# Frankenstein's Monster **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 29, 2003, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frankensteins-monster/165042 "2003-03-29T16:49:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![raisinbread](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8491ac/32.png) [@raisinbread](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raisinbread)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2003, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frankensteins-monster/165042/1 "2003-03-29T16:49:19Z")
Why was his head flat in the movie? Because it looked cool? Some reference in the original story? ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2003, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frankensteins-monster/165042/2 "2003-03-29T17:04:32Z")
Because it looked cool. Absolutly no reference to the original story. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2003, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frankensteins-monster/165042/3 "2003-03-29T17:07:14Z")
For amusement: [Straight Dope Staff Report: Would Frankenstein’s monster be possible today?](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mfrankenstein.html) ---
**Author:** ![Short\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Short\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Short_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2003, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frankensteins-monster/165042/4 "2003-03-29T17:56:57Z")
Here’s the story as I know it: Jack Pierce, the man who designed the Frankenstein make-up, tried to come up with “low-tech” ways a mad scientist could possibly think of to remove a brain from a human skull and replace it with another. The idea he finally settled on was that the good doctor made an incision (front to back) in the skull, cracked it open, replaced the brain, and crudely sewed the skull (which, of course, was for the most part irreparably broken) back together. The ‘flat head’ of the monster is supposed to convey this effect. Interesting trivia: Karloffs long time colleague Bela Lugosi was originally cast as the monster, but insisted on doing his own make-up. His (apparently hideous) design was rejected, and Lugosi walked out. Lugosi’s design would have featured a much larger head and nasty looking sores all over the body, and was, needless to say, very different from the design we all know and love. ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2003, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frankensteins-monster/165042/5 "2003-03-29T18:06:03Z")
Why would the Doctor need more than one body? Why couldn’t he take one and just reanimate the whole thing? ---
**Author:** ![Short\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Short\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Short_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2003, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frankensteins-monster/165042/6 "2003-03-29T18:18:43Z")
I believe the idea was to create a ‘perfect’ being: a strong body and a brilliant mind, or something to that effect. At any rate, the original book (it’s been a long time since I’ve read it) focuses more on the creation of life out of… well, nothing, than the reanimation of dead bodies. Incidentally, for a good horror story about reanimation, I heartily recommend “Herbert West, Re-Animator” by HP Lovecraft. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2003, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frankensteins-monster/165042/7 "2003-03-29T18:37:15Z")
The monster was supposed to have a large, looming presence (in the book, I think he was “really tall”). Karloff, however, was just “average-sized.” I think part of the reason for the klunky thick-soled boots and extra “head” was to make him a more imposing figure. Side note: I’ve wondered if the movements of the Whale’s monster was inspired by “The Golem” from a decade earlier. But, could just be coincidence. Maybe that’s how all newly-animated life-forms walk. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2003, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frankensteins-monster/165042/8 "2003-03-29T20:02:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Speaker for the Dead \* > \*\*Why would the Doctor need more than one body? Why couldn’t he take one and just reanimate the whole thing? \*\* I think the goal was to make a new person, not to reanimate an old one. Obviously, it’s a judgement call whether you can call the end result a “new” person. If I make a car from 100 percent used parts, I wouldn’t exactly consider it a new car, myself. ---
**Author:** ![Sock\_Munkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Sock\_Munkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sock_Munkey)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frankensteins-monster/165042/9 "2003-03-30T09:03:31Z")
The boots were weighted and Karloff had a metal rod strapped to his back under the costume. ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frankensteins-monster/165042/10 "2003-03-30T19:08:31Z")
Plus, he “must have had an enormous schwanstucker!” ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frankensteins-monster/165042/11 "2003-03-30T19:36:36Z")
Frau Blucher! ---
**Author:** ![vertigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/3ec8ea/32.png) [@vertigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vertigo)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frankensteins-monster/165042/12 "2003-03-30T23:08:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rico \* > \*\*Plus, he “must have had an enormous schwanstucker!” \*\* That goes without saying… ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frankensteins-monster/165042/13 "2003-03-30T23:39:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by carnivorousplant \* > \*\*Frau Blucher! \*\* **WHINNYNEIGHFRIGHTENEDHORSEYSCREAM!!!** ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frankensteins-monster/165042/14 "2003-03-30T23:44:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by carnivorousplant \* > \*\*Frau Blucher! \*\* **WHINNYNEIGHFRIGHTENEDHORSEYSCREAM!!!** ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frankensteins-monster/165042/15 "2003-03-30T23:49:14Z")
I swear I only hit “Submit” once! ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frankensteins-monster/165042/16 "2003-03-31T00:30:41Z")
Where wolf? ---
**Author:** ![Simbelmyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Simbelmyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simbelmyne)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frankensteins-monster/165042/17 "2003-03-31T00:33:58Z")
is this the Transylvania station?😛 ---
**Author:** ![look\_ninjas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@look\_ninjas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/look_ninjas)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frankensteins-monster/165042/18 "2003-03-31T00:39:54Z")
Ja, Ja! ---
**Author:** ![Kezermezer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b487fb/32.png) [@Kezermezer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kezermezer)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frankensteins-monster/165042/19 "2003-03-31T01:03:15Z")
There, wolf! ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frankensteins-monster/165042/20 "2003-03-31T03:40:48Z")
I always thought it was funny that Dr. Frankenstein apparently had learned how to perform the microsurgery necessary to connect the nervous systems of different body parts together so that they actually worked, and yet when it came to closing the outside of the body, he used some big ugly stitches. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frankensteins-monster/165042.md?page=2)