Frank-in-Films

Here’s a few Frank-en-facts for all you Frank-en-fans out there, and even some musings...

 

Old Doc Frankenstein had a plan

To turn spare parts into a man
Once he had things a-happenin’
He gave the electrodes a mighty spin

Poor guy. I’ve always felt that was part of his problem all along, just being called The Monster or The Creature, or Frankenstein’s Monster. I mean, what was it like for him on the playground? “Hey, look, there’s The Creature.” No wonder he growled. I’d growl, too.

In the original book by Mary Shelley, he had a name. Adam. Nice, solid name. Adam. Then, they lose his name in the movies. I think he’d have been a lot calmer if people said, “Hey, look, here comes Adam!” Even if he was angry or otherwise in a bad mood, people would still say, “Oh, no! Everyone watch out! Adam’s not happy today.” And, he’d be, like, “Oh, come on, you guys, I’m not a monster. Put down those torches and pitchforks.” And, they’d be all, “Oh, sorry, man, what were we thinking? Hey, Adam, want to go for a cup of coffee? It’ll pick you up. You’re looking a little green today.” Then, Adam would say, “Sure, thanks, that sounds good. Yeah, the doc’s been just really mean today, and he still hasn’t fixed these bolts in my neck.”

All of the Mighty Three, Boris Karloff (William Henry Pratt, his birth name), Bela Lugosi, and Lon Chaney, Jr., played the creature. Mr. Karloff the most (three times), with Mr. Lugosi and Mr. Chaney tied with one time each.

The Edison Manufacturing Company (yes, the very same Thomas Alva Edison) filmed the very first (that anyone knows of) Frankenstein film, in 1910, a silent, with a 16 minute running time.

March 11th, 2013, will be the 195th birthday of the publication of Mary Shelley's novel, Frankenstein.

In German, Frankenstein means "stone of the Franks">