frye]]. In the original 1931 film the character is named "Fritz"; he is hunchbacked and walks with the aid of a small cane. Fritz did not originate from the ''Frankenstein'' novel, and instead originated from the earliest recorded play adaptation, ''[[Presumption; or, the Fate of Frankenstein]]'', where he was played by [[Robert Keeley (comedian)|Robert Keeley]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Behrendt |first=Stephen C. |date=2012 |title="A Hideous Bit of Morbidity": An Anthology of Horror Criticism from the Enlightenment to World War I |publisher=McFarland |page=97 |isbn=978-0786469093 |quote=Mary Shelley's ''Frankenstein'' was adapted for the stage many times, and the first of these interpretations was Richard Brinsley Peake's ''Presumption; or, the Fate of Frankenstein'' (1823), which dramatized key scenes from the novel and added Frankenstein's assistant, Fritz, to the mix.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rc.umd.edu/editions/peake/apparatus/cast-characters.html |title=Cast and Characters – Romantic Circles |last=Doe |first=John |publisher=RC |date=August 2001 |website=Romantic Circles |access-date=September 20, 2018 |archive-date=February 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225092628/http://www.rc.umd.edu/editions/peake/apparatus/cast-characters.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Son-of-frankensteinCropped.jpg|thumb|upright|Boris Karloff as the monster, [[Basil Rathbone]] as Dr. Frankenstein's son, and [[Bela Lugosi]] as [[Igor (character)|Ygor]] in ''[[Son of Frankenstein]]'' (1939).|left]]
In ''Bride of Frankenstein'', Frye plays "Karl", a murderer who stands upright but has a lumbering metal brace on both legs that can be heard clicking loudly with every step. Both characters would be killed by Karloff's monster in their respective films. Frye also appears in later films in the series, such as in ''[[Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man]]'' (1943).

The genesis of the scene in which Frankenstein's assistant Fritz drops a jar labeled "normal brain" and replaces it with a brain in a jar labeled "abnormal brain" is believed to be based on the fate of [[Walt Whitman]]'s brain at the [[American Anthropometric Society]].  Whitman had donated his brain after his death to the society for analysis to correlate intelligence with brain size.<ref name=Wright/>  A 1907 paper by [[Edward Anthony Spitzka]] on the society's brain collection caused a minor sensation when it revealed that Whitman's brain had been accidentally destroyed when a "careless assistant" dropped the jar it was stored in.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Burrell |first1=Brian |title=The Strange Fate of Whitman's Brain |journal=Walt Whitman Quarterly Review |date=2003 |volume=20 |issue=3 |page=107 |doi=10.13008/2153-3695.1708 |url=https://whitmanarchive.org/criticism/wwqr/pdf/anc.00891.pdf |access-date=7 January 2024}}</ref> This story element was not present in the original 1818 Mary Shelley novel.<ref name=Wright>{{cite journal |last1=Wright |first1=James R. |title=Société Mutuelle d'Autopsie, American Anthropometric Society, and the Wilder Brain Collection |journal=Arch Pathol Lab Med |date=1 May 2022 |volume=147 |issue=5 |pages=611–632 |doi=10.5858/arpa.2021-0623-HP |pmid=35984433 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

It was not until ''[[Son of Frankenstein]]'' (1939) that a character called "Ygor" first appears, here played by [[Bela Lugosi]] and revived by Lugosi in ''[[The Ghost of Frankenstein]]'' (1942) after his apparent murder in the earlier film. This character – a deranged blacksmith whose neck was broken and twisted due to a botched hanging – befriends the monster and later helps Dr. Wolf Frankenstein, leading to the "hunchbacked assistant" called "Igor" commonly associated with ''Frankenstein'' in popular culture. Regarding ''Son of Frankenstein'', the film's director [[Rowland V. Lee]] said his crew let Lugosi "work on the characterization; the interpretation he gave us was imaginative and totally unexpected ... when we finished shooting, there was no doubt in anyone's mind that he stole the show. Karloff's monster was weak by comparison".<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Son of Frankenstein|first=Phil |last=Edwards|publisher=[[Marvel UK]]|isbn=0786402571|volume=3|issue=10|magazine=[[Starburst (magazine)|Starburst]]|date=January 1997}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Boris Karloff filmography]]
* [[List of films featuring Frankenstein's monster]]
* [[Frankenstein in popular culture|''Frankenstein'' in popular culture]]
* [[Gothic film|Gothic film – Notable films]]
* [[1931 in science fiction]]
{{clear}}

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* Doherty, Thomas Patrick. ''Pre-Code Hollywood: Sex, Immorality, and Insurrection in American Cinema 1930–1934''. New York: Columbia University Press 1999. {{ISBN|0-231-11094-4}}
* {{cite book |editor-last1=Nourmand |editor-first1=Tony |editor-last2=Marsh |editor-first2=Graham |year=2004 |title=Horror Poster Art |publisher=Aurum Press Limited |location=London |isbn=1-84513-010-3}}
* Vieira, Mark A., ''Sin in Soft Focus''. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc. 2003. {{ISBN|0-8109-8228-5}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}

* [http://www.filmsite.org/fran.html ''Frankenstein'' at AMC's Filmsite]
* {{IMDb title}}
* [https://www.allmovie.com/movie/frankenstein-am16352 ''Frankenstein'' at AllMovie]
* {{TCMDb title}}
* {{AFI film}}
* [https://www.loc.gov/static/programs/national-film-preservation-board/documents/bride_frank.pdf ''Frankenstein and The Bride of Frankenstein''] essay by Richard T. Jameson at [[National Film Registry]]
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=deq3xI8OmCkC&source=gbs_similarbooks ''Frankenstein''] essay by Daniel Eagan in America's Film Legacy: The Authoritative Guide to the Landmark Movies in the National Film Registry, A&C Black, 2010 {{ISBN|0826429777}}, pages 187-188

{{Frankenstein}}
{{James Whale}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Frankenstein (1931 film)}}
[[Category:1931 films]]
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[[Category:Physiology in fiction]]
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{{Wikipedia attribution|original_title=Frankenstein (1931 film)|access_date=2026-03-03}}