The year was 1931, and director James Whale had no idea what a monster he was about to unleash — both literally and figuratively.
At that point, Universal Pictures had only enjoyed a single successful horror film (or as Variety called them at the time, a “nightmare picture”). Dracula, starring Bela Lugosi, was a hit; but many within the studio assumed it was a one-off fluke, and audiences would never want more scary stuff. Frankenstein was a chance to prove the doubters wrong.
And looking back, nobody could’ve pulled it off quite as successfully, and with such a unique style, as James Whale. A seasoned theater director, he’d only been in Hollywood about a year at this point, and had barely proven his ability behind the camera. But he brought something special to Frankenstein, and his followup horror pictures: A wry comedy sensibility, with deadpan camp.
Some audiences might not even notice that Whale’s films Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein are, at times, comedic. But it’s not hard to spot, from the outrageously flamboyant mad scientist Dr. Pretorious to the gallows humor of a dancing skeleton in the background. And of course, there’s the daring wickedness of playing church bells as the Bride herself is unveiled.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Whale was especially intent on injecting subtle joking blasphemy throughout his work, because he was so often reined in by religious censorship. (One draft of Frankenstein had dialogue describing the Bible as a fairy tale!) But the Hays Office weren’t even his most formidable opponents during his career — that distinction would go to Adolf Hitler himself.
The life and career of Whale is too monumental to fit into a single essay, of course, which is why I’ve just published a new YouTube video all about him! It’s available to watch now.
What’s new this week
A brand new video about James Whale, the gay father of Frankenstein.
A new bonus video on Patreon, comparing the Frankenstein films of the 1930s to Young Frankenstein in the 1970s.
On this week’s Sewers of Paris, I’m chatting with Wellington Love about the disco anthem that inspired Lady Gaga to write “Born this Way” … and how he got to talk to Gaga about it.
What’s coming up
For this weekend’s Twitch livestreams, we’re watching Young Frankenstein & comparing the script to what made it on screen. It starts at noon pacific on Saturday and Sunday at http://twitch.tv/mattbaume.
I’m chugging away on a new video about Wicked and the intense gayness of The Wizard of Oz.
On Sewers of Paris, a chat with an artist whose graphic novels are the stuff of legends, literally.
Stuff I’ve been enjoying lately
AnyAustin has a great new video about the accuracy of the airports in the Grand Theft Auto franchise.
Here is a dog that just really likes to cuddle.
I’m doing a lot of Oz research right now, which includes an excellent video about the trans reading of the character Ozma, by my friend Terry Blas.