Frankenstein (1910 film)

Frankenstein is a 1910 film made by Edison Studios. It was written and directed by J. Searle Dawley.

This 16-minute short film was the first motion picture adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. The unbilled cast included Augustus Phillips as Dr. Frankenstein, Charles Ogle as Frankenstein’s monster, and Mary Fuller as the doctor’s fiancée.

Frankenstein was among the earlier silent films to have an associated cue sheet, providing suggested musical accompaniment. From the cue sheet:

At opening: Andante—”You Will Remember Me”
Till Frankenstein’s laboratory: Moderato—”Melody in F”
Till monster is forming: Increasing agitato
Till monster appears over bed: Dramatic music from “Der Freischütz”
Till father and girl in sitting room: Moderato
Till Frankenstein returns home: Andante—”Annie Laurie”
Till monster enters Frankenstein’s sitting room: Dramatic—”Der Freischütz”
Till girl enters with teapot: Andante—”Annie Laurie”
Till monster comes from behind curtains: Dramatic—”Der Freischütz”
Till wedding guests are leaving: Bridal Chorus from “Lohengrin”
Till monster appears: Dramatic—”Der Freischütz”
Till Frankenstein enters: Agitato
Till monster appears: Dramatic—”Der Freischütz”
Till monster vanishes into mirror: Diminishing Agitato

The pieces include “You’ll Remember Me” from the 1843 opera The Bohemian Girl, the 1852 “Melody in F”, “dramatic music” (presumably the “Wolf’s Glen” scene) from the 1821 opera Der Freischütz, the 1835 song “Annie Laurie”, and the Bridal Chorus from the 1850 opera Lohengrin.

By Thomas Edison [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

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