Frankenstein

1931 • Introduction by Author Julian David Stone • This is the one that turned Universal horror into a major Hollywood brand, and it made Boris Karloff a star. James Whale’s direction is a big reason it still works. The makeup by Jack Pierce became the template for what audiences picture when they think “Frankenstein’s monster.” If you’ve only seen clips or parodies, the real film is tighter, stranger, and more moving than people expect. • begins with music on the Mighty Wurlitzer and an old fashioned sing-along.