| Gods and Monsters | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Bill Condon |
| Screenplay by | Bill Condon |
| Based on | Father of Frankenstein by Christopher Bram |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Stephen M. Katz |
| Edited by | Virginia Katz |
| Music by | Carter Burwell |
Production companies |
|
| Distributed by |
|
Release dates |
|
Running time | 105 minutes |
| Countries |
|
| Language | English |
| Budget | $10 million[3] |
| Box office | $6.5 million[3] |
Gods and Monsters is a 1998 period drama film written and directed by Bill Condon, based on Christopher Bram's 1995 novel Father of Frankenstein. The film stars Ian McKellen, Brendan Fraser, Lynn Redgrave, Lolita Davidovich, and David Dukes. Its plot is a partly fictionalized account of the last days of the life of film director James Whale (McKellen), known for directing Frankenstein (1931) and Bride of Frankenstein (1935). A veteran of World War I, the aged Whale develops a complicated relationship with his gardener, Clayton Boone (Fraser), a fictitious character originally created by Bram for the source novel.
An international co-production between the United Kingdom and the United States, Gods and Monsters is produced by Paul Colichman, Gregg Fienberg, and Mark R. Harris; Clive Barker served as executive producer.[4][5] As well as featuring reconstructions of the production of the Bride of Frankenstein, the film's title is derived from a scene in Bride of Frankenstein, in which the character Dr. Pretorius toasts Dr. Frankenstein, "To a new world of gods and monsters!"
Gods and Monsters was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Actor for McKellen and Best Supporting Actress for Redgrave, and won for Best Adapted Screenplay.[6] Despite receiving positive reviews, the film was a box office failure. It was later adapted as a play of the same name which premiered in London at the Southwark Playhouse in February 2015.
Plot
[edit]In the 1950s, James Whale, the director of Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein, has retired. Whale lives with his long-time housemaid, Hanna, who loyally cares for him but disapproves of his homosexuality. He has suffered a series of strokes that have left him fragile and tormented by memories: growing up as a poor outcast, his tragic World War I service, and the filming of Bride of Frankenstein. Whale slips into his past and indulges in his fantasies, reminiscing about gay pool parties and sexually teasing an embarrassed, starstruck fan. He battles depression, and at times contemplates suicide, as he realizes his life, his attractiveness, and his health are slipping away.
Whale befriends his young, handsome gardener, Clayton Boone, and the two begin a sometimes uneasy friendship as Boone poses for Whale's sketches. The two men bond while discussing their lives and dealing with Whale's spells of disorientation and weakness from the strokes. Boone, impressed with Whale's fame, watches Bride of Frankenstein on television as his friends mock the movie, his friendship with Whale, and Whale's intentions.
Boone assures Whale that he is straight and receives Whale's assurance that there is no sexual interest, but Boone storms out when Whale graphically discusses his sexual history. Boone later returns with the agreement that no such "locker room" discussions occur again. Boone is invited to escort Whale to a party hosted by George Cukor for Princess Margaret. There, a photo op has been arranged for Whale with "his Monsters": Boris Karloff and Elsa Lanchester from "ancient" movie fame. This event exacerbates Whale's depression. A sudden rainstorm becomes an excuse to leave.
Back at Whale's home, Clayton needs a dry change of clothes. Whale can only find a sweater, so Clayton wears a towel wrapped around his waist. Whale decides to try to sketch Clayton one more time. After some minutes, he shows his sketches to Clayton, disclosing that he has lost his ability to draw. After Clayton drops his towel to pose nude, Whale makes him wear a World War I gas mask and then uses the opportunity to make a sexual advance on Clayton, kissing his shoulder and neck, and forcefully reaches for his genitals. An enraged Clayton fights off Whale, who confesses that this had been his plan and begs Clayton to kill him to relieve him of his suffering. Clayton refuses, puts Whale to bed, then sleeps downstairs. The next morning, Hanna is alarmed when she cannot find Whale, prompting a search by Clayton and Hanna. Clayton finds Whale floating dead in the pool as a distraught Hanna runs out, clutching a suicide note. Clayton and Hanna agree that he should disappear from the scene to avoid a scandal.
A decade later, Clayton and his son, Michael, watch Bride of Frankenstein on television. Michael is skeptical of his father's claim that he knew Whale, but Clayton produces a sketch of the Frankenstein monster drawn by Whale, and signed, "To Clayton. Friend?". Clayton later walks down a street at night in the rain, miming the movements of Frankenstein's monster.
Cast
[edit]- Ian McKellen as James Whale
- Brandon Kleyla as young James Whale
- Kent George as 25-year-old James Whale
- Brendan Fraser as Clayton Boone
- Lynn Redgrave as Hanna
- Lolita Davidovich as Betty
- David Dukes as David Lewis
- Kevin J. O'Connor as Harry
- Mark Kiely as Dwight
- Jack Plotnick as Edmund Kay
- Rosalind Ayres as Elsa Lanchester
- Jack Betts as Boris Karloff
- Matt McKenzie as Colin Clive
- Martin Ferrero as George Cukor
- Cornelia Hayes O'Herlihy as Princess Margaret
- Pamela Salem as Sarah Whale
- Amir Aboulela as The Monster
- Marlon Braccia as Starlet Elizabeth Taylor
- Jesse James as Michael Boone
- Arthur Dignam as Ernest Thesiger (uncredited)
Reception
[edit]Gods and Monsters received positive reviews from critics, with McKellen's, Fraser's and Redgrave's performances singled out for particular praise. Time Out called it "not a complicated film, but warm and clever".[7]
The film has a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 67 reviews, with an average rating of 8.4/10. The site's critical consensus states: "Gods and Monsters is a spellbinding, confusing piece of semi-fiction, featuring fine performances; McKellen leads the way, but Redgrave and Fraser don't lag far behind."[8] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 74 out of 100, based on reviews from 32 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[9]
Accolades
[edit]Real life basis
[edit]James Whale had several men (and women) pose nude for him, and some of these are shown in the making-of featurette. Several of his paintings were bought by a collector and loaned to the studio for the making of this film.
Whale suffered from strokes towards the end of his life, which affected his mental abilities, and he was found dead in his pool.[32] There were rumours that this was a homicide, but the evidence only pointed at suicide.[33]
In the documentary included on the DVD and in interviews, novelist Christopher Bram explains that the character of Clayton Boone is completely fictitious.[34]
Notes
[edit]- ^ Tied with Alex Proyas for Dark City.
- ^ Tied with Where the Heart Is.
References
[edit]- ^ "Gods and Monsters". Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ^ "Gods and Monsters (1998)". BBFC. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
- ^ a b "Gods and Monsters (1998)". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
- ^ Harvey, Dennis (January 24, 1998). "Gods and Monsters". Variety. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
- ^ Kaufman, Anthony (November 11, 1998). "From Candyman to Frankenstein, Bill Condon Talks "Gods and Monsters"". IndieWire. Archived from the original on May 14, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
- ^ a b "The 71st Academy Awards (1999) Nominees and Winners". Oscars.org. Archived from the original on 2 February 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
- ^ "Gods and Monsters". Time Out. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011.
- ^ Gods and Monsters at Rotten Tomatoes
- ^ Gods and Monsters at Metacritic
- ^ "Past Bram Stoker Nominees & Winners". Horror Writers Association. Archived from the original on 2017-10-17. Retrieved 2021-10-12.
- ^ "BAFTA Awards: Film in 1999". BAFTA. 1999. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
- ^ "1988-2013 Award Winner Archives". Chicago Film Critics Association. January 2013. Archived from the original on April 10, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
- ^ "The BFCA Critics' Choice Awards :: 1998". Broadcast Film Critics Association. Archived from the original on December 12, 2008.
- ^ "1998 FFCC AWARD WINNERS". Florida Film Critics Circle. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
- ^ "Gods and Monsters – Golden Globes". HFPA. Archived from the original on August 3, 2021. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ "36 Years of Nominees and Winners" (PDF). Independent Spirit Awards. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 13, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
- ^ "KCFCC Award Winners – 1990-99". kcfcc.org. 14 December 2013. Archived from the original on 17 September 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
- ^ "The 24th Annual Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards". Los Angeles Film Critics Association. Archived from the original on June 27, 2021. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ "1996 Award Winners". National Board of Review. Archived from the original on August 17, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ "Past Awards". National Society of Film Critics. 19 December 2009. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ "New York Film Critics Circle Awards: 1998 Awards". New York Film Critics Circle. 1999. Archived from the original on 21 March 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
- ^ "3rd Annual Film Awards (1998)". Online Film & Television Association. Archived from the original on April 20, 2020. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
- ^ "1998 Awards (2nd Annual)". Online Film Critics Society. 3 January 2012. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
- ^ Madigan, Nick (March 3, 1999). "Producers tap 'Ryan'; Kelly, Hanks TV winners". Variety. Archived from the original on September 23, 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
- ^ "International Press Academy website – 1999 3rd Annual SATELLITE Awards". Archived from the original on 1 February 2008.
- ^ "Past Saturn Awards". Saturn Awards.org. Archived from the original on September 14, 2008. Retrieved May 7, 2008.
- ^ "The 5th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards: Nominees and Recipients". Screen Actors Guild. 1999. Archived from the original on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
- ^ "1998 SEFA Awards". sefca.net. Archived from the original on December 6, 2019. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
- ^ "TFCA Past Award Winners". Toronto Film Critics Association. May 29, 2014. Archived from the original on December 23, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
- ^ "Past Scripter Awards". USC Scripter Award. Archived from the original on February 22, 2021. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
- ^ "WGA Awards: Previous Nominees and Winners". Writers Guild of America Award. 1999. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
- ^ "James Whale — Directing "Horror" With Style". The Picture Showman. Archived from the original on March 10, 2009. Retrieved March 7, 2009.
- ^ "James Whale". Eric B Olsen. Archived from the original on February 11, 2009. Retrieved March 7, 2009.
- ^ "Father of Frankenstein by Christopher Bram". KBOO FM. 18 May 2005. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved March 7, 2009.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Gods and Monsters at IMDb
- Gods and Monsters at Box Office Mojo
- Gods and Monsters at Rotten Tomatoes
- Gods and Monsters at Metacritic
- Gods and Monsters: A Queer Film Classic
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |