Hundreds of films and TV series have been made based on Mary Shelley's novel "Frankenstein." At this year's Oscars on March 15, Guillermo del Toro's version has received no fewer than nine nominations. But on March 6, another film on the same theme will be released.
Maggie Gyllenhaal's film is instead based on James Whale's 1935 film "Bride of Frankenstein," in which Dr. Frankenstein is forced to create a female partner for his revived monster. The female monster was played by Elsa Lanchester, whose appearance in the film became iconic.
A party
In Maggie Gyllenhaal's version, the action has been moved to 1930s Hollywood. Jessie Buckley plays the bride and Christian Bale plays Frankenstein's monster.
For Gyllenhaal, it started at a party in Los Angeles:
There I saw a man who had Frankenstein's bride tattooed all over his upper arm, and I started to wonder if I had even seen the old '30s movie. I saw it and realized that she doesn't talk, she tells TT via Zoom.
Maggie Gyllenhaal was amazed that there was a movie called “Bride of Frankenstein” even though the lead actress Elsa Lanchester appeared in it for barely three minutes. Even though she didn’t get to speak, she made a strong impression on Gyllenhaal.
In most versions, the monster is a being who does terrible things. But he is also beautiful, human, kind, and so incredibly lonely. So he asks his creator for a partner, but what if she awakens and has her own needs, her own agenda, and her own desires?
Ecstasy
However, the monsters' love story is anything but simple.
Love is very complicated, with ecstasy and pleasure, but also darkness and things that break.
Why “The bride!” with an exclamation point?
It came naturally. I almost felt a little naughty when I wrote it. She has come back from the dead and has so much to express that it feels natural with an exclamation point, says Gyllenhaal.
Born: 1977.
Family: Husband Peter Sarsgaard, two daughters. Sister of actor Jake Gyllenhaal.
Lives: In New York.
Occupation: Actor, director, producer.
Current: With "The bride!" for which she is responsible for directing, writing and producing.
