HORROR AND PITY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIX, 1 February 1936, Page 4

HORROR AND PITY

James Whale is a director who knows his business. Confronted witly the colossal task of making “The Bride of Frankstein,” he went to work in his usual efficient manner — and the film ran for three weeks at the Roxy Theatre, in Now York, a house lliat is not really filled until over (i(K)O people have been accommodated !

In the new picture which will be seen in Nelson early litis month, the monster is again played by Karloff, who makes of hint a thing of both horror and pathos, lie escapes from the burning mill, again lie blunders through the country Milo, spreading terror which he cannot understand. ITe is never at pence, even in the cottage of the blind liddlcr. who knows no fear and befriends hint. Along conic llu* hunters, and once more Micro is disaster. Henry Fra liken-

stein, the man who made the monster. is in despair. Of one. tiling however, he is convinced, he will have nothing more to do with the matter. Dr Pretori us arrives with a new scheme. He can create a bride for the monster. Colin Clive, as Frankstein, refuses to aid him, so Pretorious, most admirably presented by Ernest Thesiger,' arranges for the monster to steal Frankenstein’s young wife, played by Valerie Hobson. ‘Pretorious shows Frankenstein his “creations,” which are more horrible than anything in the film. Frankenstein agrees to assist, and together they produce a bride for the monster. Before this the audience will he stirred to a high pitch, both by the terror of the monster, and by the cold cruelty of Prelorins, who arranges a. murder so that he and Franksteiistein may have a heart for the being they are

making. She lives at last, on a night of storm, and it is her reaction to the monster which brings the story to a hair-raising climax. Sequels are usually expected to weaken an idea a little, hut “The Bride of Frankenstein” contains infinitely more of the horrible.than did the original “Frankenstein.” 'flic acting, too, is much stronger. Karloff being a figure for tears of pity as well its for shriek's of alarm.