Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein has been one of the most inspirational stories ever written. More than 100 films have been made about the scientist Frankenstein, who is often confused with the actual name of his Monster creation. Bride of Frankenstein (1935) starring Boris Karloff, was the first time the Monster displayed a more tender and sympathetic side to audiences worldwide. The Young V&A museum has one of the Boris Karloff Monster props on display and it is a wonderful sight to behold. You can visit it at the site in Bethnal Green, London. Let’s dive into some things you should know about the famous story!
Mary Shelley was just a teenager when she wrote Frankenstein
Mary Shelley was born on 30th August 1797 in London. She wrote Frankenstein when she was just 18! It eventually got published when she was 20, under the title Frankenstein ; or, the Modern Prometheus. Have you written a story? We bet you can write a good one!
Mary Shelley dreamt of Frankenstein!
Mary Shelley took inspiration from her parents, science and art. Her mother tragically died giving birth to her, and she read her mother’s writings avidly as a child. She was also inspired by her father’s stories, which featured similar settings. One night she had a dream of a “hideous phantasm of a man stretched out” coming toward her, neither dead or alive. She began writing Frankenstein the next day. What inspirations could you draw on to write a story?
Mary Shelley faced a scandal!
People could not believe a woman wrote Frankenstein and it was initially poorly received as a result. In pre-Victorian and then Victorian era, women had a very restricted role as wives and mothers. Mary Shelley defied those expectations and lived her life on her own terms, paving the way for future women to do the same.
First Sci-Fi!
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is widely considered to be the first science fiction book. It has inspired many authors, film-makers and artists since, and no doubt that huge impact led to the likes of Jekyll and Hyde, Star Wars and the Marvel Universe. Frankenstein has inspired over 100 films based on the story. That would be one hell of a movie marathon!
6-10 years old 12%
11-13 years old 22%
14-17 years old 25%
18+ years old 41%
Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
Boris Karloff was a famous actor in the first half of the 20th century, most notably for his ‘monster’ roles in 1930s horror films. He played the Monster in Frankenstein in 1931, then again for sequels, including the Bride of Frankenstein (1935) which the images above are from. Much of the success of these films is credited to the sympathetic character he brought to the Monster, who did not ask to be born and was tormented by others for his appearance. The Monster in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is supposed to be 8ft tall and Boris Karloff stood at 6ft6 in the boots!
Monster makeup
Isn’t this movie makeup amazing? Director of Frankenstein, James Whale, wanted the makeup to work with Boris Karloff’s features, rather than transform him completely. He and the makeup artist Jack Pierce worked tirelessly over three weeks to come up with the look, and the above is the result! Wads of cotton wool were used for the wig and for the face, a plastic solution called collodian which was highly flammable and needed a special solution to remove. The bolts in Boris’s neck were so hard to remove after filming, they left permanent scars – OUCH! The whole process took over 3 hours. Could you sit still for that long?
Legacy
Frankenstein continues to fuel debate and ethics in science and experimentation, especially as technology becomes more advanced. There are many lessons to learn from the book and can be applied now. Are you interested in a career in science?
