Frankenstein's Monster Neck-Bolt Enigma in Universal Horrors Forum

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Frankenstein's Monster Neck-Bolt Enigma

Author	Comment
Victor Frankenstein	Frankenstein's Monster Neck-Bolt Enigma	Lead	[-]
Jul 31 12 10:17 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Most of us are familiar with Jack Pierce's perfect creation as shown in my first picture. My question is when did the trend(mistake IMO) begin with the Monster's design having the electricity conducting bolts on his temples rather than his neck? And was this truly a mistake, or a conscious choice for a specific reason? Neck Bolts: Temple Bolts:
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PhantomXCI		#1	[-]
Jul 31 12 10:26 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I think (and this is only a guess) that unscrupulous model makers/lunchbox manufacturers/cartoonists/Halloween costume designers, etc... moved the bolts to the head so they could avoid a copyright infringement charge, but still create something which resembled Universal's image of the Frankenstein Monster.
Uncle Bingo		#2	[-]
Jul 31 12 10:27 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I think the idea was that there is nothing really for the electrodes to do in the neck position. At least at the temples, it could be surmised that the "life giving" electricity is being introduced directly into the brain. The neck bolts look cooler (or maybe I'm just more used to them there) but the idea of the temples is more logical (kinda-sorta).
Ted Newsom		#3	[-]
Jul 31 12 11:12 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Whut dem too guyz boat sed.
Victor Frankenstein		#4	[-]
Jul 31 12 12:07 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Thanks for the input, guys. All do seem very logical reasoning. My question remains about an original creation(model, painting, movie character) that started this trend. To my knowledge, all of the UNI-Franks have the neck bolts. Christopher Lee and David Prowse don't seem to have any bolts.
Uncle Bingo		#5	[-]
Jul 31 12 2:54 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I know what you mean Victor. I've seen it on countless toy rip offs, but WHEN did the temple trend start? I looked at the original Ogle version and I couldn't see any bolts visible. The first time I had seen it was on the Mego action figure I had as a kid: http://www.megomuseum.com/legend/mmfrankenstein.html Marvel's Frankenstein didn't seem to have any bolts in the pictures I looked at. It might be impossible to find out the first incarnation of the temple bolts but if anyone does know an answer, it will be the lurkers here at the CHFB!
Victor Frankenstein		#6	[-]
Jul 31 12 3:09 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Dan Curtis' Monster doesn't have bolts. Marvel Comic's Monster doesn't have bolts. Prize Comics Monster doesn't have bolts.
Friend of Daniel	More Fun With Neck Bolts Dept.	#7	[-]
Jul 31 12 3:24 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Here's a generic DVD cover for Tales of Frankenstein where somebody thoughfully added neck bolts to Don Megowan: Well, sort of.
professor liebstrum		#8	[-]
Jul 31 12 3:25 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	The Frankenstein Monster in X-Men 40 [1968?] had neck bolts and a flat head, big hands and feet too Russ
n0s4a2		#9	[-]
Jul 31 12 3:45 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	The first time I ever saw Frankenstein with bolts on his head was in drawings by Jack Davis, who probably put them there because it is easier to get a good silhouette when they are clear of his collar. I think the reason Jack Pearce didn't put bolts on the head is because he wanted to be a little more subtle and not make the head too grotesque, but cartoonists in the '60s went for exaggerated images with lots of scars and stitches. When I was a kid, before I ever saw any of the movies, I wasn't sure where the bolts were suppposed to be.
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LCranston		#10	[-]
Jul 31 12 3:49 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I would think it would have been fairly early, and probably been done by a company wanting to make a profit, and yet avoid any copyright issues. Variations of the Monster was used in some Warners and Disney cartoons. From what I quickly saw online, the WB Monster had neckbolts, but Disney's was without. I told this conversation to my wife. She said, "I have no response to that." Deep water is dark and restful and full of peace.
blackwalnut2001		#11	[-]
Jul 31 12 5:01 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Victor's already mentioned Prize Comics. I just wanted to post these anyway. Love that Dick Briefer.
bromstaker		#12	[-]
Jul 31 12 7:10 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I agree that the movement of the neck bolts to the head was likely due to avoiding a copyright infringement lawsuit. But perhaps it was inspired by the photo of Karloff in the earlier Monster test makeup where he has those circular metal rings and skin protrusions on his forehead.
Cartoon		#13	[-]
Jul 31 12 7:41 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Here’s your answer: The very first instance of bolts or electrodes on the head was… the original ad campaign for FRANKENSTEIN in 1931. A banner shows The Monster wearing Head Bolts… Here’s a photo of a theatre front with the banner displayed: http://frankensteinia.blo...ll-be-in-attendance.html Another ad, used worldwide in newspapers, shows The Monster with bolts at the neck, shoulders and ankles... A color poster shows The Monster with wrist and ankle bolts… Curiously, a beautiful poster of The Monster confronting Elizabeth shows The Monster WITHOUT neck bolts: http://frankensteinia.blogspot.ca/2007/12/selling-of-frankenstein.html And in 1935, The Bride of Frankenstein acquired neck bolts! http://frankensteinia.blogspot.ca/2010/01/bride-wore-bolts.html http://frankensteinia.blogspot.com http://frankensteinforever.tumblr.com/ http://monstercrazy.tumblr.com/
lencandraw		#14	[-]
Jul 31 12 8:32 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hammer's monster in EVIL OF FRANKENSTEIN had small bolts in his temples. Roy Ashton did many pre production designs and models with bolts in the head, sometimes a whole slew of them round the head.
Victor Frankenstein		#15	[-]
Jul 31 12 10:13 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Cartoon! Amazing job! That's got to be it.
Wich2		#16	[-]
Jul 31 12 11:28 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	>moved the bolts to the head so they could avoid a copyright infringement charge< Arrrr! That be it, matey!
Uncle Bingo		#17	[-]
Aug 1 12 1:18 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Yay! Yet another riddle solved by the fantastic team here at CHFB!
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