Frankenstein (1931) - Whale's iconic, dark horror classic

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An eerie, feature-filled, handcrafted poster for James Whale's Frankenstein, which is beautiful and distinctly from a bygone era

The people around Dr. Frankenstein worry about him, but his greatest experiment is almost done; he is daring to reanimate life!

Frankenstein, directed by great English filmmaker James Whale (Show Boat (1936)), has a complex list of authorship: Based most directly on the same-titled 1818 novel by Mary Shelley (Mathilda (1819)), it also is inspired by the same-titled play by Peggy Webling (Verses to Men (1920, novel)) and a composition by John L. Balderston (Gaslight (1944, screenplay)). It is written by Garrett Fort (Private Scandal (1934)) and Francis Edward Faragoh (Too Young to Marry (1931)), with uncredited contributions by John Russell (Dangerous Money (1924)) and Robert Florey (A Study in Scarlet (1933)) and editing writer's work by Richard Schayer (Apache Rifles (1964, story)).
The film is fascinating right off the bat; its staging is accomplished, featuring unforgettable photography (by cinematographers Arthur Edeson (The Fighting O'Flynn (1949)) and Paul Ivano (The Lawless Years (1959-61))), production design and iconographic makeup.
The acting is seamless; in particular Boris Karloff (The Mummy (1932)) as the kind monster and Colin Clive (Jane Eyre (1934)) as its tormented creator stand out, but also Frederick Kerr (The Lifeguardsman (1916)) as Frankenstein Sr., who is hilarious and breathes life into the film's luminous character.
Frankenstein is ripe with heavy themes; life, death, the sanctity of life, - and God. I only grasp without luck for some music in this distinguished classic, as well as for a bit longer running time, - since the story and execution could no doubt support it.

Related posts:

James Whale: The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) - The magnificent and mysterious monster bride  
More Frankenstein: Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943) - Universal's first monster bash is low on frights but entertains

Watch a trailer for the film here

Cost: 262k $
Box office: 1.4 mil. $ (1932, rentals, likely just North America)
= Uncertain, but at least a big hit (returned in excess of 5.34 times its cost)
[Frankenstein was released 21 November (USA) and runs 71 minutes. Following the success of Dracula (1931), Universal were eager to make more lucrative horror pictures, and Whale was reportedly offered his choice of 30 adaptations, of which he chose Frankenstein. Shooting took place in California, including Los Angeles, and mainly in Universal's studio, from August - October 1931. The film was subject to censorship; the drowning girl scene was cut in half in some regions, and blasphemy objections were also levied against the film. It has been restored to its full length since. The film's full box office gross is not known for sure; one dubious Internet outlet lists it at 12 mil. $, (without anything to back it up.) Frankenstein returned in Bride of Frankenstein (1935), also by Whale and with Karloff. Whale returned first with The Impatient Maiden (1932). Mae Clarke (Broken Arrow (1957, TV-series)) returned in Three Wise Girls (1932), John Boles (Road to Happiness (1941)) in Good Sport (1931), Karloff in Tonight or Never (1931) and Clive in The Stronger Sex (1931). Frankenstein is certified fresh at 100 % with an 8.67/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Frankenstein?

Secrets of the Tribe (2010, documentary) - Padilha's superb anthropology documentary

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1 Film Excess win:

Best Documentary   

1 Film Excess nomination:

Best Documentary (won)

 

An ominous poster for José Padilha's Secrets of the Tribe

 

Secrets of the Tribe looks into the controversy arisen by Patrick Tierney's book Darkness in El Dorado (2000), which raises grave accusations against prominent Western anthropologists concerning their involvements with the indigenous Yanomamö people in the Amazon.

Secrets of the Tribe is a phenomenal example of how to make a documentary of this kind. It deals with relatively intellectual and complex content; scientific research conducted decades ago, ideals of science and research in general, references in many directions, a large gallery of subjects and their conflicts. From the dethroned, megalomaniacal Napoleon Chagnon, who stands out as resourceful and intelligent, - but also monstrous, - to criminal Jacques Lizot, through Claude Lévi-Strauss, Kenneth Good and more peripheral characters, Secrets of the Tribe presents a fascinating and quite disturbing look-in at the world of indigenous anthropology. It raises a critical and keen debate of the discipline to a higher level, where it is the legitimacy of modern science as a whole that is really up for debate.

Secrets of the Tribe is directed by Brazilian master filmmaker José Padhilha (Elite Squad/Tropa de Elite (2007)).

 

Related posts:

 

2010 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED III]

2010 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II]

2010 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]

A still of Chagnon with a Yanomami Indian

LA Times critic Kenneth Turan sings his praise for the film here

Cost: Unknown

Box office: Unknown

= Unknown

[Secrets of the Tribe premiered January 22 (Sundance) and runs 110 minutes. It was shot in Brazil, Venezuela and the US as a co-production between 11 companies and institutions. It was screened at 5 US festivals in total and at 1 Polish, as well as on various TV channels. 260 IMDb users have given Secrets of the Tribe a 7.5/10 average rating.]

What do you think of Secrets of the Tribe?

Alive Inside/Alive Inside: A Story of Music and Memory (2014) - Music reaches the lost in Rossato-Bennett's emotionally riveting documentary

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An evocative, pleasant poster for Michael Rossato-Bennett's Alive Inside

QUICK REVIEW:

This documentary follows a passionate man, who shows us how otherwise withered, sad, introverted, nearly lost elderly with Alzheimers (but also a mental patient and a sclerosis patient) are reinvigorated and reconnect with a sense of joy and identity by listening to music that has been important in their lives.

Alive Inside is an extremely touching film, which both contains disheartening footage from nursery homes and a lot of very uplifting and inspirational footage with people, whose lives are changing due to the power of music.
It is very well put together and presented here by documentary filmmaker Michael Rossato-Bennett (Period Portrait (2008), short documentary), feature debuting here.
My only inference: The film does not offer music experiences for its audiences itself. At just 78 minutes, I think it could have definitely elected to do so.

Watch the amazing trailer for the amazing film here

Cost: 0.6 mil. $
Box office: 0.25 mil. $
= Mega-flop
[The film was partially funded through a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign. It premiered in Sundance, where it won the Audience Award: U.S. Documentary. It received glowing reviews but not the stampede of audiences it deserved. It's out on DVD, Bluray and via streaming services, so search it out.]

What do you think of Alive Inside?

The Magician/Ansiktet/The Face (1958) or, Fool the Townfolk

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A strongly mystery-denoting original Swedish poster for Ingmar Bergman's The Magician

Dr. Vogler and his little troupe of con-men/magicians arrive in Södermalm, Sweden, in 1846, where they are confronted with the town's skeptical, haughty aristocrats. 

The Magician is written and directed by Swedish master filmmaker Ingmar Bergman (Face to Face/Ansikte mot Ansikte (1976)) as his 20th theatrical feature. The original title translates to, 'the face'. 

As the masks fall in the film's compelling story, The Magician turns into a trembling showdown between judgemental, proud, pompous science and the right to believe and believe in superstition. The final ribbon that ties the tale together is a most merry one. There is plenty of both wisdom and foolishness before this.
The Magician is simply composed over diametric opposites and done in a frank and open-minded style with delightful acting, - especially from Ingrid Thulin (Winter Light/Nattvardsgästerna (1963)) and the other women.
This vivid gem blends comedy, thriller aspects and philosophy with drama in an elegant and enthusiastic way. It is a treasure from one of Bergman's most productive years, 1958, in which he directed two feature films and two TV movies.

Related posts:

Ingmar Bergman: Fanny and Alexander/Fanny och Alexander (1982) - Bergman's treasured mammoth drama farewell
All These Women/Now About These Women/För att Inte Tala om Alla Dessa Kvinnor (1964) - Bergman's pitifully awful farce

Watch a montage of the picturesque film here

Cost: Unknown
Box office: Unknown
= Uncertain
[The Magician was released 26 December (Sweden) and runs 107 minutes. The script was inspired by G.K. Chesterton's play Magic, which Bergman had previously staged. The film was shot in Stockholm, Sweden. It was chosen as Sweden's entry for the Oscars but didn't get nominated. It was nominated for a BAFTA and won 3 awards at the 1959 Venice Film Festival. Bergman returned with Storm Weather/Oväder (1960, TV movie) and theatrically with his masterpiece The Virgin Spring/Jungfrukällan (1960). Max Von Sydow (Dreamscape (1984)) returned in The Virgin Spring; Thulin in Älska (1959, TV movie), Vår Ofödde Son (1959, TV movie) and theatrically in The Judge/Domaren (1960); Gunnar Björnstrand (Taboo/Tabu (1977)) in Swinging at the Castle/Det Svänger på Slottet (1959); and Bibi Andersson (Drømspel (1994)) in Lilith (1959, TV movie) and theatrically in Den Kära Leken (1959). The Magician is fresh at 100 % with a 8.14/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of The Magician?