Frankenstein

How do you do?

Mr. Carl Laemmle feels it would be a little unkind

to present this picture without just a word of friendly warning.

We are about to unfold the story of Frankenstein,

a man of science,

who sought to create a man after his own image

without reckoning upon God.

It is one of the strangest tales ever told.

It deals with the two great mysteries of creation,

life and death.

I think it will thrill you.

It may shock you.

It might even horrify you.

So, if any of you feel that you do not care to subject your nerves to such a strain,

now is your chance to...

Well, we've warned you.

Amen.

Down! Down, you fool!

Now.

Come on.

Hurry, hurry.

The moon's rising. We've no time to lose.

Oh, careful!

There we go.

Here he comes!

He's just resting, waiting for a new life to come.

Here we are.

Look. It's still here.

Climb up and cut the rope.

No!

Go on. It can't hurt you.

Here's the knife.

Look out!

Here's the knife.

Here I come.

Is it all right?

The neck's broken.

The brain is useless.

We must find another brain.

That will do, gentlemen.

And in conclusion, ladies and gentlemen,

here we have one of the most perfect specimens of the human brain

that has ever come to my attention at the university.

And here, the abnormal brain of the typical criminal.

Observe, ladies and gentlemen, the scarcity of convolutions on the frontal lobe,

as compared to that of the normal brain,

and the distinct degeneration of the middle frontal lobe.

All of these degenerate characteristics

check amazingly with the case history of the dead man before us,

whose life was one of brutality, of violence and murder.

Both of these jars will remain here for your further inspection.

Thank you, gentlemen. The class is dismissed.

Herr Victor Moritz.

Victor.

I'm so glad you've come.

What is it, Elizabeth?

Oh, you've heard from Henry.

Yes. The first word in four months.

It just came.

Victor, you must help me.

Why, of course I'll help you.

I'm afraid.

I've read this over and over again, but they're just words

that I can't understand.

Listen.

"You must have faith in me, Elizabeth. Wait."

"My work must come first, even before you."

"At night, the winds howl in the mountains."

"There is no one here."

"Prying eyes can't peer into my secret."

What can he mean?

What does he say then?

"I am living in an abandoned, old watchtower,"

"close to the town of Goldstadt."

"Only my assistant is here to help me with my experiments."

Oh, his experiments.

Yes, that's what frightens me.

The very day we announced our engagement, he told me of his experiments.

He said he was on the verge of a discovery so terrific

that he doubted his own sanity.

There was a strange look in his eyes, some mystery.

His words carried me right away.

Of course, I've never doubted him, but still I worry.

I can't help it.

And now this letter.

All this uncertainty can't go on. I must know.

Victor, have you seen him?

Yes. About three weeks ago.

I met him walking alone in the woods.

He spoke to me of his work, too.

I asked him if I might visit his laboratory.

He just glared at me and said he would let no one go there.

His manner was very strange.

Oh, what can we do?

Oh, if he should be ill...

Now, don't worry.

I'll go to Dr. Waldman, Henry's old professor in medical school.

Perhaps he can tell me more about all this.

Oh, Victor, you're a dear.

You know I'd go to the ends of the Earth for you.

I shouldn't like that. I'm far too fond of you.

I wish you were.

Victor.

I'm sorry.

Good night, Victor, and thank you. Thank you.

Good night. And don't worry. Promise?

I won't.

Victor? What is it?

I'm coming with you.

But, Elizabeth, you can't do that!

I must! I'll be ready in a minute.

Herr Frankenstein is a most brilliant young man,

yet so erratic, he troubles me.

I'm worried about Henry. Why has he left the university?

He was doing so well, and he seemed so happy with his work.

Well, you know, his researches in the field of

chemical galvanism and electro-biology

were far in advance of our theories here at the university.

In fact, they had reached a most advanced stage.

They were becoming dangerous.

Herr Frankenstein is greatly changed.

You mean, changed as a result of his work?

Yes, his work.

His insane ambition to create life.

How? How?

Please tell us everything, whatever it is.

The bodies we use in our dissecting room for lecture purposes

were not perfect enough for his experiments, he said.

He wished us to supply him with other bodies,

and we were not to be too particular as to where and how we got them.

I told him that his demands were unreasonable,

and so he left the university to work unhampered.

He found what he needed elsewhere.

Oh. The bodies of animals.

Well, what are the lives of a few rabbits and dogs?

You do not quite get what I mean.

Herr Frankenstein was interested only in human life.

First to destroy it, then recreate it.

There you have his mad dream.

Can we go to him?

You will not be very welcome.

Oh, what does that matter? I must see him.

Dr. Waldman, you have influence with Henry.

Won't you come with us?

I'm sorry, but Herr Frankenstein is no longer my pupil.

But he respects you.

Won't you help us to take him away?

Very well, Fräulein. I've warned you.

But if you wish it, I will go.

Fritz!

Hello.

Have you finished making those connections?

Yes, they're done.

Well, come down then and help with these attachments.

We've lots to do.

Look out.

Fool!

If this storm develops as I hope,

you will have plenty to be afraid of before the night's over.

Go on. Fix the electrodes.

This storm will be magnificent!

All the electrical secrets of heaven!

And this time we're ready, eh, Fritz? Ready.

Why, what's the matter?

Look!

Oh.

There's nothing to fear. Look.

No blood, no decay.

Just a few stitches.

And look, here's the final touch.

The brain you stole, Fritz. Yes.

Think of it. The brain of a dead man,

waiting to live again in a body I made with my own hands.

With my own hands.

Let's have one final test. Throw the switches.

Good.

In 15 minutes, the storm should be at its height.

Then we'll be ready.

What's that?

There's someone there.

Quiet.

Send them away.

Nobody must come here.

Here! Cover this.

Whoever it is, don't let them in.

Leave them to me.

Of all times for anybody to come, now!

Think I'm going to let these people in? Not much.

I'll show them, messing about at this time of night.

Got too much to do.

Wait a minute! All right! All right!

Wait a minute. I'm coming.

It's Dr. Waldman, Fritz.

You can't see him. Go away.

All right, knock, but you can't get in.

- Henry! - Frankenstein!

Henry! Frankenstein!

Henry!

- Open the door! - Let us in!

Who is it? Who is it? What do you want? You must leave me alone now!