Frankenstein: Penetrating the Secrets of Nature

The Universal film introduces a plot device of using a criminal brain rather than a normal brain to explain the monster’s urge to kill.

The enduring visual impact of the Frankenstein film monster of the 1930s owed much to the skill of make-up artist Jack Pierce, who transformed Boris Karloff into a creature who would be recognized around the world.

Boris Karloff’s moving portrayal of the speechless creature, and the enduring image of the monster with his flattened head, surgical scars, and neck bolts, deeply affected audiences.

Universal Pictures released a film version of Frankenstein featuring Boris Karloff, a little-known English actor, as the monster in 1931.