Frankenstein

Frankenstein is the title of a gothic novel by Mary Shelley, first published in 1818 (and revised in 1831). The work focuses on a scientist's quest to create new life from dead matter, and along with Bram Stoker's Dracula, has become one of the iconic horror texts, adapted into dozens of films. The original 1931 film from Universal Studios, simply titled Frankenstein, starred Boris Karloff as the monster. The term initially referred to the creator, scientist Victor Frankenstein. However, following the film's success, "Frankenstein" has been popularly used to refer to the monster. Make-up artist Jack Pierce's design of a square-headed, bolt-necked brute has become the standard depiction of the monster, in contrast to the vaguely described, intelligent creature in the novel.

The cinematic depiction of the Frankenstein monster, and its 1935 sequel, Bride of Frankenstein, have frequently been spoofed or referenced in Muppet productions.

References

• A 1967 Pak-Nit industrial film, entitled Shrinkenstein, spoofed the Frankenstein tale.

• The Muppets Go to the Movies included a sketch called The Nephew of Frankenstein, with Dr. Julius Strangepork as the scientist, and Fozzie Bear as his hapless nephew.

• The design of Mulch is an amalgam of the Hunchback of Notre Dame and the Frankenstein monster. In The Muppets Go to the Movies, Mulch takes on the role of the Frankenstein monster, while on Muppets Tonight, he assumes aspects of the hunchbacked assistant "Igor" as iconicized in films.

• In a Halloween themed comic book story from Muppet Magazine, Fozzie is transformed into Frankenbear and Piggy becomes the Bride of Frankenstein.

• Miss Piggy played "the Bride of Froggen-Schwein" opposite Kermit, as the monster, in a John E. Barrett photograph used in The Miss Piggy Calendar 1982 and Jim Henson's Muppet Trading Cards.

• Kermit appears as "Ker-Monster" in the 2000 video game Muppet Monster Adventure, along with Miss Piggy as "the Ghoulfriend."

• Ivan the Villager in Statler and Waldorf: From the Balcony was based on the irate, pitchfork wielding villagers seen in the climax of Frankenstein.

• An American Greetings card from the Halloween season of 2006 used recycled images of Kermit and Piggy, spoofing a typical Frankenstein movie poster for the imaginary film "Frogenstein Lives!".

• There have also been two animated Sesame Street sketches with characters inspired by those in the book (if not the movies):

- One of them featured a mad scientist who was trying to teach the monster how to say words beginning with F, like "Fred," "Foot," and "Friday."

- The other featured a scientist who tended to the monster by teaching him about "front" and "back" (the monster can be activated by winding a key on his back). When the scientist showed the monster (named "Junior") the front and back of his old teddy bear, Junior decided to relay the lessons of "front" and "back" to the bear.