Watch Frankenstein

As the first known adaptation of Mary Shelley's classic novel, the 1910 film Frankenstein is a silent black and white horror film that tells the story of a doctor named Frankenstein who creates a monster through a gruesome scientific experiment. The film starts with a prologue in which the audience is introduced to the main characters, including Dr. Frankenstein (Augustus Phillips), his fiancée Elizabeth (Mary Fuller), and his assistant Fritz (Charles Ogle). The film then moves on to show Frankenstein's experiment in which he creates a monster by stitching together different body parts from corpses.

Despite being only 13 minutes long, the film manages to capture some of the key themes from Shelley's novel, including the dangers of scientific experimentation and the need for acceptance and understanding. The monster, played by Ogle in heavy makeup and prosthetics, is portrayed as a sympathetic character who is mistreated by society due to his appearance. In one of the film's most memorable scenes, the monster is chased by a mob of angry villagers who eventually corner him and set him on fire.

The special effects in Frankenstein were considered groundbreaking for their time, with much of the film's success attributed to the use of makeup and prosthetics to transform Ogle into the monster. The film also used stop-motion animation to bring some of the creature's movements to life, including a scene in which the monster is shown crawling out of a vat of chemicals.

Despite being over 100 years old, the film's imagery and themes remain relevant to modern audiences. The idea of a scientist playing god and creating life has been explored in countless films and novels since the release of Frankenstein, and the idea of a misunderstood monster struggling to find acceptance in a cruel world remains a powerful and poignant message.

Overall, Frankenstein is a fascinating and important piece of cinematic history. While it may seem tame by modern standards, the film's themes and imagery paved the way for countless horror films to come and showed that even with limited technology, filmmakers were able to create something truly groundbreaking.