Frankenstein (1931) [Blu-ray] Rated:  NR  Starring: Colin Clive, Mae Clarke, John Boles, Boris Karloff, Edward Van Sloan, Frederick Kerr, Dwight Frye, Lionel Belmore, Marilyn Harris. Director: James Whale Genre: Horror | Sci-Fi DVD Release Date: 10/02/2012 Part of (Universal) Classic Monsters: Essential Collection 9-Movie Blu-ray Boxed Set   Storyline: Henry Frankenstein is a doctor who is trying to discover a way to make the dead walk. He succeeds and creates a monster that has to deal with living again. Written by Josh Pasnak Editor's Note: Dracula may be one of the most iconic horror films of the Golden Age of Horror, but it hasn't withstood the test of time as well as the second essential classic in Universal's Essential Collection: director James Whale's Frankenstein, starring Colin Clive as renegade scientist Henry Frankenstein, High Prince of Horror Boris Karloff as Dr. Frankenstein's unnamed monster, Mae Clarke as his devoted fiancée Elizabeth, Dwight Frye as his dutiful hunchback assistant Fritz, and Edward Van Sloan as Frankenstein's old mentor, Dr. Waldman. Steeped in ambition, rejection and tragedy, Frankenstein is an entirely different beast than Dracula, and not just because the two creatures are so radically different from one another. While both films were released in 1931, Frankenstein feels scarier, sharper and more substantial; in part because the story of a man playing God is more gripping than the story of a god preying on man, but also because Whale is simply a surer, steadier filmmaker than Browning. His creature feature doesn't envy or romanticize its beast in any way, nor does it shy away from duality or base impulses on any front, human or monster. Of course, that would all be for naught if it weren't for a single force of silver screen nature: Karloff, who was launched into stardom with Frankenstein, and for very good reason. His monster is frightened, kindly, menacing, sympathetic, impulsive, angry and, all at once, misunderstood. More than a hulking monstrosity, more than an abandoned child, more than the sum of his stitched together body parts, Karloff infuses Frankenstein's abomindation with pathos, no small feat considering the one-dimensionality of many a horror monster. Cast Notes: Colin Clive (Henry Frankenstein), Mae Clarke (Elizabeth), John Boles (Victor Moritz), Boris Karloff (The Monster [as ?]), Edward Van Sloan (Dr. Waldman), Frederick Kerr (Baron Frankenstein), Dwight Frye (Fritz), Lionel Belmore (The Burgomaster), Marilyn Harris (Little Maria). IMDb Rating (01/16/13): 8.0/10 from 32,549 users Additional information Copyright:  1931,  Universal Studios Features:  The Frankenstein Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster (SD, 45 minutes): Film historian David J. Skal hosts this lengthy look back at Mary Shelley's original book, the development and departures of James Whale's classic 1931 adaptation, the influence the film has had on cinema, and more. Karloff: The Gentle Monster (SD, 38 minutes): With an ability "to lure them inside," Boris Karloff carved out a unique, hard-working Hollywood life and career, and injected something into the horror movie that pushed the fledgling genre well into the modern-monster age. Universal Horror (SD, 95 minutes): Filmmaker and part-time narrator Kenneth Branagh guides horror fans on a journey through Universal's horror canon, touching on all of the movies included in the Classic Monsters collection, and some that are not. Audio Commentaries: Film historian Rudy Behlmer reads from a prepared essay throughout the duration of the movie, while historian Sir Christopher Frayling, while obviously relying on notes of his own, breaks free of his prepared materials to forge a more conversational commentary. There's value in the first, but there's value, a more fascinating dissection and an effortlessness to the second. 100 Years of Universal: Restoring the Classics (HD, 9 minutes): Rather than a Frankenstein-centric restoration featurette, like the one that accompanies Dracula, this is a general catch-all. It's appreciated, but not nearly as revealing. Boo!: A Short Film (SD, 10 minutes): A 1932 parody short from writer/director Albert DeMond. Frankenstein Archives (SD, 9 minutes): Movie posters, campaign art, production stills and other images. Trailer Gallery (SD, 8 minutes): Frankenstein, The Bride of Frankenstein, The Ghost of Frankenstein, Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man and House of Frankenstein. Monster Tracks (HD): A standard trivia track rounds out the package. Subtitles:  English SDH, Spanish Video:  Widescreen 1.35:1 B&W Screen Resolution: 1080p Original aspect ratio: 1.37:1 Audio:  ENGLISH: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono FRENCH: DTS Mono Time:  1:10 DVD:  # Discs: 1 -- # Shows: 1 UPC:  025192152269 Coding:  [V5.0-A4.5] MPEG-4 AVC D-Box:  No Other:  Producers: Carl Laemmle, Jr; Directors: James Whale; Writers: Mary Shelley Writer Delete, Garrett Fort Writer Delete, Francis Edward Faragoh; running time of 70 minutes; Packaging: Custom Case.