Frankenstein, Part II

The core of the movie begins where Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel ends. The lead character is not the grunting illiterate of the movies, but rather the agile and erudite creature of Shelley’s novel. A word about the Creature; later named Franz P. Frankenstein. He begins his life from inanimate body parts. He’s a beast who ends up killing 8 but during his journey he becomes civilized and finds love and a mate. Opening image: The 1931 “It’s alive!” scene – shot in B/W - when the Creature is born. It is quickly followed with the Creature’s threat to Victor Frankenstein, “I will be with you on your wedding night.” The Creature then kills Victor Frankenstein’s brother, friend and bride on her wedding night. Inciting incident: The Creature murders Victor Frankenstein’s loved ones and his bride on her wedding night. Inciting incident for the “B” story: When the Creature murders two London drunks. Theme stated: The Creature (Franz) must have his mate. The “A” story. The primal need: a mate. Once Victor Frankenstein is buried at sea, Franz’s “father” is dead. Franz is alone in the world and must find a mate. Film is a poem to marriage. Controversial in this day and age. Act 1 break; break into two. The arrest of Capt. Robert Walton (closeted gay man) on suspicion of harboring a murderer and the search of his house. Franz’s escape from London just ahead of the cops, Booker and Murray B story. Booker chases Franz on horseback. Later, Booker and Murray look for Franz at the farm. Booker and Murray investigate and pursue Franz over many years and locations. Fun and games. Franz kills Captain Charles Saville in self-defense and that begins the love story between Franz and Margaret Saville. The Creature’s love interest – Margaret Saville - has physical challenges; club feet and a facial scar. She’s also very smart and beautiful. The two misfits eventually find love. She was horribly abused by her husband. The monstrous nature of her first husband is graphically displayed. She has battered wife syndrome. Midpoint. The cremation of the body of Charles Saville by his widow. Bad guys close in. The London private eyes are on the hunt for Franz. One travels to Germany and Switzerland as part of the investigation. Dark Night of the Soul. We learn, in flashback, of Margaret’s abuse by her first husband. He is the worst person in 1795 England; rapist, racist, wife beater, slave trader, British army officer and murderer of American colonists. Break into Three. Romantic firelight marriage ceremony followed by the sex scene and honeymoon. The two privately exchange vows. All is Lost. Husband and wife have a petty fight over dinner. That’s followed by a major barn fire. Margaret “divorces” Franz. The marriage is over. Finale and Final Image. The movie ends when the London private detectives try to capture Franz Frankenstein at tea and Frankenstein’s wife shoots the PI in the head. In a surprise, the other private detective then crashes through the window and the wife shoots him with a pistol in her left hand. The two toast, “It’s a great day! It’s a great life!” As the camera pulls back, the audience sees that they have a child named Victor. The child cries. Final word. The body count is nine, there are three references to the 1931 movie, a romantic marriage and one implied sex scene. There is one chase scene and two big fires. There are some dashes of humor. David D. Begley. I earned three degrees from Creighton University. I am a practicing attorney in Omaha. dbegley@lawyer.com 402-680-5876