:00:12
Hello. This is Scott MacQueen, and we're
about to watch the perfect horror movie,
:00:17
James Whale's 1935 Universal production
of Bride of Frankenstein.
:00:23
Wanting nothing to do with a sequel
to his 1931 film Frankenstein,
:00:27
James Whale responded to the inevitable
with style, wit and production value.
:00:31
He extracted the absolute best in concept
and craft from his cast and technical staff.
:00:38
Every department excels under a director
who knew exactly the effect he wanted:
:00:43
An opera of the macabre,
distilling ideas and fusing imagery
:00:47
of a myriad antecedents,
instilling them with subtext and theme.
:00:52
Mastery, control and purpose inform
every frame of this remarkable film.
:00:58
A stellar cast of largely British principals
is amended at the bottom
:01:02
with "The Monster's Mate"
played by... a question mark.
:01:45
The servant walking Lord Byron's hounds
is Irish actress Una O'Connor.
:01:49
We'll meet her again
in her principal role as Minnie,
:01:52
housekeeper of Castle Frankenstein.
:01:54
This whimsical doubling foreshadows
that of actress Elsa Lanchester.
:01:59
In an hour or so,
we'll meet Elsa as the monster's bride.