Following on directly from the 1931 film 'Frankenstein' we soon learn that Doctor Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive) and his creation were not killed. With the monster on the loose again and the mad Doctor Pretorius (played by Ernest Thesiger) attempting to create a mate for the monster, the townsfolk have never been in more danger.
Based on the classic novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and wonderfully directed by the legendary director James Whale, this is one of those rare occurrences when a sequel hits the heights of the original. The Bride of Frankenstein's inspired opening (which shows an impossible dramatisation of Mary Shelley telling Lord Byron and Percy Shelley that 'the story doesn't end there') ensures the films plausibility. Considered by many to be superior to it' predecessor ( and no less brutal, only a few minutes in and we see the grieving parents of the first films child victim being killed at the hands of the monster ). However, The Bride of Frankenstein is much more personal. The film shows the monster being portrayed as more the victim and Doctor Frankenstein less the selfish egotistic maniac. This leaves a gap for Ernest Thesiger to play the cackling psychotic villain Doctor Pretorius with enthusiastic zeal. Pretorius's motives are never in doubt, he wants to create a master race of monsters and his craziness is shown when you see jars of tiny living humans in his laboratory.
In my opinion forget 'The Godfather II'. Forget 'The Empire Strikes Back'. This is THE greatest example of a sequel surpassing the original. James Whale was originally reluctant to make a sequel but changed his mind after being allowed to make the film more on his own terms. No other director has ever managed to blend horror and comedy as successfully as Whale. The film features some of the most memorable scenes in cinematic history notably the monster's encounter with a lonely hermit and the introduction of 'The Bride'. Elsa Lanchester was in this film for just two minutes as 'The Bride' but is only ever known for this role (even after a very successful career), another example of the magnetic power of this film.
It's hard to believe that this film is nearing 75 years old, Universal must be applauded for the horror films that they produced in the 1930s and 1940s. The Bride of Frankenstein is the probably the most important film of this era. A true great and a must-see for all film fans.