The Monster is Innocent!

The Monster is Innocent My Love of Frankenstein By Eric Charles Mokotoff Twas a dark and stormy night, the moon was full, the thunder cracked and the lightening brought forth the divine or perhaps not so divine power to make this man come alive……………….just kidding. Let me start by saying I have been obsessed with Frankenstein since I was about 5 or 6 years old. My first memories were fleeting images of him on TV as a channel passed by showing a glimpse of one of the original b&w movies, or in the back of a comic book where they sold the famous 6 foot Frankenstein wall poster, or on the box of an Aurora monster model box at the local Woolworth’s store and of course during Halloween when this tall green flat headed image popped up. Let’s not also forget that during the 1960’s Herman Munster was an image caricature of Mary Shelly’s immortal masterpiece that even now after nearly 200 years is more famous than ever. So why the obsession? Why is the so-called “MONSTER” innocent? As a child I was terrified and morbidly mesmerized by anything scary. The dark was not a comfortable place; any shadow at night scared the begeebies out of me. Any attempt to pretend monster or to glimpse at a movie on TV day or night had me shaking. I had suffered bad dreams most of my life and most intensely as a child due to several factors growing up. I understood nothing about whom or what Frankenstein was, other than images of preconceived notions laid forth by what society has imparted upon us. By the time I was 6 and spending time at my friend David’s house; he had exposed me to more monsters than any other person I knew. I remember crying at his house when he’d flip a channel and any monster movie was on TV. David seemed to enjoy monsters. In the 1970’s on any given afternoon or weekend you can find a slew of monster movies ranging from the b&w classics to the cheesy King Kong and Godzilla flix. So what slowly happened was by exposure and osmosis I began to peer slowly into these things. The famous Abbott and Costello Meets Frankenstein was safer way to delve in and looking a little longer at the models in the local Woolworth’s helped. And then one day at about age 6 or 7 it was time for Halloween and something came over me, I had gotten a Frankenstein costume for Halloween.

I now was the famous monster but who exactly is this monster we love to fear and love to love? To understand this we have to go back to the beginning. Mary Shelley (née Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin; 30 August 1797 – 1 February 1851) was an English novelist, short story writer, dramatist, essayist, biographer, and travel writer, best known for her Gothic novel Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus (1818).

It was in 1816 where Mary spent the summer with the infamous and strange writer Lord Byron, it was here that she conceived the idea for Frankenstein. Sitting around a log fire at Byron's villa, they amused themselves by reading German ghost stories, prompting Byron to suggest they each write their own supernatural tale. Shortly afterwards, in a waking dream, Mary Godwin conceived the idea for Frankenstein. What began as a short story became a novel and was published in 1818 becoming one of the most famous stories ever written. We all know the premise. Dr. Victor Frankenstein sets out create a man put together out of dead body parts and give it life; hence the Prometheus correlation. Prometheus is a Titan, culture hero, and trickster figure who in Greek mythology are credited with the creation of man from clay and the theft of fire for human use, an act that enabled progress and civilization. He is known for his intelligence, and as a champion of mankind. Neither Victor nor his creation is ever seen as champions of mankind. And Prometheus’ punishment was to be chained to a rock for all time by Zeus and each day an eagle would soar down and eat his liver only to be grown back each day and repeated for all time.

Whatever Victor’s reasons are he was a body snatcher, and a necro-experimentor. He chose to build, sew, and create, life from dead tissue; from dead body parts he stole and in his good intention never fully thought the end consequences of his obsession. But was his intention good? For what reason did he decide to go against God and bring life to the dead? As a young man, Frankenstein is interested in the works in alchemists such as Cornelius Agrippa, Paracelsus, and Albertus Magnus, and he longs to discover the fabled elixir of life. He loses interest in both these pursuits and in science as a whole after seeing the remains of a tree struck by lightning; however, at the University of Ingolstadt, Frankenstein develops a fondness for chemistry, and becomes obsessed with the idea of creating life in inanimate matter through artificial means, leaving university to pursue this goal for the next two years. Assembling a humanoid creature perhaps by the use of a chemical, apparatus or a combination of both (he avoids the question three times when asked), Frankenstein successfully brings it to life, but he is suddenly horrified by his actions as it awakens. He abandons and flees his creation. Here is where we must think about not Victor and his creation but how does his creation feel. The creature as he is referred to many times, or the monster has he has been deemed was never a typical man in any fashion. The true appearance of Victor’s nameless creation is as follows: Shelley described Frankenstein's monster as an 8-foot-tall hideously ugly creation, with translucent yellowish skin pulled so taut over the body that it "barely disguised the workings of the vessels and muscles underneath"; watery, glowing eyes, flowing black hair, black lips, and prominent white teeth. The only closely accurate depiction I have seen is Bernie Wrightson’s paintings.

What we are used to seeing is the Boris Karloff Frankenstein with the flat top head, neck bolts, green skin, dark suit, big boots and stiff walk.

Mary’s creature was not only an 8 foot tall gruesome figure but a highly literate being, unlike that shown in typical Frankenstein films. The nameless creature in the original story could read, think, and feel. His heart was filled with as much love as hate and the ability to love and kill would be equal. But was he a killer? Was he conceived as truly bad or evil? I say THE MOSNTER IS INNOCENT; the true guilty party is Victor! Like any child brought into this world; he never asked to be made or created. He was given no choices and abandoned to all points that his own father never named him and tried to kill him. All the nameless creature wanted was to be loved, accepted, given a name, to live and to have a companion such as himself. Is this too much to ask? Everywhere he went he was feared, chased, hunted, ridiculed, victimized, unaccepted and all through this he was scared, mad, confused, astonished at men’s behavior. Poor Frankenstein, poor Frankenstein I think that you are innocent but other people do not I wish that they would. Poem By my 7 yr. old daughter Mckayla. Victor Frankenstein is the true villain and the mad genius who chose to delve into the unknown world of science, alchemy and the dead. The thought of bringing the dead back to life has filled all of us with both fear and wonder. Doesn’t everyone wish to communicate or see a deceased loved one come back? Victor’s original desire was to find a way to cure illness and sickness, to have people live forever. So where did he go wrong? It’s true that since times beginning man has dissected the dead, performed autopsies to learn the causes of death and the study of human illness, disease and will someday hold answers to longer lives and perhaps immortality itself. It is this obsession that spiraled out of control for Dr. Frankenstein. And it was in this obsession that all rational thinking of the possible consequences good, bad, evil, great and small were never pondered or considered. Like awakening from a deep drunken sleep and seeing a glimpse of clarity, and a glimpse of “what have I done?” Victor panicked. He tried to run, hide and deny what he had done. His shock, fear and guilt blinded him and made him make a choice and he chose to cover it up. He denied his creation. Instead of loving with compassion his creation and without giving him a chance he abandoned the creature. He viewed his work as an abomination rather than a creature of special needs. Had he given his creation a name and some compassion, then perhaps he’d learn straightaway that this being had feelings, a working brain, and the ability to learn and converse as well as to love. Had Victor had this moment of clarity he would be able to convey to his creation this intent behind his actions and give the creation some insight as to the human life and spirit. Then perhaps the man he made would understand and then perhaps he could’ve been a living model to mankind. Perhaps the second being of creation (the woman) would allow the creature to live in peace somewhere. The possibilities are endless as expressed in the countless films and stories that had been made. Unlike the abnormal brain of James Whales 1931 Frankenstein, Mary Shelly’s brain was that of a scholar. The differences between the original novel and the film are HUGE. The Monster: In the original novel, the Monster was designed to be beautiful and was alert, fast, strong, and downright eloquent in his speech. Upon animating, his beauty became a sick mockery of what the Doctor had intended, and the Monster was described as 'hideous'. This, and his strength, are all that remains of the monster from the novel, when transferred to the movie. The Bookends: The original novel is bookended with narration by a seaman in the arctic, Captain Walton. The ship has picked up a man who was on the ice, on a dogsled, nearly frozen. This man is Victor Frankenstein. The rest of the novel recounts Frankenstein's story, as told to the Captain. The Plot: The book had no hunchbacked assistant, and no abnormal brain. The Monster turned out just as Frankenstein intended...Science went Horribly Right! In the book, the Doctor betrayed his creation first by abandoning it immediately after granting it life, then by destroying a second monster, designed to be its bride. The Monster had intended to take his bride to distant lands, where none but they could live, and live with her in peace. The Doctor, just before giving the Bride life, chose instead to destroy it, tearing it asunder, so as to not create another abomination (as he supposed the Monster to be). The novel also featured the Monster killing (or being responsible for the deaths of) most of the Frankenstein family: Victor's brother, wife, and best friend. Victor's father dies of illness after this. Thus, in the books, the Monster and Victor are mutually antagonistic, with the book culminating in Victor swearing to follow the Monster to the ends of the earth, until one of them destroys the other. The Ending: Victor dies. The Monster realizes that the death of its creator brings it no peace, and vows to the Captain that it will build a funeral pyre, and immolate itself. In short, the movie took the core elements of the novel - a man playing God, and the awful ramifications, and put them into a frame that could be easily shot. It based its work off of a play which had already done much of this: the play required a manageable number of sets, a small number of characters, etc. All of these made the play a good source for the movie, but they lost most of the specifics in the transition. The only real similarities between the novel and the original movie are character names, the moral, and the fact that the Monster kills people. And so it goes that the living reputation of the monster is that he has an abnormal brain, is a maniac and goes out killing. It is in the film we get introduced to the quintessential assistant of the mad scientist. The famous hunchbacked slave/lackey of the doctor. Over the years he is referred to as Igor, however his name was originally Fritz. Thanks to Mel Brooks in the brilliant film Young Frankenstein he gave Igor everlasting charm and the cult classic play on names Igor vs. Eegor, Frankenstein vs. Frockensteen as well as the most brilliant spoof ever made along with using original Frankenstein lab equipment and a brief audio soundtrack from the original film. Brook’s detail was impeccable, his use of reference from all three original films were spot on. He laced together Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein and Son of Frankenstein. He used humor, and soundtrack along with incredible acting and script writing to create a film as good as any Universal monster film ever made. IT was by far his greatest film that will live on forever alongside the immortal classic Boris Karloff film. As a side note Boris Karloff’s real name was William Henry Pratt. His Daughter Sara Karloff still runs her father estate and makes many appearances at Monster Cons, Comic Cons etc. She wrote the biography of her father and has a whole company devoted to Boris Karloff and his films and career. I had the pleasure of meeting Sara Karloff in 1997 at a monster convention. After meeting Lon Chaney’ grandson at the Lon Chaney Enterprises booth at the NJ Chiller Con, I managed to get an autograph of Lon Chaney on Chaney Enterprises stationary letterhead, I then met Bela Lugosi’s son Bela Jr. and asked for his autograph next to Lon’s, then I met Sara Karloff and told her how much of an honor it would be to have her name alongside the other great names. She obliged me and then at the end of the day I met Ben Chapman the original Creature from the Black Lagoon and got his autograph. I have the whole thing framed on this wonderful stationary with the full Phantom of the Opera letterhead. It’s a one of a kind priceless thing I managed to put together. No one has anything like it. It’s a prized piece in my collection. Once upon a time my collection filled an entire apartment and storage unit but like most of us moving, marriage and children; the collection has diluted to a few models in storage, some Halloween decorations and my book collection along with a folder of images from the internet of my favorite monsters and my prized autograph of the decedents of the most famous horror film stars ever.

Now back to Frankie. The films gave us the basis for all horror film and beloved cliché characters. How many times can we see the Bride of Frankenstein’s hair pop up somewhere? They gave us the mad scientist, Igor, laboratories, and all the elements for American Halloween decorations and parties. Vampires and Zombies are all the craze and let’s not forget Werewolves. Other than the 1930-40’s and the 1970’s there is no time like our present that adores and obsesses over monster/horror movies now than ever before. Just look at the Twilight series, Walking Dead, American Horror Story, Dexter, and Being Human and on and on. Merchandising is in the billions of dollars.

But now let’s go back to 1931. The first time Frankenstein hit the screen there was a warning introduction on the shocking nature of the film. Laughable by today’s standards, but terrifying to those in the theater experiencing it for the first time similar to Hitchcock’s Psycho. In the original 1931 classic there was a scene later deleted where the monster throws a small girl into a lake thus drowning her. The monster goes into a panic realizing he did something he shouldn’t have done. Although this is not the first time in the film the monster kills let’s look at this. The creature is wandering through the woods and comes across a girl happily and innocently throwing flowers into the lake, creating small floating boats. She sees the creature emerge from the woods, rather than be scared she seeks his friendship and he sits by her side. The creature is touched and happy for the first time. She shows him how to throw the flower boats into the water and for a moment both are happy and content, both filled with a friendship. When the creature runs out of flowers he is confused but still wants to play. In his simple mind he believes she can float like the flowers and precedes to throw her in. She is unable to swim and drowns. He is unable to hear her plea to stop as he is caught in the impulsive moment. Once he realizes his gruesome mistake he once again flees into a panic. You then see the girl’s father carrying her corpse through the village. This was huge for 1931. The first time Victors creation kills is when he kills Fritz. Fritz torments him with fire and whips while chained up. His first kill is his self-defense to stop Fritz from abusing and torturing him. What would you do if after your birth you were chained up whipped and tortured? His second kill is Victors Professor who has witnessed the birth of the monster. In his fear of what has just been created he and Dr. Frankenstein attempt to sedate the monster and then dissect him. From the start his birth was doomed, his actions were impulses of self-preservation; perhaps how a serial killer is formed. In subsequent films the monster becomes a slave or servant to Igor or to the likes of Dracula or an offspring of Dr. Frankenstein. Each film the monster survives all attempts to be killed and through his journeys becomes weaker. Various people such as Igor seeks to once again strengthen the monster back to his original vitality. In these films the monster has become a mindless slave or servant and it seems all intelligence is completely gone from him. Boris only played him 3 times but he will forever be known for that role. Others have played him some successfully others not. Once in Frankenstein meets the Wolfman, Bela Lugosi played him-the look was terrible.

Glenn Strange was very good donning the makeup of Frankenstein’s Monster. Even the famous Lon Chaney Jr. tried his hand as the monster too.

After the 1940’s the monster took a break and returned in the mid 1950’s through the London Film company Hammer, this went on through the 1970’s with countless rehashes of the same story but with many many versions of the monster. Some of these were downright ridiculous.

Andy Warhol made a very interesting version of the story as did the concept of the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

I’ve seen the bulk of the 100’s of film and documentaries made. A great one for kids is the Mad Monster Party by Rankin & Bass, they were the famous Claymation creators of such films as Santa Claus is coming to Town, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer etc. Most recently was the brilliant Hotel Transylvania. It should be noted that Boris Karloff did the voice of the mad scientist for Mad Monster Party along with Phyllis Diller and Peter Lorre.

You name it, Frankenstein is everywhere in every possible way. He transformed from the grotesque to the family friendly. So I ask you then, is he innocent or guilty? Here is a rough list of the most commonly known Frankenstein films. Frankenstein (1910)--one-reel Edison Studios film, recently recovered. Life Without Soul (1915)--five-reel version. Frankenstein (1931)--Universal film with Boris Karloff. Bride of Frankenstein (1935)--with Elsa Lanchester. Son of Frankenstein (1939)--with Basil Rathbone. The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942)--Lon Chaney, Jr. Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943)--Bela Lugosi. House of Frankenstein (1944)--Glenn Strange. House of Dracula (1945)--last of Universal's horror series. Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)--Glenn Strange. The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)--Hammer Films with Christopher Lee. I Was a Teenage Frankenstein (1957)--pieces of teen corpses. The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958)--Hammer with Michael Gwynn. Frankenstein 1970 (1958)--Boris Karloff. How To Make a Monster (1958)--make-up man's revenge. Frankenstein's Daughter (1959)--son of creates woman. The Evil of Frankenstein (1964)--Hammer with Kiwi Kingston. Frankenstein Conquers the World (1965)--Japanese Toho Studios. Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster (1965)--British, with android. Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter (1966)--p.u. Frankenstein Created Woman (1967)--Hammer, revenge. Mad Monster Party (1968)--Rankin/Bass, stop-motion. Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969)--yes, we know this. Horror of Frankenstein (1970)--Hammer. Dracula vs. Frankenstein (1971)--Lon Chaney, Jr. Lady Frankenstein (1971)--woman builds man. Frankenstein's Bloody Terror (1972)--Spanish. Frankenstein (1972)--Dan Curtis Productions, made-for-tv. Frankenstein: The True Story (1973)--Michael Sarrazin; and see Jane Seymour get her head ripped off. Frankenstein's Castle of Freaks (1973)--brain transplants. Andy Warhol's Frankenstein (1974)--French-Italian. Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell (1974)--Hammer. Young Frankenstein (1974)--Mel Brooks parody. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)--the cult musical. Terror of Frankenstein (1977)--fairly literal adaptation of the Shelley novel. Frankenstein Island (1981)--John Carradine plus spiders, snakes, and Amazons. Frankenstein (1982)--stars Robert Powell. Frankenstein 90 (1984)--Frankenstein descendent and cultured creature. Frankenweenie (1984)--resurrected pet dog. Transylvania 6-5000 (1985)--tabloid scoop on return of monster. Weird Science (1985)--nerds create woman. Frankenstein's Great-Aunt Tillie (1985)--inheritance comedy. Gothic (1987)--account of the 1816 stay of the Shelleys with Byron. Dr. Hackenstein (1988)--comedy resurrection of late wife. Frankenstein General Hospital (1988)--med. student "hi-jinks." Frankenstein Unbound (1990)--Roger Corman's return to directing. Frankenhooker (1990)--New Jersey mad doctor. Edison's Frankenstein (1990)--Researched remake of the 1910 one. Frankenstein: The College Years (1991)--Augh. Frankenstein (1993)--Randy Quaid. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994)--Kenneth Branaugh, Robert De Niro. Frankenstein and Me (1995)--carnival sideshow exhibit. Mr. Stitch (1996)--A humanoid military weapon made from 88 corpses. Lust for Frankenstein (1998)--Dr.'s ghost tells daughter to resurrect project: lesbian monster. Frankenstein Reborn! (1998)--13-year-old Anna Frankenstein is curious about her uncle's experiments. Rock & Roll Frankenstein (1999)--Music agent has nephew piece together rock star from pieces of greats. Mistress Frankenstein (2000)--Lesbian nympho's brain in the dead Mrs. Helena Frankenstein. Frankenthumb (2002)--Spoof of the Frankenstein films done "digitally." Frankenstein Reborn (2005) The very first Frankenstien to hit the silver screen was Thomas Edisons 1910 recently restored film.

Robert Deniro did a fine job with Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein in 1994, a very decent version of the original story by Shelly.

This was actually a very good film and I place it on my list of one of the better retellings and I love the film score. You decide if Frankenstein is Innocent. In this day and age I believe he is innocent and would be set free. For all those who have been damaged by Frankenstein I suggest you sue his estate.