2010 09 15 On the Novella

Although there is little in the novel about the creation of the monster, Edison’s Frankenstein appears to be closest to Mary Shelley’s description than any other film adaptation. The monster eventually interrupts Dr. Frankenstein and his bride on their wedding night, an incident familiar to fans of the 1931 film. At the end, the creature is “overcome by love and disappears, ” as the title card reads, into Frankenstein’s mirror.

 

Edison’s Frankenstein was not a financial success. Thereafter, there were at least two other silent film versions of the novel and other silent films took some inspiration from Mary Shelley’s novel. However, with the success of Dracula (1931), Universal Studios decided to adapt another famous horror novel to the screen and Frankenstein was the obvious choice. Frankenstein (1931) According to the credits, Frankenstein (1931) is from the novel by Mrs. Percy B. Shelley, a most unusual manner in which to refer to Mary Wollstone -craft Shelley.

 

However, despite the credit. most of the well- remembered scenes from the film do not come from the novel, such as the early scenes of grave robbing, the stealing of a brain from the University, the stunning creation sequence, the attempt by Dr. Waldman to destroy the monster and the ultimate destruction of the creature in the fire at the windmill.