"Frankenstein" (2004) (mini)TV mini-series

Director:

Kevin Connor

Writers (WGA):

Mary Shelley (book)
Mark Kruger (teleplay)

Release Date:

5 October 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Sci-Fi | Horror | Drama

Tagline:

A classic tale of undying love.

Plot:

Another adaption of Mary Shelley's novel about a scientist who brings life to a creature fashioned from corpses and various body parts.

Plot Keywords:

Cautionary Tale | Doctor Frankenstein | Frankenstein's Monster | Two Part TV Movie | Character Name In Title

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Luke Goss	...	The Creature
Alec Newman	...	Victor Frankenstein
Julie Delpy	...	Caroline Frankenstein
Nicole Lewis	...	Elizabeth Frankenstein
Monika Hilmerová	...	Justine
Donald Sutherland	...	Captain Walton
William Hurt	...	Professor Waldman
Tomas Mastalir	...	Lieutenant
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Milan Bahúl	...	Farmer
Lianna Bamberg	...	Young Elizabeth
Gabika Birova	...	Timid Servant
Edita Borsova	...	Agatha
Sonny Brown	...	Young Victor
Peter Bzdúch	...	Graverobber #1
Gordon Catlin	...	Father Beaufort
Vladimir Cerny	...	Master Crewman
Samo Chrtan	...	Young Henry
Ivo Gogal	...	Chief Justice
Vladimír Hajdu	...	Graverobber #2 (as Ady Hajdu)
Andrej Hryc	...	Magistrate
Anna Hulmanova	...	Farmer's Wife
Mark Jax	...	Victor Frankenstein's Father
David Jensen	...	Fullbright
Lacoe Kerata	...	Innkeeper
Ondrej Koval	...	Frederick
Matej Landl	...	Peasant #2
Roger La Page	...	Dr. Vandenberg
Oliver Le Sueur	...	Felix
Jim Libby	...	Young Crewman
Ian McNeice	...	Professor Krempe
Dado Nagy	...	Officer #2
Peter Rasev	...	Landlord
Jean Rochefort	...	Man blind who plays violin
Richard Rowlands	...	Clerval
Peter Simun	...	Father Francis
Stano Slovak	...	Peasant #1
Dan Stevens	...	Henry
Frantisek Trochta	...	Officer #1
Hannah Van der Westhuysen	...	Eva
Michael Walde-Berger	...	Kirwin
Daniel Williams	...	William Frankenstein

Runtime:

USA:204 min | UK:268 min (DVD)

Country:

Slovakia | USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Australia:M | Finland:K-11

Company:

Hallmark Entertainment

Goofs:

Continuity: As Eva is counting the ducks in the pond, the water is brown and murky. However, when the Creature is standing over her, the water is clear enough to see his reflection.

Quotes:

Victor Frankenstein: If an artist can create beauty with paint and brushes then why can't a scientist create life with flesh and bone?

Soundtrack:

Unaccompanied Violin Partita No.1, BWV.1002, 2nd Movement (Double)

For lovers of the original...

If you have actually read Frankenstein and despaired of ever seeing a good portrayal of the Creature on screen, then you MUST see this version of Mary Shelley's work. Finally, Hallmark has produced a relatively faithful version (changes, such as increased time for the love-story between Victor and Elizabeth, are reasonable and do not alter the original tenor of the work) with an excellent cast. Luke Goss' Creature is eloquent and highly sympathetic, with a beautiful, plaintive voice that is utterly convincing--as is proper. To demonstrate: my father has never read the story and is a big fan of Branagh's wretched film (don't get me wrong, I like Ken, just not that film), but he watched this version with me and exclaimed about halfway through: ''Wow, I never thought of the Monster's problem like that. Frankenstein is really horrible! Why doesn't he just do what the Creature asks? I mean, his life sucks and he just wants some happiness. Frankenstein is such a jerk!'' If the original message of the story can reach my father, then anyone who loves the original will enjoy this film all the more. William Hurt is very enjoyable as always, and Alec Newman does a fine job making himself less and less appealing (and yet more and more interesting) as the story progresses. (It's interesting how his unusual facial features appear as distorted as the Creature's on certain occasions.) All-in-all, a comprehensive and beautiful adaptation, almost sure to please anyone with a love of the book.