Review of Gods and Monsters (1998) by Stuart K — 16 Jan 2012

Based upon Christopher Bram's novel Father of Frankenstein, written and directed here by Bill Condon (Kinsey (2004) and Dreamgirls (2006)) and produced by Clive Barker, this is a great study of one of the earliest pioneers of screen horror, although heavily fictionalised, it does paint a good picture of a confused artist.

Set in 1957, it has ex-Korean War Marine Clayton Boone (Brendan Fraser) who is now working as a gardener in Los Angeles, he has just started working for James Whale (Ian McKellen), a film director who has been retired for a decade, he lives with his housekeeper Hanna (Lynn Redgrave), who is scornful of his habits.

An uneasy relationship begins between James and Clayton, and Clayton discovers the films James is famous for, Frankenstein (1931) and Bride of Frankenstein (1935), and that James retired because he was betrayed by the studio system.

James is also a homosexual, even asking a fan who comes to inview him to undress. But, James is very depressive and he contemplates suicide as well, but it's his uneasy friendship with Clayton that keeps him going, but James' homosexual tendencies mar the friendship.

This is a good low-budget character piece of a great screen director who got forgotten in the autumn years of his life. McKellen excels as James Whale, this is a man you feel sorry for, even if he is lecherous, but Redgrave nearly steals the film as the long-suffering housekeeper.