Ninety-five years after its release, the 1931 horror classic Frankenstein remains an iconic piece of cinematic history. Its imagery—featuring Boris Karloff’s lumbering monster with his distinctive squared-off head and neck bolts—and its famous line, “It’s alive!”, continue to resonate with audiences today.
Despite the film’s enduring fame, it has historically lacked a continuous musical accompaniment, containing only dialogue. That changes next month in London, where composer Michael Shapiro will conduct a full-length score he wrote in 2001. The performance will take place at Cadogan Hall with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, marking the first time the score is being conducted live alongside the film in the UK.
Shapiro, whose father was Frankenstein star Boris Karloff, noted that the music enhances the visual narrative on screen. “It becomes one artistic expression, one artistic experience,” Shapiro said. “The film and the music, together, and the audience forgets that I am there.” He added that the orchestration brings a new dimension to the movie: “Suddenly the film jumps out in a way it never did before.”
The event celebrates the legacy of both the film and its star, offering a fresh perspective on a decades-old masterpiece.
Right at Cadogan Hall? What a brilliant venue choice for this premiere. I’ll be in the front row.
What an incredible legacy for Boris Karloff. Michael Shapiro must have grown up around this story.
As a horror purist, I’m skeptical. Will the music distract from the classic atmosphere or enhance it?
I never realized the original film lacked a score! This sounds like a fascinating auditory rediscovery.