Frankenstein Lives!: 200th Anniversary BBC Radio Program

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audio, Boris Karloff, Frankenstein, Frankenstein 200, Halloween, horror, podcast, radio program

Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley’s classic horror tale “Frankenstein” celebrates 200 years of life in this, the year of our Lord, 2018. It is arguably one of the most important literary works of the past two centuries, and led to the creation of one of the world’s most beloved movie monsters, thanks to a very different interpretation by Universal Pictures and legendary horror actor Boris Karloff.

Earlier this year, I published Feeding or Fighting the Monster Within: The True Message of Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’. If you haven’t read it yet, I would of course love for you to do so, as I personally feel this is one of the best posts on my blog. The Frankenstein Monster we know from films is very different from the one Mary Shelley created in her book, and in this post, I explore those differences and take a very real-world look at this polarizing Creature, and discuss why one version deserves our sympathy, while the other does not.

Being a very visual, book-type learner, I’m not someone who enjoys listening to things like audio books or podcasts — especially when they’re clocking in at a full hour of listening time. I much prefer to read words on a page than listen to someone speaking them. But when I saw a BBC audio program called “Frankenstein Lives!”, celebrating the 200th anniversary of Frankenstein, I decided to give it a try.

Feeding or Fighting the Monster Within: The True Message of Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’

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analysis, Frankenstein, human nature, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, monster, serial killers, Stephen King, Stephenie Meyer, The Shining, Twilight

Gigantic in stature, yet uncouth and distorted in its proportions; his face was concealed by long locks of hair, but one cast hand was extended, in colour and apparent texture like that of a mummy. There was never a vision so horrible in his face, of such loathsome yet appalling hideousness.

~ Frankenstein, 1818

I have a confession to make.

In high school, I read Bram Stoker’s “Dracula”. But until recently, I had never read “Frankenstein”.

I know. How is it possible that the girl who loves all things horror and devotes the entire month of October to writing blog posts about her favourite movie monsters — Frankenstein included — has never read what must be considered the literal mother of the horror genre?

In 2018, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley’s classic horror novel “Frankenstein”, or “The Modern Prometheus”, celebrates its 200th anniversary. And last fall, I decided it was time that I finally read the novel which is credited with legitimizing horror in literature.

Published in January 1818, “Frankenstein” was, if you’ll pardon the pun, an entirely different breed of monster. Not only was this the kind of tale that had never been mainstream before, it was also written by a woman.

At age 19 in 1816, Mary legally wed famous poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, and after his death in 1822, she devoted herself to publishing and sharing her husband’s works. But it was Mary herself and her dark, Gothic tale of science fiction horror which would be immortalized in history forever.

Mary published Frankenstein anonymously, and many believed her husband to be the author. She penned a number of novels in her relatively short and tragic 53 years, but it was her definitive man-playing-God tale — the result of a rainy afternoon ghost story session with friends (1816) during which it was suggested that all try their hand at writing a horror narrative of their own — that she is remembered for.

Now, there are a lot of friendly preferential debates out there, including some which will be familiar to my regular readers: Pepsi or Coke? Addams Family or Munsters? Sam or Dean? But even more common is the age-old question — book or movie?

Why We Love Frankenstein’s Monster and Hate Michael Myers

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characters, Frankenstein, Hammer Films, horror, movies, Peter Cushing

I have a dilemma.

There are just no good movies being made today.

Sure, I could pick out maybe one or two a year that are enjoyable. Movies that are well produced, cast, directed, written, or acted. But more and more, I find that good films are hard to find.

Because of this film drought, I’ve been working my way through Hammer Films’s six Frankenstein movies that feature Peter Cushing. (Hammer made one other — “The Horror of Frankenstein” (1970), a remake of “Curse of Frankenstein” (1957), starring Ralph Bates in the role of Victor Frankenstein instead of Cushing.) And you know what? They’re amazing.

The Art of Fear

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Amicus, Christopher Lee, Count Dracula, cross, crucifix, death, Dr. Phibes, Dracula, Elvira, film, Frankenstein, Halloween, Hammer Films, horror, In Search of Dracula, macabre, movie, Peter Cushing, Sherlock Holmes, stake, Van Helsing, Vincent Price

… † …

“You’ve got Poe, TZ, horror movie posters, and a pretty face. You’re like a classy, non-slutty-looking Elvira!”

Hello, darlings.

It’s me, your classy, pretty-faced, non-slutty-looking Elvira of the blogosphere here. (Thanks to Paul for my new moniker! ;D). October has finally descended upon us and I have a wonderful, spooky, horror-themed month of posts planned for all my fellow Seekers of Truth. Everything will be leading up to a majorly fun and informative Halloween post on the 31^st. Film fans? This one’s for you.

To kick things off, we’re going to be taking a look at three of the most memorable, influential men in the horror genre. They also happen to be my three favourite actors: Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, and Vincent Price.

Lee and Price shared May 27th birthdays, and Cushing’s was close by, on May 26th. Coincidence…?