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Gods and Monsters
It's 1957, and James Whale's heyday as the director of "Frankenstein," "Bride of Frankenstein" and "The Invisible Man" is long behind him. Retired and a semi-recluse, he lives his days accompanied only by images from his past. When his dour housekeeper, Hannah, hires a handsome young gardener, the flamboyant director and simple yard man develop an unlikely friendship, which will change them forever.
1998 · Directed by Bill Condon · 105 min · Drama · Screenplay in the scene database · 8 frames
Tagline
A portrait of an outrageous friendship.
Plot
In the 1950s, James Whale, the director of Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein, has retired. Whale lives with his long-time housemaid, Hanna, who loyally cares for him but disapproves of his homosexuality. He has suffered a series of strokes that have left him fragile and tormented by memories: growing up as a poor outcast, his tragic World War I service, and the filming of Bride of Frankenstein. Whale slips into his past and indulges in his fantasies, reminiscing about gay pool parties and sexually teasing a slightly embarrassed, starstruck fan. He battles depression, and at times contemplates suicide, as he realizes his life, his attractiveness, and his health are slipping away.
Whale befriends his young, handsome gardener, Clayton Boone, and the two begin a sometimes uneasy friendship as Boone poses for Whale's sketches. The two men bond while discussing their lives and dealing with Whale's spells of disorientation and weakness from the strokes. Boone, impressed with Whale's fame, watches Bride of Frankenstein on television as his friends mock the movie, his friendship with Whale, and Whale's intentions.
Boone assures Whale that he is straight and receives Whale's assurance that there is no sexual interest, but Boone storms out when Whale graphically discusses his sexual history. Boone later returns with the agreement that no such "locker room" discussions occur again. Boone is invited to escort Whale to a party hosted by George Cukor for Princess Margaret. There, a photo op has been arranged for Whale with "his Monsters": Boris Karloff and Elsa Lanchester from "ancient" movie fame. This event exacerbates Whale's depression. A sudden rainstorm becomes an excuse to leave.
Plot summary from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.
Crew
- Written by: Bill Condon
- Cinematography: Stephen M. Katz
- Edited by: Virginia Katz
- Music: Carter Burwell
- Production design: Richard Sherman
- Produced by: Gregg Fienberg, Mark R. Harris, Paul Colichman
Cast
- Ian McKellen as James Whale
- Brendan Fraser as Clayton Boone
- Lynn Redgrave as Hanna
- Lolita Davidovich as Betty
- David Dukes as David Lewis
- Kevin J. O'Connor as Harry
- Mark Kiely as Dwight
- Jack Plotnick as Edmund Kay
- Rosalind Ayres as Elsa Lanchester
- Jack Betts as Boris Karloff
Production
- Country: United Kingdom, United States of America
- Language: Hungarian, English
- Studios: Flashpoint, BBC Film, Regent Entertainment
- Budget: $10,000,000
- Box office: $6,451,628
- Themes: dying and death, movie business, biography, male homosexuality, author, filmmaking, gardener, horror filmmaking, 1950s, film director
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