Bride of Frankenstein

The Bride in Universal Studios Hollywood

The **Bride of Frankenstein** sometimes known just as **The Bride** is a monster from the classic 1935 horror film of there same name in which she was portrayed by Elsa Lanchester.

## Description

The, "Bride of Frankenstein" was a being created from corpse matter, grown homunculus material, and a fresh human heart harvested from a murdered woman.

## History

### Background

#### Universal Films

"The Bride of Frankenstein" was created by mad-scientists Dr. Henry Frankenstein and Dr. Septimus Pretorius, combining Frankenstein's skill at reanimating corpses with Pretorius' skill of growing more human-looking homunculi. As Frankenstein was hesitant at creating another creature, Pretorius joined forces with the doctor's lonely first creature to blackmail Frankenstein into making the monster a friend (which Pretorius described as a, "Mate").

The second creature was created, complete with a freshly harvested human heart from a woman who Pretorius' lackey murdered, and was dubbed, "The Bride of Frankenstein" by Pretorius. The newly born Bride was instantly mortified by the monster when he attempted to befriend her, leading to the monster coming to the belief that the two of them belonged dead so assisted the Frankensteins in escaping while destroying the lab with Pretorius and the Bride within.

#### Halloween Horror Nights

*Following the Bride's history as depicted in Halloween Horror Nights. However, the continuity of Universal Classic Monsters in Halloween Horror Nights events is of unknown canonicity status. The many depictions of the Frankenstein story featured at Halloween Horror Nights also may not be of shared continuity.*

##### Later history

In 1931, Universal released the film *Frankenstein*. In 1935, this film received the sequel, *The Bride of Frankenstein*.

The black-and-white Universal film versions of Frankenstein's Monster, the Bride of Frankenstein, and Doctor Frankenstein were amongst the film monsters seemingly summoned in the haunted *Carey "Die"-In* theater of Carey, Ohio.

## Appearances

The Bride has made live appearances in the parks, often accompanied by Frankenstein's monster.

### All Hallows Eve Boutique

The Bride was mentioned as producer of, "Revenge of the Red Planet".

### Beetlejuice's Rock and Roll Graveyard Revue

The Bride was one of the monsters summoned by Betelgeuse.

### Halloween Horror Nights

The Bride has made various Halloween Horror Nights appearances. She was main-antagonist of, "Universal Monsters: The Bride of Frankenstein Lives", which followed a story about the Bride surviving Castle Frankenstein's collapse, realizing she loves the Creature, then studying Doctor Frankenstein's notes to resurrect him.

#### Halloween Horror Nights Tribute Store

The 2020 Tribute Store had a black and white photograph of Dracula, Frankenstein's monster and the Bride of Frankenstein at Fright Nights. The 2022 Halloween Horror Nights Tribute Store had a poster for the Dead Coconut Club mentioning the Bride performing.

### Universal Studios Classic Monsters Cafe

The Bride's likeness appeared throughout the inside of this restaurant.

## Trivia

* Despite the Bride and the Monster never being a couple in the film, the parks often resorts to the pop-culture trope of characterizing them as a couple.
* In Sahara Traders is what appears to be a bust of her creator, Dr. Pretorius, along with references to the Museum of Antiquities having artifacts from the Bavarian Alps in reference to the Frankenstein films, and having had "M. Shelley"'s exhibit, "Historic architecture and where to find them", referencing historic author Mary Shelley (1797- 1851) whose actress Elsa Lancaster also portrayed the Bride of Frankenstein.

## References

1. ↑ https://wdwnt.com/2023/06/monster-gram-pictures-all-hallows-eve-theming/
2. ↑ https://wdwnt.com/2022/05/photo-video-tour-in-memoriam-take-one-last-look-at-universal-studios-classic-monsters-cafe-at-universal-studios-florida/