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Incredible 1931 Boris Karloff "Frankenstein" Original Photograph by Jack Freulich (PSA Type I)
Presented is an incredible 1931 photo of Boris Karloff as Frankenstein's Monster, the finest Frankenstein photo we have ever seen. Born as William Henry Pratt in Surrey, now London, England, Karloff is a stage name; Karloff signed legal documents as William Henry Pratt, a.k.a. Boris Karloff. The haunting black and white Type I photo, from issuer Jack Freulich/Universal, was a shot that was taken to promote the Universal picture <em>Frankenstein</em>. The stirring, stark photo, brilliantly alternating light and shadows, shows Karloff portraying the monster's angst as he clutches his chest, obviously in deep despair. The monster's eyes seem to be sunken, his lips taut, the veins on the back of his hand showing extreme tension. The 10.5x14" photo shows Karloff in the role that launched him into the orbit of a major star. Bela Lugosi, the Hungarian movie star who had the title role in the film <em>Dracula</em>, had been tentatively selected to star as Frankenstein's Monster, but Lugosi felt the part, with no dialogue and little human emotion, was beneath his abilities: "I was a star in my country, and I will not be a scarecrow over here," said Lugosi. A new director for the film, James Whale, preferred Boris Karloff for the role. The film was re-written, and the Frankenstein Monster part became nuanced and complex. Colin Clive played Dr. Frankenstein. Based on a play by Peggy Webling, which in turn was based on the novel by Mary Shelley, the film was a big hit, and made Karloff a major star who would go on to play in various horror films for most of his career, although he also performed in less terrifying roles as well. The photo comes with a full PSA/DNA LOA, photo cert. 1P17791. While Karloff had a long and varied career, with numerous roles in radio productions, stage, television, and even records, his role as Frankenstein's Monster was the key role in his career, and the offered photo of that portrayal captures the consummate depth of his acting.
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