Differences Between Frankenstein Book and Movie 1931

Last Updated on December 13, 2021 by QCity Editorial Stuff

On November 16th, 1931, Universal Studios released what is now considered one of the most iconic films in horror history. “Frankenstein” was based on the Mary Shelley novel of the same name and starred Boris Karloff as The Monster.  While Frankenstein’s monster has come to represent a true icon of horror, many differences set the book apart from its film counterpart. For example, there are major plot points that were cut from the movie released nearly two decades later such as Dr. Frankenstein being buried alive by his creature (pgs 188-189), Henry Clerval suffering an untimely death at Victor’s hands (pgs 211-216), and Elizabeth Lavenza becoming engaged to William after her father’s death.

Comparison between Frankenstein Book and Movie 1931

Parameters of ComparisonFrankenstein BookFrankenstein Movie 1931
FamousBoth are famousBoth are famous
LifeVictor Frankenstein in the book is a scientist who creates lifeVictor Frankenstein in the movie has an assistant create life
DiscoverIn the book, Dr. Frankenstein is a scientist who discovers how to create a life by assembling dead body partsIn the movie, Dr. Frankenstein is an inventor who creates life using electricity and lightning
EyeThe monster in the book has blue eyesIn the movie, he has brown eyes
InformativeMore informativeMore informative

What is Frankenstein Book 1931?

The 1931 Frankenstein book has been a popular read for decades. Published by Hard Case Crime, this edition of the classic horror novel is updated with an introduction from Stephen King and also features illustrations by Glen Orbik. The story follows Victor Frankenstein as he creates life through electricity, but what happens when that creature turns on its creator? Read on to find out.

The 1931 Frankenstein book was published in Hard Case Crime editions with an introduction from Stephen King and illustrations by Glen Orbik. The story follows Victor Frankenstein as he creates life through electricity, but what happens when that creature turns on its creator.

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What is Frankenstein Movie 1931?

Frankenstein Movie 1931 is a film about a titular creature, who was created by Dr. Victor Frankenstein in an unorthodox scientific experiment. The movie stars Boris Karloff as the monster and Colin Clive as Dr. Victor Frankenstein. 

The film follows three different versions of the story told from three perspectives – that of Doctor Frankenstein, his fiancée Elizabeth, and Captain Robert Walton – with each version depicting events from their point of view to show how they are all connected through love or revenge. This is a must-see for any horror fan.

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10 Differences Between Frankenstein Book and Movie 1931

1. In the book, Dr. Frankenstein is a scientist who creates life from death by assembling body parts of corpses.

2. The movie has him as an inventor and not a scientist.

3. In the book, he assembles his creature from dead body parts and electricity; in the movie, it’s just electricity.

4. The monster in the book is intelligent and speaks to people; in the movie, he doesn’t speak at all.

5. The monster kills several people before being shot by police in both versions.

6. There are multiple endings for each version – one where they die together and another where they live apart.

7. The book is written in the third person, while the movie is told from the first-person point of view.

8. In the book, Frankenstein’s monster has red hair and his skin is white with blotches on it; in the movie, he has brown hair and blue eyes.

9. In both versions, two characters help create Frankenstein’s monster – Dr. Henry Clerval (Frankenstein’s best friend) and Professor Waldman (a professor who teaches Victor about life sciences) – but in the movie version, they are not friends. 

10. The creature in the novel creates himself out of various body parts from dead bodies; in contrast, he is created by Dr. Waldman alone 5. The novel includes an epilogue that talks about how Frankenstein tries to get back into society after being shunned for creating a monster; this part does not exist in either of its adaptations.

Interesting Statistics or Facts of Frankenstein Book 1931

1. Frankenstein is the most famous horror novel of all time.

2. The book was originally published anonymously in 1818.

3. There are many different versions of the Frankenstein story.

4. Mary Shelley’s original manuscript for Frankenstein, which she wrote at age 18, was lost for over a century and rediscovered only in 1994.

5. It has been translated into more than 200 languages worldwide and made into countless movies, TV shows, plays, operas, and comic books.

6. The first movie adaptation of the book was released on February 8th, 1931 by Universal Pictures with Boris Karloff as the monster (Frankenstein).

Interesting Statistics or Facts of Frankenstein Movie 1931

1. The Frankenstein movie was released in 1931.

2. It is based on the novel of the same name by Mary Shelley.

3. There are many interesting statistics or facts about this movie that make it one of the most iconic movies ever made.

4. Some examples include how Dr. Frankenstein’s laboratory was built on soundstage, and how Boris Karloff played all three roles in the film (the monster, Dr. Henry Frankenstein, and Fritz).

5. This blog post will explore some more interesting statistics or facts about this movie to help you understand why it is so iconic.

6. For example, one statistic states that “Frankenstein” has been broadcast every year since 1939 at least once for Halloween programming-even though it wasn’t originally intended as a horror film.

Conclusion

Frankenstein” is a classic horror story that has stood the test of time. The book it’s based on, written by Mary Shelley in 1818, was praised for its groundbreaking depiction of science and technology as something dangerous and uncontrollable rather than a force for good. It also explored themes like family, ambition, responsibility, and justice. Hollywood’s 1931 movie adaptation may have introduced these concepts to many more people than would’ve read the novel but can’t be credited with doing them any favors–especially when you consider how much further we’ve come in terms of understanding mental health since then.

References:

Resource 01: https://www.amazon.com/Frankenstein-Mary-Shelley/dp/0486282112
Resource 02: https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/how-is-spanish-in-spain-different-from-spanish-in-latin-america

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