MovieChat Forums > Frankenstein (1931) Discussion > Best Actor to Portray Dr. Frankenstein?

Best Actor to Portray Dr. Frankenstein?


Follow-up to my Van Helsing post...Who would you say is your favorite actor to portray the good doctor (and not the monster everyone thinks has the name "Frankenstein")?


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Peter Cushing by far. He was a truly great actor, and invested so much in a very well-written character. With the exception of Evil of Frankenstein, Hammer's Frankenstein series was great.

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Agreed. I think even EVIL had its moments - it wasn't very consistent in the history of the last two, nor does CREATED WOMAN seem to follow coherently as a sequel - it seems to be in its own universe for the most part... but I think this movie really built up on the character of Frankenstein, making Cushing's character much more sympathetic than he had been portrayed in CURSE (getting the maid pregnant and having her killed), here you really see him in a different light (why he is isolated from the villagers, his fight with the sadistic burgomaster)...I think the monster here though doesn't exactly hold a candle to Christopher Lee and the makeup job was a bit last minute.

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Colin Clive, of course. Who else WAS THERE?

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that's true. i say clive was dr. frankenstein as lugosi is dracula or karloff as frankenstein's monster.

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Have to agree that no one did the monster better than Karloff - I was actually pretty embarrassed for Bobby DeNiro in the Branagh version. Clive did a commendable job too and I really liked his Dr. Frankenstein but thought that Cushing did better at fleshing out the character, even if in all fairness, he got to play him like seven times and Clive didn't. :) Cushing just gave more of the vibe of being alone, tormented, even pretty misanthropic by turns.

Hammer Director Terence Fisher proudly admitted that he never read the book, but somehow Cushing rings truer to the character Shelley wrote about. Christopher Lee's makeup job was interesting, have to give Hammer props for having to reinvent the monster, being that Karloff's makeup was highly protected by Universal - but eh, Lee was more the type to play Dracula.

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I just watched Frankenstein a few hours ago. If it hadn't been for Clive's amazing performance as the obsessed, tormented Henry Frankenstein, Boris Karloff would totally own the movie. As it is, it's his picture, no doubt, but Clive gives Karloff a run for his money; and Dwight Frye gives Karloff and Clive a run for their money. A classic. I can't see how it could have been improved on. Even the "unreality" of some of the outdoor scenes work, lending the movie a nightmarish quality.

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i think this is the best guy to have played frakenstein. the way he delivered his line ''it's ALIVE, now i know what's it like to be God!!'' i got chills down my arms when he said that. i can't picture it being said any better.

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"I was actually pretty embarrassed for Bobby DeNiro in the Branagh version."
I actually though DeNiro's perfomance was one of the better aspects of that film, but maybe it just seems like a good performance compared to Kenneth Barnnagh's pantomime acting :/

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I have always wished for the dream version of Frankenstein with Peter Cushing playing the doctor to Karloff's monster...

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Colin Clive was a bit too melodramatic in his presentation for me. I prefer Peter Cushing's more understated performance.

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Colin Clive's classic lines will always seperate him from everyone else.

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Colin Clive. He inhabited the character during his two-movie tenure. It's a shame he had such an alcoholism problem and died so young. I can only imagine what kind of stuff he could have cooked up in the Universal Horror genre of the 1940's.

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It certainly would have been interesting, but If Colin had been well and strong, I don't think he would have remained in films. His great love was the Theatre, and I feel sure that he would have left California for New York as soon as possible.

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Colin Clive of course!

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As much as I loved Clive's portrayal of Frankenstein, I have to go with Cushing as my favorite. Though in Clive's defense, Cushing played the role many more times than he did.

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According to the trivia section:

Those originally considered for the cast included Leslie Howard as Henry Frankenstein and Bette Davis as Elizabeth. Director James Whale insisted on Colin Clive for the role of Henry.
Not sure about Davis, but I think Howard would probably have been an improvement on Clive.


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Colin Clive gets my vote.

His Frankenstein caught the wonder and intoxication of intellectual exploration and discovery. He differs from later mad scientists in not having overtly "bad" motives. His flaw is not seeing beyond his immediate goal.

Cushing's Frankenstein, frankly, comes off as more the villain, which I don't like as much.

As for pure acting, Clive was uniquely able to appear high-strung and intense on screen. Both men were sensationally talented actors.

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Are we counting Gene Wilder? If we're counting Gene Wilder, then Gene Wilder. If we are not counting Gene Wilder, then I would go with Colin Clive. Always enjoyed his performance in the first two films.

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It seems that the Clives have it! 😎

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One of my all time favorite lines in the history of cinema is when Clive says:

'Quite a good scene, isn't it?!.....One man "Crazy".....three very "sane" spectators!"

Clive just nailed that line, and that whole scene in general. Pretty much the quintessential 'Mad Scientist'.

I also very much liked Basil Rathbone in 'Son of Frankenstein'. Though I think he was somewhat overshadowed by Lugosi and Lionel Atwill, who were both fantastic. Karloff had some great moments in that one too. Aside of the obnoxious kid, I really like that movie.

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I have to go with Gene Wilder, although his Doctor Fronkensteen was a descendant of the original Dr. Frankenstein.

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Clive. He set the standard. His portrayal perfectly captures an obsessed, nerdy, socially awkward scientist bordering on madness. Cushing is great but just a bit too refined.

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Colin Clive. I agree that Cushing's character was far more developed but he was also pretty much a villain which is not the same as the book. Clive's performance is just perfect and a landmark of horror cinema.

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My favorite would be Colin Clive, but in terms of performance strength I'd say it's a tie between him and Cushing. They're almost two different characters though, Clive being a decent guy and Cushing a murderous sociopath.

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