Classic Horror Film Board Unofficial Archives "Who Played the Monster, Film by Film"
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Classic Horror Film Board Unofficial Archives "Who Played The Monster, Film by Film" All posters retain their copyright All photos reproduced for reference and review only Volume 1 10/4/05 - 10/24/05 Screen pages 1 - 26 Unofficial CHFB Archives: Who Played Frankenstein's Monster --------------------------------2 taraco (10/4/05 1:39 am) Who played the Monster (film by film) ... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We all know that Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney Jr., Bela Lugosi and then Glenn Strange played the monster in the classic Universal series. But there is still confusion over the stunt men, stand-ins and others -- such as Eddie Parker, Gil Perkins and maybe others -- who wore the makeup (or mask), as well. With so much bad information, new information, rumors and Vasarian legends swirling, I thought maybe the CHFB criminal brain trust could work up the definitive list. So let's try to go film by film -- no jumping ahead til we're satisfied each film has been dealt with. The beginning will be easy, but films such as FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLF MAN may be interesting indeed. There's been a lot of discussion on these boards, but it's scattered about. So maybe we can end up with a definitive listing, film by film, and even scene by scene. And learn something from the true experts here. So to begin... Edited by: taraco at: 10/4/05 1:55 am taraco (10/4/05 1:43 am) Who played the Monster (FRANKENSTEIN) ... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OK, in the original FRANKENSTEIN, we know: -- Bela Lugosi did a short screen test, supposedly 'Golem-like', and sadly that footage is lost. -- Boris Karloff played the monster, even showing up on the laboratory table in his street shoes before the creation scene. Did anyone else play the monster in FRANKENSTEIN, even briefly? Was it always Karloff carrying Colin Clive (and throwing the dummy off the windmill)? I would imagine it was always Boris. But is that right? (Once we're all satisfied, we'll move on to BRIDE). Anyhow, we'll start slowly, but... david Unofficial CHFB Archives: Who Played Frankenstein's Monster --------------------------------3 TomWeaver999 (10/4/05 5:32 am) Re: Who played the Monster (FRANKENSTEIN) ... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- << I would imagine it was always Boris. But is that right? << I believe so, yes. Joe Karlosi (10/4/05 6:16 am) Re: Who played the Monster (FRANKENSTEIN) ... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Onto BRIDE now - was this always Karloff? I'd believe so, and if true it's interesting because I'd never given it a thought to this very moment that there were no stuntmen for the first two films... ---------------------- "It's MORE ... than a hobby!" TomWeaver999 (10/4/05 8:25 am) Re: Who played the Monster (FRANKENSTEIN) ... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stuntman George DeNormand -- there's an article on him in the new FILMFAX -- doubled for Karloff in BRIDE, and talks about it in that article. He's the only double I know of. ForbiddenZone (10/4/05 9:03 am) Re: Who played the Monster (FRANKENSTEIN) ... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- That FilmFax article sounds very interesting. What number is the latest issue? Taraco (10/4/05 9:23 am) Who played the Monster (BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN) ... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wait, wait. Slow down. OK, as Joe says, onto BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN. If George DeNormand doubled for Boris, in which scene? And does this mean he was the second person ever to have the Jack Pierce makeup, or partial makeup? Edited by: taraco at: 10/4/05 9:24 am Unofficial CHFB Archives: Who Played Frankenstein's Monster --------------------------------4 taraco (10/4/05 9:28 am) Re: Who played the Monster (BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN) ... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Also, aren't there photos of James Whale standing by a full-sized torso and head of the Monster from the BRIDE set? Anyhow, I assume this is from BRIDE: Was that used in the water scene, or...? Edited by: taraco at: 10/4/05 9:37 am Wolfman Joe (10/4/05 9:37 am) Re: Who played the Monster (BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN) ... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I thought that dummy was used for camera set-ups, lighting, etc. blackbiped (10/4/05 11:15 am) Re: Who played the Monster (BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN) .. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It always looked to me like a stuntman who jumps into the stream to rescue the shepherdess. Legend, oh legend, the third wheel legend...always in the way. taraco (10/4/05 12:16 pm) Re: Who played the Monster (BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN) ... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>It always looked to me like a stuntman who jumps into the stream to rescue the shepherdess. And that would be George DeNormand, then? Interesting! Someone else who played the monster in BRIDE! Can anyone confirm that it was DeNormand? DeNormand is in FILMFAX #107, but I'm at work and the library here at USA TODAY -- believe it or not -- DOESN'T have FILMFAX!! david— Edited by: taraco at: 10/4/05 12:27 pm taraco (10/4/05 12:30 pm) Unofficial CHFB Archives: Who Played Frankenstein's Monster --------------------------------5 Re: Who played the Monster (BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN) ... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Interesting: The IMdB lists George DeNormand as a stunt double for Henry Hull in WEREWOLF OF LONDON, and as a double (not a stunt double, if there's a disticntion), for Bela Lugosi in THE RAVEN! It does not list BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN...but that does not mean he wasn't in it. taraco (10/4/05 10:44 pm) Re: Who played the Monster (BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN) ... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OK, here's what it says about George DeNormand in the new FILMFAX (No. 107). The article, mostly about his stunt work in westerns, is by Jim Harmon: 'On The Bride of Frankenstein (1935), George was doubling Boris Karloff as the Monster. Near the end of the day's shooting, Karloff came up to DeNormand, the two of them in complete monster makeup with the huge, square headpieces. 'Karloff said, 'This is your first day in make-up, George. I think you had better come with me.' 'The two men went to Karloff's dressing room and the star offered George a very stiff whiskey. 'Bottoms up, George.' The two then went to make-up. The first thing they did to each of the men was to remove the headpiece glued to their own scalps. It was like ripping off the top of the man's own head -- blinding pain, and an inadvertent yelp. George then understood why they needed that shot of whiskey. 'For some time, Frankenstein aficionado Donald F. Glut was not sure where DeNormand doubled Karloff. George was on the production records for doubling the old man who drowned beneath the windmill at the beginning of the film. There was no double for the climax of the film. It was either Karloff or a dummy. 'But Glut believes that it was a double, possibly George, who is hoisted up on a pole when the Monster is captured midway through the film. The director would not ask a star like Karloff to go through that.' -- Jim Harmon, FILMFAX #107. Harmon's piece is based on interviews with DeNormand before the veteran stuntman died in 1976. There's no doubt it is Karloff in the closeup during the 'crucifixion' scene on the pole: But Glut apparently believes it could have been DeNormand during the hoisting or when the pole falls into the wagon. If so, DeNormand would be the second man to play Jack Pierce's monster. So what think? Are we convinced enough to start a list? -- Frankenstein (1931): Boris Karloff Unofficial CHFB Archives: Who Played Frankenstein's Monster --------------------------------6 -- Bride of Frankenstein (1935): Boris Karloff, George DeNormand Or do we need more proof? david 'I'll bind him!' Edited by: taraco at: 10/4/05 10:56 pm nightmarekey (10/5/05 12:27 am) Re: Who played the Monster (BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN) ... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I believe a double was also used in the brief long shot of The Monster carrying the kidnapped Elizabeth to the cave... It must be remembered that the scenes in the the burned windmill were, by all accounts, actually Karloff's first on-camera work in the picture, and was also when he dislocated a hip... therefore, any subsequent scenes involving strenuous activity must have been doubled. Clearly Karloff is in medium & closeups, but judicious editing (and skill on the part of this DeNormand) make it difficult to pinpoint; camouflaged as well by James Whale's pictorial style, which could employ as many as six camera perspectives in a given scene. Ted Newsom (10/5/05 3:03 am) Re: Who played the Monster (BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN) ... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Oh, there goes nightmarekey again, writing lucidly. Such a disappointment. Hell, ANYbody can write like that. OK, so maybe deNorman doubled the waterfall thing (but not the windmill, where Karloff was injured); maybe -- MAYbe-- the long shot of the crucifixion scene... maybe a shot of carrying Hobson off... and, I should guess,