Genre is defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as “a
category of artistic, musical, or literary composition characterized by a
particular style, form, or content.” The Bride of Frankenstein is primarily seen
as a horror film but has bits and pieces that allow it to fit in other genres
as well. “Genre films must not only be similar in order to succeed, they must
also be different” (Altman 21). Basically this is saying that film genres that
cross lines into other genres are the most successful. There are aspects of
comedy as well as science-fiction and even the grotesque in this film all while
staying true to the audience’s expectation of this picture being a horror film.
There
are a few scenes in the film that have very humorous elements. One of which is
the encounter of the monster and Minnie.
This is in the very beginning of the movie and the meeting of the two is
very comical. Minnie is a character that can bring a lot of comic relief into
some serious situations. Her reaction to the monster’s presence is over the top
and amusing to watch. “She is difficult to take seriously even when she is
responding to a genuine threat” (Conger 247). All of that speaks to the foreground
and the obvious aspects of comedy in this scene. Another thing is that makes
this scene humorous is the music being played. The music is only heard by the audience
and has no effect on the characters in the scene so it is considered and
nondiegetic representation. The music turns from the dark and scary tones to a
lighter and slightly more upbeat. To the audience, it does not strike fear but
actually makes us feel safe and somewhat silly. It tells the audience that the
next thing to come is not to be taken as serious as the previous shot.
Another
comedic scene takes place later in the film when Frankenstein meets the blind
man. The way that the monster talks and interacts with the man is funny and evokes
laughter from the audience. A specific example
is when the monster tries to smoke for the very first time. It is very subtle,
but the monster actually chokes on the smoke for a second. This is something
that in the 1930s most people could relate to because most people smoked because
the health issues associated with it are not well known. This is something that
in the theater most people would have gotten a good laugh at remembering when a
similar thing happened to them.
Not
only is comedy shown in this film but also Science-fiction. The sci-fi aspect
of the film is present throughout the entire plot. The fact that the monster is up and walking
around is a feat of science-fiction. Also in the laboratory where they are
making the monsters bride, there is equipment everywhere that doesn’t seem to
do anything at all. Most of it looks like random pieces of metal. The average
person should be able to tell that the equipment is more fiction than science. Those
diegetic features and the fact that the monster is alive are proof of
science-fictions presence in this film.
Lastly,
the grotesque plays a role in this film. One part in particular is when Dr.
Frankenstein is trying to get the human heart to work. It is very uncomfortable
and gives us a sense of the uncanny.
The Bride of Frankenstein is an influential
movie in many ways. This movie is an
excellent example of the use of multiple genres in a film. There are parts of comedy, science-fiction and
the grotesque in this film all while staying true to the audience’s expectation
of this picture being a horror film.
Works Cited
Conger, Sydney
M., and Janice R. Welsch. "The Comic and the× Grotesque in James Whale's
Frankenstein Films." (1984): 240-54. Print.
Altman, Rick.
"What is× Understood by the Notion of Film Genre?" Film/Genre.
London: British Film Institute, 1999. 13-28. Print.
By Christopher Drury
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