"The Bride Of Frankenstein" - BBC4 tonight

[NormanD]

Try to see this classic film tonight. If you don't already know it, a treat's in store. It's one of my favourites.

Great performances from Ernest Thesiger (as forever re-created by Quentin Crisp), and the perpetual screamer, Una O'Connor. Elsa Lanchester is on screen for about five minutes, but she dominates. She apparently based her "hiss" on the Regent's Park swans, which she described as 'nasty creatures'.

The whole film was lovingly recreated by Mel Brooks who used many of the still-intact Universal stage props. Sadly, Frau Blucher * does not appear in tonight's performance. BBC4, October 11, 10.00pm

See the cinema trailer here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9t6NHlPJHA

*Whinny!

[howard male]

You should appreciate this X-Factor contestant's look then, Norman.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wr9AMEu2OiM

[NormanD]

Ha ha! Marge Simpson with a squawk.

It's worse than I imagined.

[howard male]

Well, she’s one of the talentless ones (and a slapper into the bargain if we are to believe the tabloids) who got through instead of Gamu. A truly horrendous performance that would have had Frankenstein putting her back where he found her.

[Ted]

and a slapper into the bargain if we are to believe the tabloids

So far as the tabloids are concerned all women who are neither Princess Diana nor Mother Theresa are "slappers"

[AndyM]

and a slapper into the bargain if we are to believe the tabloids

So far as the tabloids are concerned all women who are neither Princess Diana nor Mother Theresa are "slappers"

Except Diana, we are led to believe, conducted herself in precisely the ''''''''''''''slapper-esque'''''''''''''' fashion others are vilified for.

Back to the film: (a) it is an utter masterpiece, (b) it is so full of queer innuendo one can only assume the studio had no idea ("Good evening, I am Femm", is one line I think I recall), and (c) Ernest Thesiger used to visit Buckingham Palace to make lace with Queen Mary.

I also think it was Ernest who provided the definitive camp critique of the First World War. When asked how he had coped in the trenches, his reply was: " My dear, the noise. And the PEOPLE."

All in all, BoF makes the debilitatingly overrated Rocky Horror Picture Show look like the sordid little rip-off it is.

[NormanD]

The scene in the forest shack, where the monster shares a meal with the blind hermit. He passes Boris K a cigar to have a puff on...... "Hmmm....good!" Classic.

And the police chief actually does have a prosthetic arm (I thought that was a bit of Mel Brooks' madness). Although he doesn't say to the lynch mob "All back to my place for sveet vine und sponge cake".

A friend once casually mentioned - in passing - that his parents were friends with the Thesigers. That's one I must follow up.

Made in 1935, by the way. Def my second-favourite film.

[Des]

Great movie. Possibly the documentary on the history of my favourite film genre at 9 will also be worth watching although I'm torn between that and Horizon.

[Rob Hall]

Can I be the first to say that Ernest Thesiger is Malcom McLaren, and I claim my £5?

[AndyM]

There's something in that, Adam. They both seem to be relishing an unseen act of spindly malice.

[Rob Hall]

Andy - have you created some kind of monster from the combined postings of Adam and myself?

[howard male]

Rob wrote -

Can I be the first to say that Ernest Thesiger is Malcom McLaren, and I claim my £5?

No you can't, Rob, because Marcia said it at around 9.30pm.

[AndyM]

Andy - have you created some kind of monster from the combined postings of Adam and myself?

No, just a dozy consequence of me posting online when I'm half asleep. Sorry!