Happy Frankenstein Day!

Lately, we have been neglecting our holiday calender, but I finally had the opportunity to look at it yesterday and found that today is FRANKENSTEIN'S DAY which means something to both My Mr.Cham and I, but not for the same reasons.

Let us begin with a little bit of history.
In 1816, eighteen years old Mary Wollstencroft Shelley

travelled to Germany and Switzerland with her husband Percy and her stepsister Claire. They joined Lord Byron in Geneva and on a dark and stormy night, Byron suggested that they have a contest to see who could write the best horror story. Mary eventually won with THE MODERN PROMETHEUS, which told the tale of Dr. Frankenstein and his experiments attempting to reanimate the dead. The story became a novel which was published anonymously in 1818 and again, with Mary's name, in 1820.

A still from the first film version from Edison Films in 1910 starring Charles Ogle.

In 1931 Universal Pictures released FRANKENSTEIN starring COLIN CLIVE  as the doctor and BORIS KARLOFF as "The Monster".

Colin Clive and Boris Karloff

Boris Karloff with Marilyn Harris

BORIS KARLOFF

A sequel THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN followed in 1935

Boris Karloff with Elsa Lanchester 

There have been, to date, countless film adaptations,  television movies and miniseries,   stage productions including plays, musicals, opera and a ballet. Countless! I tried to count the list at imdb.com and gave up. There are no less than five Frankenstein projects in development.

David Rappaport and Clancy Brown in The Bride (1985)

Kenneth Branagh and Helena Bonham-Carter in Frankenstein (1994)

I was beginning to think that LITTLE WOMEN was going to hold the record for the most (unnecessary) adaptations. Not even close!

Marty Feldman, Teri Garr, Gene Wilder, and Peter Boyle in Young Frankenstein.(1974)

 In 1964, THE MUNSTERS debuted and ran for two seasons. The sitcom featured a rather odd, but endearing family. Herman Munster (played by the wonderful Fred Gwynne)

was clearly inspired by Frankenstein's Monster, his wife Lily and her father , only known as "Grampa" who were vampires andwith the last name of Dracula and Eddie, the Munster's only child was inexplicably a werewolf, complete with a werewolf doll. Lily's niece Marilyn (a "girl next door" version of Miss Monroe), was the only "normal" member of the family.
The series has been in reruns ever since.

Fred Gwynne, Yvonne DeCarlo,
Al Lewis, Pat Priest and Butch Patrick.

There have been several attempts to reboot and remake the series over the years, including MOCKINGBIRD LANE in 2012.

Charity Wakefield, Eddie Izzard,
Portia DeRossi, Jerry O'Connell
and Mason Cook.

Despite the inspired casting of Eddie Izzard as Grandpa and some very atmospheric production design and impressive special effects, it failed to find an audience.  It was rather gory for primetime television and very expensive. The pilot reportedly cost $10,000,000!😮

 When I was a toddler and just beginning to talk, I began saying the word "pummy", but no one knew what I was trying to say, much to my mother's consternation. Then one day while watching The Munsters, she says that I went up to the screen, put my little hands on Herman Munster's face and said "Pummy".
That Christmas I received my very own Herman puppet, which I still  have to this day.

I continued to be a fan of Mr.Gwynne's in

THE COTTON CLUB (1984) where he played Frenchy Demange

With Bob Hoskins

 and in his iconic role of JUDD CRANDALL   
 in PET SEMATARY

In 1998 the Oscar nominated film GODS AND MONSTERS told the story of the last days of director JAMES WHALE. Although he directed the 1928 film version of SHOWBOAT, The Invisible Man, and The Old Dark House,
he is mostly recognized for directing FRANKENSTEIN (1931) and BRIDE of FRANKENSTEIN (1935).)
Please visit our GODS and MONSTERS page for more information.

And here is My Mr.Cham's video  "Happy Halloween, Mr. Whale" from his YouTube channel.

I was going to make a theme menu for lunch or dinner today, but I honestly could not think of anything. When I asked My Mr.Cham for suggestions.....well, suffice it to say, they were probably accurate, but not very appetizing. I thought about buying this cereal as a little joke, but after I read the box, I changed my mind.😱

Who knew that breakfast cereal could be so scary?