The first difference between the book and film is that the book portrays the experiment as a slow and precise while the film shows Dr. Frankenstein, played by Kenneth Branagh, rushing around flicking switches and finding tools with which to complete his experiment.
“I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open; it breathed hard, and a convulsive motion agitated its limbs” (Frankenstein, Page 55)
One of the reasons the creation scene may have been made more energetic and physical is that the director and actor (Dr. Frankenstein) may have wanted to make himself more like an action hero, with his shirt off and sweaty chest to show off on television. However, in the book long sentences are used which tends to make the reader read slower instead of shorter, faster sentences. Also “it breathed hard” implies to the reader that the room in which the experiment is taking place is quite and calm to hear something as quiet as someone breathing.
The creation scene in the film is set in a dusty and cluttered loft space with a high vaulted ceiling and a large feature window at the back of the room. This may be linked with religion again as it was such an important factor almost 200 years ago, this shows the link between now and when the film was set. The room is full of equipment Dr. Frankenstein uses to create the monster; there are bottles of chemicals and instruments on shelves and the major items used to create the monster such as the embryonic fluid in a large coffin shaped casket. Again this may be used to bring more realism to modern day audiences, enforcing the idea that 200 years ago many people did think it possible to create such a creature. The setting generally gives the impression that Dr. Frankenstein is not too house proud and cares more about his creation than his house or quality of living. In the small part of the house he has partitioned off for himself the curtains are tainted brown, the mirror covered in dust and the bed unmade this gives a reflection to the audience of how obsessed Dr. Frankenstein is with his creation.
Kenneth Branagh uses lighting in the creation scene to show facial expressions but the use of light in the creation scene also shows the energy needed to create this creature, the blue sparks of lightning briefly illuminating the laboratory when he pulls the switch to bring the creature to life shows how much energy is needed to bring the creature to life. This is one of the ways in which Kenneth Branagh enforces the reality of the experiment to the sceptical 21st Century audiences, showing the power of the energy used. Lighting is also used by Branagh to convey the characters expressions’; using very little light in the background makes the audience focus on the characters facial and bodily expressions and actions. Directly after the creation scene when Dr. Frankenstein hauls up the monster on chains a small ring of light is used to create a halo over the monsters head, maybe implying that the creation made by Dr. Frankenstein is not the horrendous and unspeakable mistake her originally thinks but has been created into a human and therefore has feelings and emotions.
For the entire creation scene the camera shows the point of view of Dr. Frankenstein using camera angles and shots from his perspective, however, when Frankenstein does pull the creature up on the chains hanging above the laboratory the camera shows a high angle shot looking down on Frankenstein from the creatures view, this enforces the idea to the audience that the creature still alive but also that the creature has emotions and feelings. An extreme close up is used when the creatures eye flickers open, this builds up the tension for the audience and again portrays the life in the creature, the camera then pans round to the doctor who believes the creature has lost all life and his experiment didn’t work, in doing this the camera pans the room giving the audience an idea of how much work went into the creation due to the state and busyness of the laboratory. A close up shot is used when Frankenstein is standing in front of the mirror reflecting upon what he has done and the little he thinks he has achieved, this gives the audience another insight into his way of life during the creation.
Sound is also used in the creation scene to build up the tension, fast music is used when the doctor is preparing to bring the creature to life, over the music, once the creature has been brought to life, the clattering and hammering of the monster can be heard from inside the casket, until it bursts open. All of this builds up tension and suspense for the audience. Before the casket breaks open you can hear Frankenstein talking to himself.
“Yes, yes”
There is then a few seconds silence in which he uses to listen for movement from the creature but this is also used to engage the audience into what’s happening. However, the silence is broken by Frankenstein’s loss when he thinks he has lost the monster.
“No, no, no, no, no”
This is then followed by a loud bang from the monster to which the doctor’s response is;
“It’s alive, it’s alive”
The silences are used to create tension and suspense for the audience but also give the audience time to reflect on what they have heard and feel for the character. This is specifically obvious when the realisation hits Frankenstein.
“What have I done? What have I done?”
This is followed by six church bells that could be used to represent a new beginning, as in a wedding or Christening bells are used to show the beginning of something new and for Frankenstein this was only the beginning.
In conclusion Kenneth Branagh has adapted Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein in many ways most of which are because it has been made into a film which uses different methods to portray things such as feelings and emotions which in a book can be written down but in the film these feelings must be shown through the characters themselves. However, he has adapted other things so as to keep realism throughout the film for example in the book there is no mention of the monster being in embryonic fluid, but Kenneth Branagh adapted this so as to portray the feeling that it may not have been such a ridiculous idea to try to create new life from old life and many of the ideas Dr. Frankenstein had were logical and methodical. In doing this Kenneth Branagh may have reduced some of the scepticism in the modern day audience.
