Bride Of Frankenstein is an entertaining sequel to the original Frankenstein.
Boris Karloff portrays the monster for the second time. At the beginning of the film it is a reprise of his first time as the monster, and the strength of that performance is once again apparent. I will not bother to really get into what works so well about his portrayal in terms of the physical portrayal of the monster since I will be reviewing that performance as well and in that case the focus will almost be entirely on his creation of the monster. In this case I will focus on what changes about his portrayal of the monster here which almost comes up really first when the monster just by chance happens upon a blind man the only person he does not scare away since the blind man cannot see him.
In the scene Boris Karloff shows a change in the monster as the monster meets a friend and even begins to learn to speak. Karloff is quite brilliant actually in his portrayal of the monster's change because honestly having the monster change could easily take away the danger or the mystery from monster but Karloff succeeds in only making this seem like a natural transition with the monster. His voice he uses is just perfect for the monster and it is particularly interesting considering the true soft spoken voice that Karloff actually had. Karloff is brilliant as he is actually quite moving in his portrayal of the monster as he tries to interact just like a normal human with the blind man.
Karloff is terrific in realizing the strange place that the monster reaches as he tries to interact with the old man, but is only troubled once again when hunters arrive. Karloff offers a fascinating dynamic between the monster still being the monster, yet trying to be a man. Karloff's face is particularly expressive here and it is amazing the way he change from that of the friendly giant to that of the monster so quickly yet internally naturally. Karloff manages to realize the state of the monster that is a confused state the monster itself is not aware of what it is, and Karloff makes the monster the hodgepodge emotions just like how he is made of a hodgepodge of parts.
His greatest moment has to be what is the greatest moment in the film when the monster meets his bride (Elsa Lancaster). Karloff successfully makes the moment quite heartbreaking as he portrays the monster's warm attempt to talk to his bride only to be turned down quickly by her. Karloff is incredible in the scene because when the monster is rejected it is not only anger he brings out in the monster, but as well a deep sadness over being hated by what was suppose to love. This is a great performance by Karloff that instead of being overwhelmed by the sheer idea of the monster but instead makes the monster his own through his strangely enough human portrayal of the character.
6 comments:
What's your opinion of the film?
I think its good.
ohh this ought to be a close race =D.
When you next get to the 70s can it please be 75? I cant wait to see your review on Robert Shaw in Jaws. I rewatched Jaws yesterday and was blown away by him and I know he's one of your favorite actors.
I probably do that year for the next one in the 70's.
I remember when he used to be a 4,5. Glad that he's a 5 now.
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