The Bride *** (1985, Sting, Jennifer Beals, Anthony Higgins, Clancy Brown, Veruschka, Quentin Crisp) – Classic Movie Review 5289

Director Franc Roddam’s flashy and stylish 1985 horror movie retells the beloved story from the 1935 classic The Bride of Frankenstein quite decently in a screenplay by Lloyd Fonvielle. However, despite the surface razzle dazzle of Stephen H Burum’s cinematography and Michael Seymour’s production designs, this reworking lacks the brooding darkness that made the 1935 original so appealing.

It also lacks a captivating centre, since Sting and Beals both give competent but largely empty, uninspired performances and fail to capture the viewer’s attention and imagination as Doctor Frankenstein and the bride he creates for his Creature, who gets the name Eva.

Remaking the story of one of the world’s greatest ever horror movies was always going to be a tall order, and setting itself up for a fall. However, the movie sure looks great and the temptingly idiosyncratic cast offers everyone from supermodel Veruschka [von Lehndorff] to Quentin Crisp (as Frankenstein’s assistant Dr Zahlus) via Clancy Brown, Geraldine Page (as Frankenstein’s house keeper Mrs Baumann), Anthony Higgins, Cary Elwes, Phil Daniels (as Bela), Alexei Sayle, Timothy Spall (as Frankenstein’s assistant Paulus), Ken Campbell, Guy Rolfe, Andy de la Tour and tiny David Rappaport, who gives the film’s standout performance as the Creature’s buddy Rinaldo the Midget.

The Bride is largely forgotten but the James Whale 1935 classic The Bride of Frankenstein is immortal. In 2017, Universal Pictures plan a new version. Will it follow the fate of The Bride?

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5289

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