I made the mistake of reading the original Mary Shelley version of Frankenstein almost 20 years ago. I say unfortunate, because I then realized that none of the movies have ever come close to approaching the greatness of the novel. Most, such as this famous Universal monster movie, focus too much on the monster and not enough on the moral issues that elevated the novel to greatness. In other words, Shelley's book wasn't focused on the monster as much as how awful and cowardly the doctor was for creating this being and then abandoning it. BUT, if you can look past this, the film is great fun.

Colin Clive starred as the doctor in this and the sequel, BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN. While he certainly wasn't a great actor (he had a very limited range--or at least it appears that way based on the roles he played),he was just right to play a slightly insane and extremely focused "mad scientist". Yes his acting was over-the-top, but for this film it was necessary.

Boris Karloff played the monster. The role was apparently originally offered to Bela Lugosi (who had just made a name for himself playing Dracula),but he foolishly turned down the role. Karloff made the most of it and did a great job of infusing life and humanity into a mostly mute monster.

The movie is appropriately creepy--with lots of spider webs, fog and other scenery guaranteed to set the mood. A beautiful film to look at and unjustly seen by some as just a kids' movie. See it and experience one of the best Universal had to offer.

The only misgiving I have at all about giving this wonderful movie a 10 is that some of the other actors really weren't great. A couple of the minor actors in particular clearly misread their lines yet the director, James Whale, did not re-shoot the scenes. An odd little mistake in an otherwise wonderful film.

There have been complaints that Frankenstein is dated. Personally I don't find that, it isn't the most sumptuous of all films, but it is still a wonderful film, that is still shocking and enthralling to me. The Gothic set design is very imaginative, helped by the beautiful cinematography with suitably bizarre camera angles, and the music score is haunting, melancholy and atmospheric. James Whale's direction is also very impressive, it is very focused and innovative. The story is without a doubt a classic, tense, moody and melancholic, and the Monster itself is just a masterful creation. The cast are superb, Colin Clive is very good as the eccentric Henry Frankenstein, while Mae Clarke is an alluring and sympathetic Elizabeth. There is no doubt in my mind though that Boris Karloff gave the best performance, not only that but the definitive portrayal of the monster. He is almost unrecognisable and scary with his make up, and while he was scary with the towering presence and the frightening look in his eyes, his monster is also somewhat touching, particularly when he reaches up to grasp a ray of sunlight. Overall, shocking, enthralling and just wonderful. "It's Alive!" 10/10 Bethany Cox

Of all the great Universal horror classics and the legendary monsters who came from them by far the one with the most popular appeal has been Frankenstein. Baron Henry Frankenstein and his creature, the result of him probing into the mysteries of life itself, arouse both horror and sadness at the same time.

Colin Clive is the scientist nobleman who's not been as involved as he should be considering he's about to get married to Mae Clarke. She and best friend John Boles are concerned about him, spending days at a time in that laboratory he has in an abandoned old mill. They ought to be concerned, they find him claiming he can create life out a lot of old body parts. He claims also to have discovered the electrical ray that created life itself on this planet.

What he creates is played by Boris Karloff in the film that launched his career in the horror genre. With nothing but grunts and spastic movements Karloff captures the essence of new life with the innocence of a newborn and the strength of Atlas.

That's the key to the monster's character and why we feel such pity for him. If newborn babies had his power, they'd be as the monster was, striking out at what they don't understand or who does not give them instantly what they want. The monster in fact is a newborn creature and it's when he kills little Marilyn Harris we know he has to be destroyed.

Coming over from that other Universal horror classic Dracula are Dwight Frye who plays the hunchback Fritz, Clive's assistant who pays dearly for taunting the monster and Edward Van Sloan who is Clive's professorial mentor. Sadly Van Sloan does not handle the creature quite as well as he does Bela Lugosi.

Though Frankenstein and the other Universal horror classics have taken quite a beating from first Abbott&Costello, then the gorier Hammer films recreations and finally from Mel Brooks, Frankenstein still has the power to entertain and to fascinate.