The Queer Tragedy of BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN

A reading of James Whale's "Bride of Frankenstein" through the lens of queer film theory and how this modernizes a tragic tale of being unable to find acceptance in a cruel world.
PATREON - / mattdraper
TWITTER - / mattdraperyt
#Frankenstein
#Horror
#VideoEssay
Music:
"Bride of Frankenstein" OST by Franz Waxman
music.disasterpeace.com/album...
"Shadows" by The Midnight
themidnight.bandcamp.com/

[@angelagwen1818]

Bride is such a beautiful tragedy. But watching it as a woman, it's absolutely terrifying. You're brought into existence solely to get married and if you reject that you get death

[@madeline569]

Extremely apt isn't it. We've been held hostage by men for thousands of years, "be our slave, serve us, bear our children, or die"

[@randomthoughtreviews3101]

Interesting perspective

[@AliciaNyblade]

Agreed. Everybody expresses pity that the Creature gets rejected, which is fair as we've all been there, but I rarely see people talk about the horror the Bride goes through. She's brought to life not for the sake of her own creation but to be used as a means to an end, with no thought given by the men doing it as to what her wishes might be. Every time I see the scene where she hisses at the Creature, I can't help but think, "Good for you, girl! Just because other people had a destiny in mind for you doesn't mean you have to follow it." It makes me wonder what she would've gotten up to had she not been blown to bits with the Creature and Dr. Pretorius.

[@DarkWillUser]

@@AliciaNyblade she would have been feared, screamed at, vilified, shunned and hunted.

[@AliciaNyblade]

@@DarkWillUser Yeah, no shit. Society would've reacted to her the same way it reacted to the Creature. But at least the Creature got a chance to go outside and befriend the blind man. The Bride didn't even get that, which again points to the fact that she was seen as just a means to an end: "She's not doing what we want her to do and has rejected the mate we picked for her? Destroy her right away!"

[@PeanutStrawberry]

"To be both hated by humanity for being completely different, and shunned by those who could be like you is the source of both horror and tragedy." That hits too close to home... :(

[@Texasjim2007]

Everybody is an individual more than anything else but none of us are completely different from everybody else in all things. Nobody hates people simply for being different than they are or everybody would logically hate everybody else in the human race. We all have potential conflicts of interest with everybody regardless of how similar or different they are to us such as the conflict of interest Jeff Dahmer had with his dinner dates despite all of them being Gay. The only thing somebody being different than you are contributes to those conflicts is the greater the difference the more difficult it may be to understand their intentions or work out misunderstandings. Identity politics is and always has been a con game invented by politicians most of whom being lawyers are professional con artists for sale to the highest bidder. The Burgermeister in this film saw the monster as just another lunatic escaped from an asylum and the father of the little girl the monster killed in the first film would have felt the same about anybody else who caused the death of his child even if it had been his twin brother.

[@ScaryMason]

My favorite monster mostly because it’s downfall is being too human. When portrayed correctly it’s motivation, feelings, and actions are all things we could see ourselves doing in it’s circumstances.

[@peterhatzioannides7120]

And homicidal.

[@kevinthomas4239]

One of the rare instances of the sequel being better than the original. I have all the Universal Monsters series, my favorites being Bride and The Invisable Man.

[@johnathonhaney8291]

Ah, The Invisible Man, another Universal Monster gem that I think gets overlooked. Jack Griffin is a LOT less nice or sympathetic a character than Frankenstein or his creation, being a combo of the two. Yet I find myself feeling for him and even approving of some of his actions.

[@tayojones9460]

True. He was arrogant and obsessed with his power, but he did love his fiance. While not as sympathetic as the monster, the Invisible man is no less compelling and is just as complex.

[@johnathonhaney8291]

@@tayojones9460 Absolutely...even moreso than Frankenstein, Griffin is a man lost in his own creation to the point where he can't find his way back. Speaking of that fiancee, did you know the actress who played her went on to be old Rose in Titanic?

[@tayojones9460]

I did not know that. That is very cool.

[@Master_Blackthorne]

Bride is certainly DEEPER than the original. Another example is Dracula's Daughter which introduced the first sympathetic vampire in film history.

[@vicenteortegarubilar9418]

Nothing better than using horror films as an analogy of real problems, fears and other things.

[@MattDraper]

Exactly! It’s a very moldable genre that can go deeper than a lot of others.

[@vicenteortegarubilar9418]

@@MattDraper And it's usually an unappreciated genre. So many horror films that are masterpieces that were considered only schlock, dumb films, controvertial and bad taste when they were release.

[@johnathonhaney8291]

@@vicenteortegarubilar9418 You could say that of so many films, period, especially if they're genre pieces. The Mummy (that is, the original, not the Brendon Fraser vehicle that annoyed me when I saw it first) is arguably another progressive film, where our damsal in distress ultimately saves herself from an ex-boyfriend who can't let go.

[@Master_Blackthorne]

When you do that, you have true horror.

[@mariod1547]

That scene with the hermit is one of the most touching scenes I've ever seen. It moved me quite a bit.

[@AndyMangele]

I can relate to that 100% - by far my favorite scene!

[@wallykimball8829]

And if you've seen Young Frankenstein, the parody of that scene is one of the funniest things I remember in that movie.

[@stephenedward6866]

@@wallykimball8829 Where are you going? I was going to make espresso!

[@wednesdaygeckok.7899]

I unironically still get intensely emotional during both hermit scenes, even when theyre just having fun together im weeping like a child

[@Xehanort10]

In the original book Victor Frankenstein destroyed the bride he was going to make for the monster because he was paranoid they'd hate each other and was scared of the possibility of them having monster kids.

[@DaraGaming42]

lol

[@wandanemer2630]

The person literally giving the Bride a womb was scared that they might breed. LOL But also... this implies the Monster was also fully functional on that aspect.

[@wednesdaygeckok.7899]

In the Junji Ito adaptation he successfully creates the bride but she goes mad and attacks Victor, Henry, and the wretch. So in response the wretch murders the bride, vows revenge believing Victor made her specifically to kill him, murders Henry, and then kills Victors entire family before he could ever even get married to Elizabeth and the chase goes immediatelyto the arctic from there. Its quite shocking knowing every other adaptation. High high HIGH recommend

[@DevonPalmer98]

Frankenstein, bride and son is one of my favorite trilogies. The sequels never get the credit they Deserve

[@johnathonhaney8291]

Bride especially deserves that credit. For instance, it's the first time in film history that a monster thought to be killed in the previous film is actually still alive, a trope that predates Halloween by four decades.

[@srstriker6420]

Devon Palmer no, but they should

[@camerongodsey9847]

I’m surprised you didn’t use “Freaks” as the topic of a video like this. Freaks is the ultimate “no one understands them and ridicules them” picture.

[@MattDraper]

Freaks is really interesting and controversial. A lot to talk about there for sure! This movie is just the one that jumped out to me first.

[@camerongodsey9847]

Matt Draper hey I like it! Really breaks from the norm and that’s always a great thing 😄

[@johnathonhaney8291]

This one and I are old friends. While I absolutely agree with a lot of the queer film theory interpretations, I always connected to it as another kind of outsider myself. What neuro-atypical person couldn't find parallels in the creature's constant rejections and inability to be understood? The prayer scene gets me every time for that reason.

[@MattDraper]

I love your thoughts here. I think the film can be relatable for so many reasons. Thank you for sharing!

[@benlawless9539]

Thats how I feel about this movie, the Neurodivergent struggles of not understanding why people reject you. Its so heartwrenching. Love frankenstein, love James Whale, love Boris

[@AliciaNyblade]

As someone who's visually impaired, I completely agree. The queer theory read of this film is great, but there's also so much that could be said about characters who'd be classified as having disabilities. The scene with the hermit gets me every time, too, especially because my community is so under-represented in film even today (and often badly done when we are featured in films), so to see such a lovely representation of a blind character in a film from the 1930s is a wonderfully moving treat. I wish the Creature had somehow found the blind hermit again and they were able to just chill in the woods as friends.

[@omegaink5635]

What a melancholy tragic story...

[@MattDraper]

My favorite type!

[@pagingdoctorshoggoth9405]

Bride will always be one of my all time favourite films. With its rumination on otherness along with it's truly inspired aesthetic design that takes what Whale did with Frankenstein one step further and its many, just, bizarre moments, it stands out amongst the Universal monster franchise as a truly unique and personal slice of cinema. Ugh, I love it so much and I'm always glad to see more content discussing it on them youtubes

[@patticake5944]

I cried and cried through this one as a child. He was so lonely. That is the way Shelley wrote it too.

[@walterfechter8080]

The Monster stumbled into the crypt and falls against a coffin containing a perfectly-preserved woman, The Monster waves his hand over the dead woman's face and then says, "Friend." For me, that was the saddest moment in that film. That scene flashed through my mind after I lost my beloved wife to cancer.

[@Xehanort10]

I know Boris Karloff's more childlike Frankenstein's Monster is famous but I've always wondered why they've never made a Frankenstein film based on the original novel where the monster's more intelligent. I like both versions though.

[@RandomAccessDreams]

They did, Kenneth Branagh directed 'Mary Shelley's Frankenstein', starring Branagh as Victor Frankenstein and Robert de Niro as The Monster.

[@coffintears5821]

Probably because the audience at that time wouldn't think it was believable for an animated corpse to be intelligent and sympathetic. Hence turning Frankenstein into this sort of villian. Depsite Henry Frankenstein being the true villain of the story. A mad scientist with a god complex who trys to hurt his creation. Like yeah dr. Frankenstein is evil but his niave child like creation is more evil and must be destroyed. Practically rejecting his son eventhough hes the one that created him. Maybe if igor hadn't accidentally stolen the dumb brain instead of the smart one it would be more accurate to the book.

[@DaraGaming42]

it in an odd way, A highly intelegent monster would come across as a Parody and woulnt be taken seriously. But if u want a Frankenstien thats intelligent go watch the films i,Frankenstein from 2014 and The Hammer Curse of Frankenstien from 1959, its the only two films where hes a normal intelegent human and its not played for laughs. Ill admit if i seen a frankenstien where he starts reading the wallstreet journal id burst out laughing.

[@peterthayer6238]

Sadly, Hollywood couldn't conceive of a really accurate and rea

[@peterthayer6238]

And reasonable telling of the book version of Frankenstein and Dracula. The perverse thing about Hollywood is how they underpaid Bela Lugosi and then gave him lesser pictures. He always gave a great performance. MGM destroyed John Gilbert, Conrad Nagel Universal destroyed Bela Lugosi...with the help of other studios. Lugosi made money for them and they robbed him blind. At least Ed Wood paid Bela as much as he could, and Lugosi gave him some scenes that proved Lugosi's talent and willingness to do a great job regardless of story line or money.

[@SnapperChannel]

This weekend I’ll be watching Halloween (1978) and Bride of Frankenstein thanks to Matt’s awesome video essays. Great video. Also, I saw on your Twitter the next two months are comic videos! Any chance of Geoff John’s Green Lantern run?

[@MattDraper]

Thanks, that means a lot! At the moment, no plans not Johns’ GL, still trying to figure out how to cover it. It’s just so long and epic!

[@haintedhouse3052]

O.K. maybe there is no 'perfect' film, but Bride comes damn near close. Not only does it surpass the original (a rare feat), it still remains the crowning jewel of Universals golden age of classic horror films.

[@boringboi3092]

Your criticism of film criticism was so real it made me choke on my water

[@MattDraper]

Definitely some things I'd been meaning to say. This seemed like the perfect time to do it.

[@johnathonhaney8291]

@@MattDraper So...in some things, perfection DOES exist? Teasing...you raise a fair point on that subject.

[@MattDraper]

Lol ok you got me!

[@TH3F4LC0Nx]

His name isn't Victor Frankenstein in the movie; it's Henry. Just FYI.

[@danenagai1157]

Not the type of allegory that I thought of, but I DO agree with the second half of one's desire to fit & be accepted by someone who's social norms aren't oppressive to "outcasts". Plus, I love the potshots you made at the "EXPLAIN" & "PERFECT" videos.

[@MattDraper]

Thanks! This is just one application of the film's themes, but as you said, it's broader meaning is very relatable and beautiful.

[@TANKTREAD]

My favorite Franz Waxman score. So ahead of its time.

[@jonahjameson9059]

I loved this. I appreciate a critic who thinks outside the box in places no one else would think to do. You are a very talented man, keep up the good work!

[@theyakkoman]

Was pondering which horror film to rewatch this Halloween. Now I know. Thanks for that ;)

[@MattDraper]

Happy to help! I think this one is great for a more classics-focused Halloween night.

[@bloodskeleton6454]

I like monsters and i dont like people being mean to monsters

[@bloodskeleton6454]

Because people Are mean to monsters and i hate people being mean

[@bloodskeleton6454]

I know i like people but people monsters and you Need to understand that some people Are mean to monsters

[@bloodskeleton6454]

😑

[@ReverendDudeKyle]

Great job Matt, one of my favorite analyses thus far!

[@MattDraper]

Thanks! Glad you liked it!

[@srstriker6420]

What about the tragedy of Larry Talbot the wolf man?

[@MattDraper]

The Wolf Man is really interesting, too. I think werewolves often reflect a fear that we have of our own darkest tendencies. Could make an interesting video someday!

[@srstriker6420]

Matt Draper and are you going to do a video on the wolf man on Halloween?

[@MattDraper]

Not this year, but I'd like to do more Universal Monsters movies and not just for Halloween.

[@srstriker6420]

Matt Draper good because I loved the universal monsters.

[@raymondsteen5316]

Matt Draper - This along with the original " Frankenstein " is among my favorites of the Frankenstein saga. And speaking of saga, I have a book titled "It's Alive!" By Gregory Wm. Mank, which involves all the Universal Frankenstein films saga!

[@jeffallcock4561]

There are so many layers of meaning to this supposedly frivolous 'monster' movie, including the monster's Christ-like suffering, it's a wonder it ever passed the censors of the day.

[@apex2000]

I always find funny how big she got despite never actually coming to life in the novel. As she was intentionally unfinished.

[@aproposreeve]

Nice video however you seem to miss the fact that the relationship between Petroious and Henry Frankenstein seems to be an abusive one

[@johnathonhaney8291]

Excellent point...Clive Barker compared it with Mephistopheles' relationship to Faust, which also works. It strikes me that it is a reversed image of the relationship between the monster and the old, blind hermit.

[@FrancohGZ]

''Even beyond what made have been intended by the creator'' That''s a fancy way of saying your analyzing themes that aren't even there, just making stuff up for the sake of a theory.

[@thedarkroom6416]

Rh

[@oliverbrownlow5615]

I would say rather that the audience is the final collaberator in any work of art, and that one's experience of any work of art depends partly on what one brings to it in terms of one's life experience, including one's previous experience of other works of art.

[@akajkyt]

Excellent analysis! I really loved this film.

[@jimpirko5941]

Interesting, insightful perspective on a Classic film!

[@DeanRendar]

have i been in frankenstein nation all along and no one told me?

[@BlueBrainMountainStream]

I would say the monster in this instance is much more like a religious divine messiah/creation since humans create the gods that religions use to influence and control. And it usually goes wrong one way or the other.

[@mugwump790]

I can't wait to see this, um, technique to be used to correct other historical inequities...such as The Tuskeegee Airmen for example!

[@jeffallcock4561]

It's also a very funny and campy take on birth and mating and hetero tradition--don't let the oh-so-serious 'queer theory' bog you down. Whale was a genius.

[@wednesdaygeckok.7899]

The scene that gets me most in this movie truly is the ending The monster telling his creator, his father, his god, who hates him for existing despite making him, to go that he deserves to live because he has real love in his life and he deserves to keep it The romantic tragedy of him pulling that lever. It makes me wonder if this was ever supposed to be a horror movie like the first This movie has a heart and soul that i cant even put my connection to in words It made me who i am today All of the universal big 6 Even the bad movies But when im sad and alone bride really does help because its just nice to be reminded im not really alone in the pain i feel being rejected by so many people in my life Ive always been different And after coming out it got worse. These movies are a part of me

[@jillianraeyoung4693]

Excellent work! 🖤💚🖤💚🖤

[@kathleenferguson1593]

The question of who is the monster? Dr. Frankinstein or his Creature, is fascinating.

[@johnmitchelljr]

Thank you, well done. Thank god Mr. Whale decided to be a director.

[@bobbyshewan4229]

Happy Halloween everybody!!!

[@JackFirneno]

Great video. I'm particular, you struck a great balance between reading the film through Queer theory while also explaining how much (or little) was intended by Whale and how to read beyond a director's explicit intent.

[@jonhinson5701]

I loved the character of Dr Pretorius as a villain and outsider to human society and it's norms.

[@adamosborne685]

Hey Matt, I love all your videos. But do you have any videos around comics coming soon? I'd just really love you to do a video with Daredevil and Bullseye considering season 3 came out

[@MattDraper]

I totally get it, I took a big break from comic videos. The next several months will be almost entirely comic book-focused. Announcements coming soon!

[@adamosborne685]

Matt Draper yaaaaaayyyyyyyyy

[@donovandelaney3171]

You could say the same thing about Monster High.

[@ingramjd]

Does every generation (ahem) have to have this stuff reexplained? Apparently no such notions have any value when inherited, but must be rediscovered, since the rising generation their predecessors credit for understanding any of it. eventually the young come to realize their parents were maybe a little more hip after all.

[@bobbyshewan4229]

Btw I have an idea for a video. Watchmen. Movie or comic or both I dont really care but I really wanna see your opinion on the series in general

[@MattDraper]

I’d like to cover it at some point, I just need to find something new to say about it since it’s been analyzed so much over the years.

[@bobbyshewan4229]

@@MattDraper i respect that

[@caractacusbrittania7442]

The director micro managed his films, set design, lighting, script editing, even to the point of assisting in the painting of sets(he was once a sign writer, and gifted artist) Whale was a Lieutenant in the woucesters in ww1, and spent two years in German captivity after being taken prisoner in 1916. he is my great uncles son, A very talented and brave man.

[@MrGadfly772]

You may want to edit. Hunters find the creature with the hermit, not 'armed soldiers."

[@pxb353]

In conclusion : love your Frankenqueers !

[@equusquaggaquagga536]

The monster wasn't being persecuted because of his appearance He's literally a mass murderer

[@karl_alan]

He wasn't in the original film...I don't think he even reaches the qualifications for mass murderer if you put the two films together. In the original film he's really only guilty of a negligent homicide because he wasn't smart enough to realize people don't float like flowers, and then the true homicide of the doctor...but since the 2nd movie undoes that murder, that means in the 1st movie all he does is accidentally kill 1 person and the town hunts him down and tries to burn him alive. I think that counts as persecution. Then, in this 2nd film, while trying to get out of the rubble of people burning down a building he's in, he kills 2 people that were searching the rubble to "make sure he's dead."...arguably self-defence murders. The town then hunts him down and persecuted him again, and wouldn't let him be, so he pushed over a Boulder on two guys hunting him down with rifles. The town then beat him with sticks and weapons for a while and locked him in a cage. After he breaks out, he saves someone from drowning, having learned from the first film, & is shot for his trouble & hunted down again. He then continues to run away & try to find refuge from the mob over & over again, hiding in different places, learning & making friends, and doesn't kill anyone again until the end of the movie when he kills a criminal/murderer of women, and pulls the switch that kills himself, the bride (arguably neither being people) and the mad doctor. Overall, both movies combined he has one accidental homicide, four self-defence murders, kills a criminal that had recently murdered a woman & was attacking him, and the doctor that made his bride & tricked him. Hardly a mass murderer & definitely persecuted the entire time with little cause excepting his looks.

[@equusquaggaquagga536]

@@karl_alan The monster killed Fritz and the doctor in the first film as well

[@karl_alan]

@@equusquaggaquagga536 I do stand corrected. I completely forgot Fritz. I did mention the doctor though, and then mentioned how the sequel unkilled him. So, if the 2nd movie is cannon, in the 1st film we have Fritz and an accidental death before he started being hunted down with fire & guns...and none of those townsfolk knew about Fritz...so they're still hysterical and persecuting him based on the monstrous appearance more than for being some mass spree killer or anything.

[@kenbrunette5848]

@@karl_alan In the original film he also kills Dr. Waldman. I don't recall this being undone in Bride

[@oliverbrownlow5615]

​​@@kenbrunette5848 Right, the character played by Edward Van Sloan. Though, to be fair, Waldman is in the act of beginning to dismember the Monster when the Monster kills him, so this could reasonably be considered self-defense.

[@VortexBunche]

Such a superb film.

[@skrimshander]

Great analysis using Queer film theory and referencing some of my favorite continental philosophers...”Not an anti-Christ but an inverse-Christ”. Wow! If you had thrown Nietzsche’s Uber mensch in at the end when the castle is exploding, My brain might have exploded with it.

[@wytemanfrmtwn9363]

Two dudes playing god and creating a monster isn’t the most romantic story. Just because the director was gay doesn’t mean he left a bread crumb trail of gayness in his films. I watched this video but I disagree. You deep dive this movie way to much and bent the meaning of the film to fit another narrative. Just my opinion.

[@KingEgyptian]

Your opinion is fact, this video is rubbish. There are no gay themes or innuendo whatsoever.

[@wednesdaygeckok.7899]

Educate yourself on the culture of universal at the time The wolfman is literally a holocaust movie, for instance

[@Paslayas]

Hmm, here I thought that Frankenstein's was an allegory to why isn't wise to play God. I agree with the the POV that something/someone who's different to the established more is a threat to the whole, but to equate Frankenstein's to the struggles of LGBT person is at best superficial.

[@numericalhorror185]

Paslayas the original frankenstein narrative was written by a feminist woman in an open relationship and has clear themes of sexual repression and violence. It’s not a stretch

[@bloomindoom]

Brilliant

[@MattDraper]

Thanks!

[@GiuseppeAnt0]

The blind man doesn’t just “not conform to societal norms”. He’s literally disabled. Frankenstein is also essentially a disabled man. Their relationship is one of brotherly love. Reading homosexuality into that is a mistake. There’s nothing erotic or romantic about their relationship.

[@adamcartwright7281]

You're wasting your time. Gay people see sexuality in literally everything. They don't comprehend that men can have a bond that isn't sexual.

[@thestorm99]

By far, the greatest Universal Monster movie of them all. A sublime masterpiece.

[@juanl.sanchez1467]

El monstruo más incomprendido de la historia.

[@apolowalker4592]

Make a video - essay related to the recent comic book: "Mister Miracle" by Tom King.

[@MattDraper]

Already in the works!

[@prayingmantis5799]

This is like the thing from the gonnies go looking for a bride, which would be the end of times to whatever woman he sacrificing to his curse.

[@prayingmantis5799]

All this is from the Egyptian movie the mummy and that’s where the frankinstine movies come from ancient Egyptian history of mummification. Why this came out in America I don’t know!.

[@Master_Blackthorne]

The original Frankenstein film left out the concept that society tormented the creature because he was different. instead it used the interpolation that he received a criminal brain and therefore had no choice. Bride of Frankenstein goes back to the novel and shows again and again society mistreats him and therefore is justified in receiving his anger. In fact, I don't remember the fact that he has an abnormal brain ever being mentioned in Bride.

[@phillyflash43]

THE LEVER!!!

[@karma4553]

Personally I can't say one is better than another . At the time these came out they both were a home run !

[@marcdelente2456]

La fiancée de Frankeinstein réalisé en 1935 à eu plus de succè que le premier qui a aussi été un grand succè. Dans la fiancé de Frankeinstein ont a fait parlé la créature ce dont karloff disait que c était pas une bonne idée. Mais Boris karloff va être extraordinaire et faire ressentir l émotion alors qu' il effrait ça fiancé moment émouvant et drôle quand elle ce met à hurlé. En tout qu' à un vrai chef d oeuvre absolut.

[@karma4553]

Still finding it interesting, the line from a seed ! My visual doesn't come out well.

[@markherron1407]

Created by Dr Victor Frankenstein as a mate for his monster, The Bride rejected her intended companion! After the villainous Red Swami grafted an extra pair of arms onto her and turned her into an assassin, The Bride was recruited by the Super-Human Advanced Defence Executive! She was reunited with Frankenstein's Monster when he also joined S.H.A.D.E. !Go HUG someone today IF they're been vaccinated! Blessings and Hugs 💖💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕!

[@SuperBadspeller]

Greatest Battles in Comics: Falcon vs Sentinel

[@karma4553]

Great movie ! And add comedy in this fashion did not hurt it at all !

[@ajsmith5295]

Clever

[@inkogneetohanon]

beautifully explained, thank you! such a neat movie, i now appreciate it even more!

[@765kvline]

Hubris is always a casualty of over eager and diminished capacity individuals who fail to reason a fateful outcome.

[@michaelcoffey1991]

It saddens me the "classic" monster films are dying off as very very few of the now generation (read 16 to 25) understand like or embrace the amazing films done for the original Universal classics of Dracula, Wolfman, Frankenstein and this classic which truth be told was my favorite of all 5 or 6 original films. We can now call thru cell phone, we can all feel as one community online... @Matt Draper can you do a movie on why movies from 75 years ago look FAR BETTER then anything we have today? The set pieces all look amazing (tho this is the gem of the Universal films) and no colors pop like they did in The Wizard of Oz. It saddens me these film techniques are no longer used we are missing more then we are gaining me thinks..... Thanks again for showcasing this gem I hope a few dozen people fall in love with this.

[@MsArrika]

Is it a coincidence a man with a name like Hurlbutt grew to be apart of this horror classic?? I think not.

[@jayzrat]

Dude, you are really deep, lol!

[@wednesdaygeckok.7899]

Dude, you are really intelligent, lol!

[@DenkyManner]

Bride is not the superior film. People keep saying that and it's not true.

[@Furore2323]

Okay you're right but MMFR is literally perfect tho.

[@CrazyCartoonCat12]

I've only seen a few of your videos and you're making see these movies with a whole new perspective.

[@Yourdeadmeat69]

The saving of the teen girl in the Bride is a "hey look at this" two fingered whistle cluing the audience to the monster's growing basic humanity, and, a validation that his tossing the little girl into the lake in the original Frankenstein movie was accidental. Your takeaway was supposed to be "oh look he saves the girl now, the death of the little girl previous movie must have been accidental." Frankie's not perfect, but he's improving. The original ending of the Bride was supposed to have everyone die --probably as punishment for the whole "sordid mess" of blasphemous alternate lifestyle, probably born of Hayes commission censorship fears in a post code era, but the studio would have none of it and saved Dr. Frankenstein and Elizabeth as a happier ending. You can imbue that however you like, but if the story is allowed to stand on its own without those pesky capitalists intervention -- you might conclude that Dr. Frankenstein's love for Elizabeth earned him a second chance at heterosexuality. Which means if he doesn't put the lid down on the toilet after using same, he's going to catch hell for the rest of his life in holy matrimony. Whatever side the aisle, one thing is certain: Karloff busted his back carrying Colin Clive around for a bunch of takes last scenes Frankenstein so badly, the fact that he put those 50 pound boots on again at 48 and later at 51 is its own story. 3 operations, he never fully recovered. There's a pain in the ass joke in here somewhere, but I'm fearful to inspire more LTBG xyz philosophy. And while I am at it, Whale's sexuality wasn't open, it was an openly guarded secret, something impossible to manage today with social media blowing the lid off of everything. An openly guarded secret is a secret which is only widely known in the professional community. Think Rock Hudson versus say, Burt Lancaster. If you don't believe me google Frank Gorshin. Xsum: There is a propensity to be alpha dog so profound, any allegiances of competitors on the island is transitory and delusional, until from 10, left is but one little Indian boy. And if the studio demands it, a girl friend. See Agatha Christie

[@peterhatzioannides7120]

Advocating for the monster when it would eventually kill anyone it came in contact with it.

[@HeyFella]

I’m usually not fond of sociopolitical analysis of films because it’s usually the exact same view of the world, but this was really well done.

[@MattDraper]

Thank you! It’s definitely a delicate balance, but I think this movie provides very unique topics.

[@HeyFella]

Matt Draper exactly and once again, excellent video.

[@adambowling1831]

Orrr… it’s just a great movie about a sad monster alone in the world. I don’t think it has anything to do with being gay lol

[@benlambe3168]

Ello

[@MattDraper]

Hi!

[@altramen7045]

it is possible to look into something too deep and to see something that isn't there. you did that here. "powerfully assert the message at hand", except, the message at hand isn't what you're saying it is. pretty bad take.

[@jairaugusto9289]

"positionality", yup, sounds like 60s french philosophy.

[@paulaharrisbaca4851]

What has alphabet theory have to do with this film? Two men cannot create a woman. Just saying.

[@Harrison1875]

Alphabet theory? What are you on about?

[@premakidd7518]

📡

[@tommyvasquez2708]

are these supposed to be horror movies? they seem more like character studies/dramas

[@oliverbrownlow5615]

They were certainly classified as horror movies at the time they were made, but in modern times, when horror has come to mean works featuring revolting explicit scenes of physical torture and murder, I think they are more accurately described as monster movies.

[@PhilipWeisman-dl4ik]

Really great and perceptive commentary that adds to the experience of the film.

[@victortexis4279]

👍

[@mariadavis2472]

Everyoneseez them as the monster

[@kylea8795]

The horror of feeling alone in the world is something that I can definitely relate to. The notion of our societal norms being the cause of so much inequality, hate, intolerance and most importantly indifference towards the needs and desires of those who are labeled “the other” within our society. If that is the case should we consider abandoning these old notions that strictly limit our ability to understand and accept our fellow human beings, all I ask is this, if we as a species want to create a better world, one that is fair, kind and accepting, then we must toss aside the ideals and systems cause nothing but suffering and hardship so that the possibility that of a better Tomorrow becomes less of a dream and more of a reality.

[@BB-ed4om]

Gender is not individualized or fluid if you don’t subscribe to gender theory. The heteronormative approach is not theory, it’s not a conformance to any norm, and it’s not the result of obedience to institutional powers. It’s based on biology and the inextricable link between sex and gender. Yes, gender theory can be an interesting topic and it’s important to study certain behaviors and the way we present ourselves, often according to societal norms. But it’s way too easy to become fixated on John Moneys ideas and to present them as fact. There are many who see these theories as scientific fact rather than an exploration of ideas that have no authority over the natural world. Human behaviors especially in western secular societies where all of the basic biological needs are met, are far removed from the natural world. Yet if you travel to any area where tribal people live with little interruption, would we see people having conversations about gender fluidity or heteronormative gender roles?

[@valmarsiglia]

Foucault = "foo-COE."

[@clydesight]

Karloff did a tour de force performance in this sequel. He really brought the creature to life. This movie, like the original is filled with terrible cruelty, cruelty that is borne of indifference to suffering. Henry (aka Victor in the novel) Frankenstein is the epitome of disdain and indifference -- something very close to the book. The extent of damage caused by that indifference can be seen in various scenes with the creature. The makeup is far more that the neck bolts and flat head... the poor thing is being held together with metal clamps! You can see them on his arms in several scenes, but they are missing in others. In Bride, the fingers of his left hand have become fused together by the fire in the windmill. It always disturbed me to see this. That open gash on his forehead is another awful image and speaks of Frankenstein's indifference. The term "criminal negligence" comes to mind. Karloff was such a good actor that even with the pounds of makeup, he could emote tremendous sympathy. In Bride, his facial expressions and deep sadness make the creature an object of pathos, not fear. Brings tears to my eyes every time. No other actor could pull this off, they were mere parodies of this masterful performance. I think the horror of "Frankenstein" is the astounding amount of cruelty that is exposes when we are indifferent to the plight of others. The movie was very true to that via the makeup and brilliant acting.

[@verycrankyperson]

This guy has got it wrong.

[@felixvenus666]

Foucault = foo+co

[@karma4553]

Growing up in the 50s we had to go to the theater to see these old movies , even in the 50s ! Then in the early 60s findly purchasing first family T.V.Was a treat to view in comfort of home .

[@geodezix]

this all seems far-fetched

[@thedarkroom6416]

Defitnetly some themes are intentional but I do agree a lot of it seems far fetched