Frankenstein (1931 film) the deliberately farcical "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein" (1948). Though it is unrelated to the Universal series, the later "Frankenstein 1970" has the scientist Frankenstein, here played by Karloff, animate the Monster using a nuclear reactor. Although Frankenstein's hunchbacked assistant is often referred to as "Igor" in descriptions of the films, he is not so called in the earliest films. In both "Frankenstein" and "Bride of Frankenstein", Frankenstein has an assistant who is played both times by Dwight Frye who is crippled. In the original 1931 film the character is named "Fritz" who is hunchbacked and walks with the aid
Son of Frankenstein feature. The impressive box office results led to similarly successful revivals nationwide. Universal soon decided to make a big-budget "Frankenstein" sequel. As director James Whale was similarly in a slump and did not wish to make any more horror films, Universal selected Rowland V. Lee to direct "Son of Frankenstein". Lee's film explores dramatic themes: family, security, isolation, responsibility and father-son relationships. "Son of Frankenstein" marks changes in the Monster's character from "Bride of Frankenstein". The Monster is duller and no longer speaks, explained by being injured by a lightning strike. The monster also wore a giant fur vest, not