:06:01
that is suspiciously
like Victorian England.
:06:03
In similar fashion, the English-born
Whale has created a Goldstadt
:06:07
that is really a British never-never land.
:06:09
Several 1935 press squibs actually stated
that the locale for the picture is England.
:06:15
In a contemporary interview,
Whale explained.
:06:18
"The whole of the theatre,
both stage and screen, is unreal,
:06:22
and if, for 1½ hours,
the audience can be transported
:06:25
into a strange atmosphere
in which unnatural things happen,
:06:28
but appear to happen
naturally and believably,
:06:31
the object of the film producer
is accomplished."
:06:35
"While the intention is a thrilling
melodrama", states a production note,
:06:41
"it is punctuated by the comedy of
the burgomaster and the housekeeper,
:06:44
who voice the scepticism of the audience
in the manner of The Invisible Man."
:06:49
Whale knew during the writing
who would play these two.
:06:52
Essentially reprising their roles
from that 1933 film
:06:56
are Whale favourites
EE Clive as the burgomaster
:06:58
and Una O'Connor as Minnie,
the housekeeper.
:07:01
The parts were written
for these specific performers.
:07:04
The unforgettable role of Dr Pretorius
was apparently tailored for Claude Rains.
:07:08
It is not known why Rains bowed out.
:07:10
According to later studio memos,
:07:12
he declined the Basil Rathbone part
in Son of Frankenstein
:07:15
because it was a horror picture.
:07:17
Ernest Thesiger, another Whale favourite,
filled the gap,
:07:20
dramatically changing the movie's orbit.
:07:23
The old Baron Frankenstein, referred to
here, is never mentioned again.
:07:28
In the preview version, the news of
Henry's alleged death did the old man in.
:07:33
The baron wasn't shown, but the priest
and altar boys attending last rites were,
:07:37
and they can still be found
in one or two production stills.
:07:41
The parents of Maria,
the child drowned in the original film,
:07:44
are played by Reginald Barlow
and Mary Gordon.
:07:47
Michael Mark, the father in Frankenstein,
was called Ludwig.
:07:51
Reginald Barlow, here called Hans,
:07:54
appeared in the concurrent Werewolf of
London as the estate caretaker, Timothy.
:07:58
Upon reviewing the November 30th, 1934,
shooting script,