This year marks the 75th anniversary of Universal's classic FRANKENSTEIN, the cornerstone of its legendary horror series and a story that has lent itself to scores of retellings and reinterpretations over the years. Just in time for Halloween, we present a series that follows Mary Shelley's mad doctor and the Monster from Boris Karloff's iconic portrayal through Hammer Films's clever reimaginings in the 1950s and 1960s to the hilarious and inspired spoofs of the 1970s. All films based on the characters from the novel by Mary Shelley.

AFI Member Passes will be accepted at all screenings in the Frankenstein Series.

Two shadowy figures, a Speaker and a Musician, take the stage to shed new light on an old, old story: Mary Shelley's Gothic tale of Dr. Frankenstein's dangerous experiment.

Adapted from the original novel by Mary Shelley
Directed by Nick Olcott

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75th Anniversary!
FRANKENSTEIN

"It’s alive! It’s alive!" Colin Clive's Henry Frankenstein determines to create life itself, but proper brain procurement proves the sticking point. James Whale's horror classic deviates wildly from Mary Shelley’s source novel - and film history is all the better for it. Boris Karloff poignantly conveys the Monster's own terror and humanity beneath Jack Pierce's memorably grotesque makeup.

DIR James Whale; SCR John L. Balderston, Francis Edward Faragon, Garett Fort, Robert Florey and John Russell, based on the play by Peggy Webling; PROD Carl Laemmle Jr. US, 1931, b&w, 71 min. NR

BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN

Whale's follow-up film is a classic beloved in its own right, at times emotionally poignant and at others campy fun. No sooner has Karloff's Monster learned a few words than he starts to make demands - for a mate! Elsa Lanchester's Bride, with her streaked, stand-up frizz, is just as recognizable today as Karloff's Monster. Fun special effects courtesy of Ernest Thesiger's demented Dr. Pretorius and his bottled collection of miniature men!

DIR James Whale; SCR William Hurlbut, John L. Balderston, Josef Berne, Lawrence G. Blochman, Morton Covan, Philip MacDonald, Edmund Pearson, Tom Reed and R.C. Sherriff; PROD Carl Laemmle Jr. US, 1935, b&w, 75 min. NR

SON OF FRANKENSTEIN

The best-looking film in the series. Basil Rathbone plays the title role, the son of Colin Clive's deceased mad doctor, visiting his ancestral home for the first time since infancy. Featuring the first appearance of Bela Lugosi as Ygor, in fine and fiendish form, and the final appearance of Karloff as the Monster.

DIR/PROD Rowlan V. Lee; SCR Wyllic Cooper. US, 1939, b&w, 99 min. NR

CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN

Hammer Films reinvigorated the Frankenstein tradition after its devolvement into B picture spoofery, fleshing out the Victor Frankenstein character (the son of the mad doctor) by expanding on the familial and romantic relationships that shape him. In what would become one of his signature roles, Peter Cushing gives a great performance as the doctor. With Christopher Lee as the Monster, creatively and creepily reimagined from the Karloff version.

DIR Terence Fisher; SCR Jimmy Sangster; PROD Anthony Hinds. UK, 1957, color, 82 min. NR

REVENGE OF FRANKENSTEIN

A sequel of the most satisfying order, but a rewarding stand-alone as well. Picking up right where CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN leaves off, Peter Cushing's mad doctor kindly treats the poor, even as he collects their parts for his next experiment. Things don't go according to plan, of course, and the creature, initially a reasonably good-looking bloke, degenerates into a hideous cannibal fiend.

DIR Terence Fisher; SCR George Baxt, Hurfor Janes and Jimmy Sangster; PROD Anthony Hinds. UK, 1958, color, 90 min. NR

FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED

Perhaps the peak of Hammer Films' Frankenstein cycle and crazed in a way that screams 1960s. "Shot through with images of dementia and decay - drug trafficking, rape, etc. - this remains the most grimly realistic of the series. Peter Cushing's performance is murderously monstrous - his Dr. Frankenstein is a demon in human form; the equivalent of a concentration camp doctor." - American Cinematheque.

DIR Terence Fisher; SCR/PROD Anthony Nelson Keys; SCR Bert Bratt. UK, 1969, color, 101 min. RATED PG-13

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN

Gene Wilder's "Dr. FRONK-en-steen" returns to the family castle and finds himself creating his own monster, Peter Boyle, with the help of Marty Feldman ("Eyegor"), Teri Garr and Cloris Leachman as the creepy Frau Blücher. With perfect recreation of the expressionistic look and feel of James Whale's black-and-white classics, Brooks's spoof pays homage to the originals while hilariously subverting them.

DIR/SCR Mel Brooks; SCR Gene Wilder; PROD Michael Gruskoff. US, 1974, b&w, 106 min. RATED PG

FLESH FOR FRANKENSTEIN

Director Paul Morrissey takes on the horror genre to exploit its exploitativeness, resulting in an absurdly funny, ambivalently sexy and exceedingly gory horror-comedy. The one and only Udo Kier (DANCER IN THE DARK, BREAKING THE WAVES) plays the role of Baron Frankenstein - now married (to his sister!) with children (little creeps) - who spends way too much time in his lab. He has successfully created a beautiful woman and hopes to transplant the brain of lusty peasant Joe Dallesandro for her mate. See it on the big screen - in CinemaScope - in all its bad taste.

DIR/SCR Paul Morrissey; SCR Tonino Guerra and Pat Hackett; PROD Andrew Braunsberg, Lou Peraino, Carlo Ponti and Andy Warhol. US/Italy/France, 1973, color, 95 min. RATED R