August 30
FRANKENSTEIN DAY
What would we do without the legendary monster created by Dr. Frankenstein! Thanks to author Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, born on this day in 1797, we have been frighteningly entertained for almost two centuries. In 1818, Ms. Shelley wrote the Gothic horror novel about Dr. Henry Frankenstein, the scientist who created the terrifying, yet loveable, monster. (Mary Shelley was the wife of poet Percy Bysshe Shelley.)
Hollywood took over in 1931 with an adaptation of Mary Shelley’s novel directed by Great Britain’s James Whale. Boris Karloff was the monster, a role that led to a monster career for Karloff. From then on, Frankenstein lived in sequel after sequel and adaptation after adaptation. Karloff reprised his role in two such films -- The Bride of Frankenstein in 1935 and Son of Frankenstein in 1939.
The opening scene in The Bride of Frankenstein features the author, Mary Shelley. Ms. Shelley is played by Elsa Lanchester. Lon Chaney picked up the monster role following in the difficult, huge footsteps of Karloff.
Mary Shelley and Dr. Frankenstein really were on to something. The movie and TV industries continue to create Frankenstein spin-offs, thrilling ... or should we say, scaring the pants off new generations.
Those Were the Days, the Today in History service from 440 International
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