ew movie monsters rate the seemingly universal affection and sympathy
bestowed by cinema buffs upon Frankenstein. A misunderstood brute
"created from cadavers out of rifled graves," he has become a horror
icon, generating panic and pity in audiences around the world. Yet along
with
extraordinary visual imagery, the early Frankenstein motion pictures
also showcased memorable music and dialogue, all of which are captured on a
new CD produced and compiled by renowned musician and lifelong "creature
feature" fan Rob Zombie.
Rob Zombie Presents The Words & The Music Of Frankenstein offers
56
vocal and melodic cues from three notable films: Frankenstein (1931),
The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) and The Son of Frankenstein
(1939). Most of the tracks are spoken-word selections that feature such
recognizable remarks as "It's alive! It's alive!" amidst a whirl
of sound effects on a cut titled "Look! It's moving!" There's also the hearty "To a
new world of gods and monsters!" toast, hidden in a track titled "You'll
Need
a Coat." Orchestral numbers, provided by either Franz Waxman (The Bride
of
Frankenstein) or Frank Skinner (The Son of Frankenstein), are
frequently heard playing underneath the assorted voices and noises. Separate
main title themes from each movie are also included, along with a few
additional interludes such as "Grand Appassionato," "The Hermit's Fiddle
(Ave
Maria)" and "The Evil Flute (flute solo)."
Dozens of black-and-white photos are displayed in the elegant booklet
accompanying the disc, spotlighting rare behind-the-scenes images and
promotional stills from the three motion pictures. The cast and crew credits
for the films are also listed, along with a brief introductory essay by
Zombie noting both the cultural and personal significance of the
Frankenstein story.
"I give you, the monster..."
Between the silly high jinks of Frankenstein monster look-alike
Herman Munster (from The Munsters TV show) and wacky movies like
Young Frankenstein, Mary Shelley's classic character has, in many
respects, become little more than a modern-day pop icon. However, when Boris
Karloff first appeared as the brutish creature nearly 70 years ago, his
heartfelt portrayal of the misbegotten man was truly terrifying. By
stripping
away the often-parodied visual components of the tale, The Words & The
Music Of Frankenstein ingeniously transports listeners back to that
bygone era, transforming the sounds of the archetypal trio of motion
pictures
into an audio extravaganza that's simultaneously frightening and fun.
Perhaps the most enlightening element of the CD is the mixture of pathos
and pain evident simply from the statements uttered by the various
characters. The childlike innocence of Dr. Frankenstein's forlorn creation
is
beautifully conveyed in a short, self-explanatory snippet dubbed "Alone -
bad, friend - good," and echoed in a similarly lamentable selection titled
"She hate me...like others." Subtle yet revealing touches of humor are also
apparent, especially in two segments culled from The Bride of
Frankenstein, where, early in the picture, Dr. Pretorius (Ernest
Thesiger) asks, "Do you like gin? It is my only weakness," only to declare a
bit later, "Have a cigar. They are my only weakness."
Throughout all three movies the music is appropriately creepy, although
film score aficionados should be forewarned that most of the compositions
accompany scenes spotlighting noisy on-screen activities. Regardless, Rob
Zombie Presents The Words & The Music Of Frankenstein is an intriguing
and enjoyable CD, offering both SF and horror devotees an opportunity to
experience this timeless trilogy from a fresh and decidedly pleasurable
perspective.
