Poor Elsa Lanchester and poor Bride of Frankenstein. Despite being the title character of James Whale’s 1935 horror-comedy masterpiece, this ghoulish undead creature only gets about five minutes of proper screen time. Whale’s camera certainly basks in her visage, which by design is far more glamorous than makeup artist Jack Pierce’s other creature feature designs for the Universal Monsters. Nonetheless, after finally being brought to life, the character, who is almost insultingly dubbed “the Monster’s Mate” in the credits, gets to walk once or twice around the lab and is then obliterated—burned to a cinder because she had the audacity to (like everyone else) be repulsed by Boris Karloff’s misunderstood monster.
Emma Stone appears poised to change that in what should be one of this year’s most intriguing films: Poor Things.
As Lanthimos’ first feature since the Oscar-winning The Favourite in 2018, the film is...
Emma Stone appears poised to change that in what should be one of this year’s most intriguing films: Poor Things.
As Lanthimos’ first feature since the Oscar-winning The Favourite in 2018, the film is...
- 5/11/2023
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
A biopic that brings teen-movie drama to one of literature’s great love stories
From Saudi director Haifaa al-Mansour (2012’s Wadjda), this biopic about the life of Frankenstein author Mary Shelley is, like her scientist’s creation, an odd, interesting, flawed beast. Daughter of leftwing literati William Godwin and Mary Wollstonecraft (who died just weeks after giving birth to her), Elle Fanning’s Mary dreams of being “substantial”, which she defines as “anything that curdles the blood and quickens the beating of the heart”. Sent to Scotland at the age of 16, she meets the radical Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley who conveniently forgets to tell her that he’s already married. Mary and Percy run away together, taking Mary’s hotheaded stepsister Claire Clairmont (Diary of a Teenage Girl’s Bel Powley) with them, and eventually fall in with the poet Lord Byron (Tom Sturridge).
The tone wavers somewhere between Gossip Girl and Jane Eyre,...
From Saudi director Haifaa al-Mansour (2012’s Wadjda), this biopic about the life of Frankenstein author Mary Shelley is, like her scientist’s creation, an odd, interesting, flawed beast. Daughter of leftwing literati William Godwin and Mary Wollstonecraft (who died just weeks after giving birth to her), Elle Fanning’s Mary dreams of being “substantial”, which she defines as “anything that curdles the blood and quickens the beating of the heart”. Sent to Scotland at the age of 16, she meets the radical Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley who conveniently forgets to tell her that he’s already married. Mary and Percy run away together, taking Mary’s hotheaded stepsister Claire Clairmont (Diary of a Teenage Girl’s Bel Powley) with them, and eventually fall in with the poet Lord Byron (Tom Sturridge).
The tone wavers somewhere between Gossip Girl and Jane Eyre,...
- 7/8/2018
- by Simran Hans
- The Guardian - Film News
Review by Peter Belsito
A teenage woman is trapped by the restrictions of her position in a male dominated society. The torrid true-life tale of how a passionate love affair fueled the creation of trailblazing writer Mary Shelley’s Gothic masterwork, Frankenstein.
Elle Fanning stars as Mary Shelley.
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (1797–1851) was an English novelist, short story writer, dramatist, essayist, biographer, and travel writer, best known for her Gothic novel Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus (1818).
Her father was the political philosopher William Godwin. The film passes through the following — mostly traumatic episodes — of her busy, short life.
Elle Fanning is superb. It focuses on the relationship with Shelley and the visit to the peculiar home of Lord Byron.
Her life is worth knowing a bit. After her mother’s death — the philosopher and feminist Mary Wollstonecraft — less than a month after her daughter Mary was born, Mary was raised by Godwin,...
A teenage woman is trapped by the restrictions of her position in a male dominated society. The torrid true-life tale of how a passionate love affair fueled the creation of trailblazing writer Mary Shelley’s Gothic masterwork, Frankenstein.
Elle Fanning stars as Mary Shelley.
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (1797–1851) was an English novelist, short story writer, dramatist, essayist, biographer, and travel writer, best known for her Gothic novel Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus (1818).
Her father was the political philosopher William Godwin. The film passes through the following — mostly traumatic episodes — of her busy, short life.
Elle Fanning is superb. It focuses on the relationship with Shelley and the visit to the peculiar home of Lord Byron.
Her life is worth knowing a bit. After her mother’s death — the philosopher and feminist Mary Wollstonecraft — less than a month after her daughter Mary was born, Mary was raised by Godwin,...
- 5/6/2018
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
On April 18 National Geographic announced the subject of the third season of its anthology series “Genius.” Author Mary Shelley, the woman behind “Frankenstein,” will follow scientist Albert Einstein and painter Pablo Picasso in the scripted series about great thinkers and creators.
Shelley will be the oldest of the “Genius” subjects thus far. She was born in 1797 and died in 1851, before either Einstein or Picasso was born. She was the daughter of philosopher William Godwin and women’s rights advocate Mary Wollstonecraft. She was also the second wife of Percy Bysshe Shelley, a famous Romantic poet. She will be the first woman profiled by the Nat Geo series.
“Genius” debuted in April 2017 with Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush in the role of Einstein for the 10-episode biographical drama. It received 10 Emmy nominations, including Best Limited Series, Best Movie/Mini Actor for Rush and Best Movie/Mini Directing for Oscar winner Ron Howard...
Shelley will be the oldest of the “Genius” subjects thus far. She was born in 1797 and died in 1851, before either Einstein or Picasso was born. She was the daughter of philosopher William Godwin and women’s rights advocate Mary Wollstonecraft. She was also the second wife of Percy Bysshe Shelley, a famous Romantic poet. She will be the first woman profiled by the Nat Geo series.
“Genius” debuted in April 2017 with Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush in the role of Einstein for the 10-episode biographical drama. It received 10 Emmy nominations, including Best Limited Series, Best Movie/Mini Actor for Rush and Best Movie/Mini Directing for Oscar winner Ron Howard...
- 4/19/2018
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
National Geographic has renewed scripted anthology series Genius for a third season and has revealed that iconic author Mary Shelley, best known for her Gothic novel Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus, will be its subject. The network made the announcement at the conclusion of its upfront Wednesday in New York City.
Mary Shelley will follow brilliant physicist Albert Einstein, who was at the center of Season 1, and famous artist Pablo Picasso, who was the subject of Season 2. Like with the previous seasons, Nat Geo and Fox 21 Television Studios and Imagine Television are expected to go after big names for the lead — Geoffrey Rush played Einstein, and Antonio Banderas portrayed Picasso. The Season 3 renewal comes a week ahead of the April 24 premiere of Genius: Picasso.
“Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein left an indelible mark on generations of imaginations,” said Carolyn Bernstein, Evp, global development and production for National Geographic Global Networks.
Mary Shelley will follow brilliant physicist Albert Einstein, who was at the center of Season 1, and famous artist Pablo Picasso, who was the subject of Season 2. Like with the previous seasons, Nat Geo and Fox 21 Television Studios and Imagine Television are expected to go after big names for the lead — Geoffrey Rush played Einstein, and Antonio Banderas portrayed Picasso. The Season 3 renewal comes a week ahead of the April 24 premiere of Genius: Picasso.
“Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein left an indelible mark on generations of imaginations,” said Carolyn Bernstein, Evp, global development and production for National Geographic Global Networks.
- 4/19/2018
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Brilliant: Nat Geo just unveiled the subject for its third season of “Genius,” Mary Shelley.
The first woman genius to be chronicled by the cable channel’s scripted anthology series basically invented the science fiction and horror genres when she created Frankenstein (yes, and his monster). Shelley’s season will again be executive produced by Brian Grazer and Ron Howard’s Imagine Entertainment, Mwm Studios and Eue/Sokolow.
The series hails from Fox 21 Television Studios.
Also Read: Nat Geo Wild Renews 'The Incredible Dr. Pol,' 3 Other Shows (Exclusive)
Showrunner, executive producer and writer Ken Biller will continue his role overseeing the new season, per Nat Geo. In addition to he, Grazer and Howard, Francie Calfo, Gigi Pritzker, Rachel Shane, Sam Sokolow and Jeff Cooney are also executive producers. Anna Culp is producer.
Filming on “Genius 3” is expected to begin later this year.
“Genius: Picasso” premieres on Tuesday, by the way. The first season followed Albert Einstein’s exploits, and brought a whole bunch of awards and eyeballs to National Geographic.
Also Read: Katie Couric Says Nat Geo Docuseries Goes Further Than Mainstream Media: 'These Conversations Aren't Happening' (Video)
“Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein left an indelible mark on generations of imaginations,” said Carolyn Bernstein, executive vice president, global development and production for National Geographic Global Networks. “Equally inspiring is the story of Shelley’s relentless innovation, coupled with her desire to live on her own unconventional terms despite immense societal and cultural obstacles. I can’t wait for our talented team to bring her remarkable, relevant and timely story to life for season three of ‘Genius’ and do justice to her literary legacy.”
“Mary Shelley has inspired countless filmmakers with her tale of the wretch brought to life by science gone wrong, but very few have fully captured her insightful reflections on society in the myth she left behind,” added Howard. “Few know of her struggles due to gender inequities, her additional writings, her influence on other historically significant individuals and society at large. Showcasing someone like Mary Shelley and her amazing intellect, compassion and fortitude is exactly what this series is for, and we are looking forward to continuing our successful partnership with National Geographic and Fox 21 Television Studios.”
“Our experience with Courteney, Carolyn and the Nat Geo team has been phenomenal, and our award-winning first season exceeded even our own high expectations,” said Bert Salke, president of Fox 21 Television Studios. “Audiences are in for a treat with our follow-up, featuring a transformative performance by Antonio Banderas as our Picasso, and a compelling story created by Ken Biller. The choice of Mary Shelley as the subject of our third season speaks to the incredible depth of the franchise. How fitting at this moment in time to pivot to one of the many female geniuses in human history, and Mary’s story is both stranger than fiction and incredibly dramatic. We can’t wait to get started.”
Also Read: 'Hidden Figures' TV Series in the Works at Nat Geo
Here is Nat Geo’s kickass bio on Shelley:
A brilliant thinker, radical intellectual and proto-feminist, Mary Shelley (1797-1851) brought to life one of the most enduring stories of the modern age while still a teenager. “Frankenstein; or the Modern Prometheus” is a cautionary tale of unchecked scientific ambition and a sophisticated meditation on social institutions, personal freedom and compassion that has captured imaginations and continues to be relevant since it was first published 200 years ago. Shelley masterfully invented the Science Fiction/Horror genre with her tale of a creature brought to life, subsequently going on to create the Post-Apocalyptic genre with her later novel, “The Last Man.”
An intellectual prodigy who was inspired from an early age by the writing of her unconventional mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, Shelley was determined to prove that women were the intellectual and creative equals of men. One of few women to support herself as an author during the early 18th century, Shelley wrote short stories, reviews, travelogues, and made prolific contributions to the world’s first encyclopedia, she also wrote six novels. Shelley’s inner circle included countless literary and scientific luminaries of the day, including Lord Byron, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Mary and Charles Lamb, Humphry Davy and Leigh Hunt.
Shelley met the love of her life, Romantic poet, amateur scientist and still-married Percy Bysshe Shelley, at the age of 16. After losing her virginity to Shelley at her mother’s gravesite, the pair eloped and were cast out by her father, the radical intellectual William Godwin. Shelley was to endure a lifetime of tragic misfortune, watching three of her four children die, losing multiple friends and family members to suicide, and outliving her husband, who drowned at sea. In true gothic style, Shelley elected to keep her late husband’s heart after his death
Shelley’s writing was heavily influenced by the great scientific innovation and experimentation of the early 19th century. Scientists like Luigi Galvani, Giovanni Aldini and Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of Charles, figured prominently in her life. The story of Frankenstein was inspired in part by one of the most important scientific theories of the time, Galvanism, the study of the effect of electricity on the dead bodies of animals and humans.
Mary Shelley spent the last few years of her life being looked after by her only surviving child, Percy Florence Shelley, before dying of a brain tumor at the age of 53.
Read original story ‘Genius': Mary Shelley, ‘Frankenstein’ Author, Will Be Nat Geo Show’s First Female Genius (Video) At TheWrap...
The first woman genius to be chronicled by the cable channel’s scripted anthology series basically invented the science fiction and horror genres when she created Frankenstein (yes, and his monster). Shelley’s season will again be executive produced by Brian Grazer and Ron Howard’s Imagine Entertainment, Mwm Studios and Eue/Sokolow.
The series hails from Fox 21 Television Studios.
Also Read: Nat Geo Wild Renews 'The Incredible Dr. Pol,' 3 Other Shows (Exclusive)
Showrunner, executive producer and writer Ken Biller will continue his role overseeing the new season, per Nat Geo. In addition to he, Grazer and Howard, Francie Calfo, Gigi Pritzker, Rachel Shane, Sam Sokolow and Jeff Cooney are also executive producers. Anna Culp is producer.
Filming on “Genius 3” is expected to begin later this year.
“Genius: Picasso” premieres on Tuesday, by the way. The first season followed Albert Einstein’s exploits, and brought a whole bunch of awards and eyeballs to National Geographic.
Also Read: Katie Couric Says Nat Geo Docuseries Goes Further Than Mainstream Media: 'These Conversations Aren't Happening' (Video)
“Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein left an indelible mark on generations of imaginations,” said Carolyn Bernstein, executive vice president, global development and production for National Geographic Global Networks. “Equally inspiring is the story of Shelley’s relentless innovation, coupled with her desire to live on her own unconventional terms despite immense societal and cultural obstacles. I can’t wait for our talented team to bring her remarkable, relevant and timely story to life for season three of ‘Genius’ and do justice to her literary legacy.”
“Mary Shelley has inspired countless filmmakers with her tale of the wretch brought to life by science gone wrong, but very few have fully captured her insightful reflections on society in the myth she left behind,” added Howard. “Few know of her struggles due to gender inequities, her additional writings, her influence on other historically significant individuals and society at large. Showcasing someone like Mary Shelley and her amazing intellect, compassion and fortitude is exactly what this series is for, and we are looking forward to continuing our successful partnership with National Geographic and Fox 21 Television Studios.”
“Our experience with Courteney, Carolyn and the Nat Geo team has been phenomenal, and our award-winning first season exceeded even our own high expectations,” said Bert Salke, president of Fox 21 Television Studios. “Audiences are in for a treat with our follow-up, featuring a transformative performance by Antonio Banderas as our Picasso, and a compelling story created by Ken Biller. The choice of Mary Shelley as the subject of our third season speaks to the incredible depth of the franchise. How fitting at this moment in time to pivot to one of the many female geniuses in human history, and Mary’s story is both stranger than fiction and incredibly dramatic. We can’t wait to get started.”
Also Read: 'Hidden Figures' TV Series in the Works at Nat Geo
Here is Nat Geo’s kickass bio on Shelley:
A brilliant thinker, radical intellectual and proto-feminist, Mary Shelley (1797-1851) brought to life one of the most enduring stories of the modern age while still a teenager. “Frankenstein; or the Modern Prometheus” is a cautionary tale of unchecked scientific ambition and a sophisticated meditation on social institutions, personal freedom and compassion that has captured imaginations and continues to be relevant since it was first published 200 years ago. Shelley masterfully invented the Science Fiction/Horror genre with her tale of a creature brought to life, subsequently going on to create the Post-Apocalyptic genre with her later novel, “The Last Man.”
An intellectual prodigy who was inspired from an early age by the writing of her unconventional mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, Shelley was determined to prove that women were the intellectual and creative equals of men. One of few women to support herself as an author during the early 18th century, Shelley wrote short stories, reviews, travelogues, and made prolific contributions to the world’s first encyclopedia, she also wrote six novels. Shelley’s inner circle included countless literary and scientific luminaries of the day, including Lord Byron, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Mary and Charles Lamb, Humphry Davy and Leigh Hunt.
Shelley met the love of her life, Romantic poet, amateur scientist and still-married Percy Bysshe Shelley, at the age of 16. After losing her virginity to Shelley at her mother’s gravesite, the pair eloped and were cast out by her father, the radical intellectual William Godwin. Shelley was to endure a lifetime of tragic misfortune, watching three of her four children die, losing multiple friends and family members to suicide, and outliving her husband, who drowned at sea. In true gothic style, Shelley elected to keep her late husband’s heart after his death
Shelley’s writing was heavily influenced by the great scientific innovation and experimentation of the early 19th century. Scientists like Luigi Galvani, Giovanni Aldini and Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of Charles, figured prominently in her life. The story of Frankenstein was inspired in part by one of the most important scientific theories of the time, Galvanism, the study of the effect of electricity on the dead bodies of animals and humans.
Mary Shelley spent the last few years of her life being looked after by her only surviving child, Percy Florence Shelley, before dying of a brain tumor at the age of 53.
Read original story ‘Genius': Mary Shelley, ‘Frankenstein’ Author, Will Be Nat Geo Show’s First Female Genius (Video) At TheWrap...
- 4/19/2018
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
The story of the writer of Frankenstein gets the biopic treatment in Mary Shelley. Elle Fanning plays the young author as she struggles with hardships and relationships, all while penning her masterpiece. Watch the Mary Shelley trailer below. Uh-oh, this looks…not great. The story of Mary Shelley, writer of Frankenstein, daughter of political philosopher William Godwin, and philosopher and feminist Mary […]
The post ‘Mary Shelley’ Trailer: Meet the Woman Who Created Frankenstein appeared first on /Film.
The post ‘Mary Shelley’ Trailer: Meet the Woman Who Created Frankenstein appeared first on /Film.
- 4/12/2018
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
The goth, romantic feature "Mary Shelley" is directed by Haifaa al-Mansour, focusing on the young writer who fell in love with poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, inspiring her to write the novel "Frankenstein", starring Elle Fanning, Maisie Williams, Douglas Booth, Bel Powley and Ben Hardy, opening July 6, 2018:
"...'Mary' (Fanning) is a wayward teen spending more time reading scary literature than helping out with chores back at home. She clashes with stepmother 'Mary Jane' (Froggatt) but shares a warm relationship with stepsister 'Claire' (Powley) and father 'William Godwin' (Stephen Dillane), a renowned political philosopher and novelist.
"She also shares a strident streak with her late mother, the forward-thinking feminist 'Mary Wollstonecraft'. When Mary encounters handsome and rebellious poet 'Percy Shelley' (Douglas Booth), her life takes a dramatic turn that takes her across Europe...
"...encountering love, betrayal, tragedy and ultimately inspiration to write the classic horror novel "Frankenstein" aka "The...
"...'Mary' (Fanning) is a wayward teen spending more time reading scary literature than helping out with chores back at home. She clashes with stepmother 'Mary Jane' (Froggatt) but shares a warm relationship with stepsister 'Claire' (Powley) and father 'William Godwin' (Stephen Dillane), a renowned political philosopher and novelist.
"She also shares a strident streak with her late mother, the forward-thinking feminist 'Mary Wollstonecraft'. When Mary encounters handsome and rebellious poet 'Percy Shelley' (Douglas Booth), her life takes a dramatic turn that takes her across Europe...
"...encountering love, betrayal, tragedy and ultimately inspiration to write the classic horror novel "Frankenstein" aka "The...
- 4/12/2018
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
"I no longer see the world and its works as they before appear to me, and men appear to me as monsters." IFC Films has debuted an official trailer for Haifaa Al-Mansour's film Mary Shelley, which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival last year, and played at the Torino, Dubai, and Tribeca Film Festivals. This film tells the story of famed author Mary Shelley, showing her as "a fiercely modern 19th-century woman, and her Frankenstein as the product of unbridled imagination and profound grief." Elle Fanning stars as the Mary Shelley, with a knockout ensemble cast including Douglas Booth, Bel Powley, Maisie Williams, Joanne Froggatt, Stephen Dillane, Ben Hardy, Tom Sturridge, and Ciara Charteris. This looks like a very intense, extra-dramatic account of the events of Shelley's life. But also like an engaging watching. Here's the first official trailer (+ poster) for Haifaa Al-Mansour's Mary Shelley, direct from YouTube:...
- 4/12/2018
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
The goth, romantic feature "Mary Shelley" is directed by Haifaa al-Mansour, focusing on the young writer who fell in love with poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, inspiring her to write the novel "Frankenstein", starring Elle Fanning, Maisie Williams, Douglas Booth, Bel Powley and Ben Hardy, opening July 6, 2018:
"...'Mary' (Fanning) is a wayward teen spending more time reading scary literature than helping out with chores back at home. She clashes with stepmother 'Mary Jane' (Froggatt) but shares a warm relationship with stepsister 'Claire' (Powley) and father 'William Godwin' (Stephen Dillane), a renowned political philosopher and novelist.
"She also shares a strident streak with her late mother, the forward-thinking feminist 'Mary Wollstonecraft'. When Mary encounters handsome and rebellious poet 'Percy Shelley' (Douglas Booth), her life takes a dramatic turn that takes her across Europe...
"...encountering love, betrayal, tragedy and ultimately inspiration to write the classic horror novel "Frankenstein" aka "The...
"...'Mary' (Fanning) is a wayward teen spending more time reading scary literature than helping out with chores back at home. She clashes with stepmother 'Mary Jane' (Froggatt) but shares a warm relationship with stepsister 'Claire' (Powley) and father 'William Godwin' (Stephen Dillane), a renowned political philosopher and novelist.
"She also shares a strident streak with her late mother, the forward-thinking feminist 'Mary Wollstonecraft'. When Mary encounters handsome and rebellious poet 'Percy Shelley' (Douglas Booth), her life takes a dramatic turn that takes her across Europe...
"...encountering love, betrayal, tragedy and ultimately inspiration to write the classic horror novel "Frankenstein" aka "The...
- 1/18/2018
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
The ever-timeless Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley turns 200 this month, and to celebrate, Rockport Publisher's Classics Reimagined has created a deluxe edition of the novel. Included in the book is an 8-page insert drawn by artist David Plunkert from Spun Design in Maryland, who beautifully transforms some of Dr. Frankenstein's designs (including an image of Prometheus), and we have a look at preview pages from this collectible edition of Shelley's classic novel:
To learn more about the 200th anniversary edition of Frankenstein, visit Amazon and read on for additional details and a look at preview pages.
Classics, Reimagined, Frankenstein: "With detailed and evocative imagery, renowned artist David Plunkert takes readers on a dark journey into the greatest novel in the monster genre, Frankenstein.
Celebrating the bicentennial anniversary of Mary Shelley's original 1818 version, Rockport Publisher's Classics Reimagined series presents this beautiful deluxe edition. The 256-page hardcover book features...
To learn more about the 200th anniversary edition of Frankenstein, visit Amazon and read on for additional details and a look at preview pages.
Classics, Reimagined, Frankenstein: "With detailed and evocative imagery, renowned artist David Plunkert takes readers on a dark journey into the greatest novel in the monster genre, Frankenstein.
Celebrating the bicentennial anniversary of Mary Shelley's original 1818 version, Rockport Publisher's Classics Reimagined series presents this beautiful deluxe edition. The 256-page hardcover book features...
- 1/16/2018
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
Amp Written and performed by Jody Christopherson Directed by Isaac James Byrne Presented by Goode Productions at Here, NYC December 5-19, 2017
Imagine, if you will, a frog’s legs, ending abruptly not in a frog but merely in its spine, carefully cleaned of the flesh that once held it. Next, multiply this image, and picture a chain of these macabre trinkets strung out in an elevated location. Finally, conjure in your mind’s eye a lightning strike that sets those legs twitching and jerking of their own accord. This is the one of the first images with which Jody Christopherson’s new play, Amp, confronts the audience, plunging us into a nineteenth-century stew of galvanism, resurrection men, and tragedy-tinged literary legends.
Amp sees Christopherson reunited with Isaac James Byrne, under whose direction we saw her last fall in The Players Theatre run of Sylvia Milo’s The Other Mozart, another one-woman show,...
Imagine, if you will, a frog’s legs, ending abruptly not in a frog but merely in its spine, carefully cleaned of the flesh that once held it. Next, multiply this image, and picture a chain of these macabre trinkets strung out in an elevated location. Finally, conjure in your mind’s eye a lightning strike that sets those legs twitching and jerking of their own accord. This is the one of the first images with which Jody Christopherson’s new play, Amp, confronts the audience, plunging us into a nineteenth-century stew of galvanism, resurrection men, and tragedy-tinged literary legends.
Amp sees Christopherson reunited with Isaac James Byrne, under whose direction we saw her last fall in The Players Theatre run of Sylvia Milo’s The Other Mozart, another one-woman show,...
- 12/10/2017
- by Leah Richards
- www.culturecatch.com
With just about 15 minutes or so left in its 120-minute running time, Mary Shelley comes alive. We’ve dispensed with the rote upbringing, finally moved past the surprisingly dull courtship and long-term companionship with Percy Shelley, and suffered various societal and economic indignities. Now, at last, we have arrived at the moment of conception — the birth of Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. Little time, sadly, is spent on the actual writing of the book. But watching what came after — a sour-grapes-ish judgment from Percy, rejection from publishers, and, finally, “anonymous” authorship and critical and commercial success — is utterly fascinating. A scene set in her father’s bookstore featuring beard-y gentlemen praising the text leads to an appropriate romantic reunion, and then … Mary Shelley is over, save some end notes explaining the author’s fate.
The problem with Haifaa Al Mansour’s follow-up to the lovely Wadjda — noteworthy as the first...
The problem with Haifaa Al Mansour’s follow-up to the lovely Wadjda — noteworthy as the first...
- 9/16/2017
- by Christopher Schobert
- The Film Stage
We’ve been hearing about this project since 2014, when it was titled A Storm In The Stars – but now we finally have the first image from the newly monikered Mary Shelley, with Elle Fanning in the title role, as it’s packaged for sale at the Berlin Film Festival. The gothic biographical drama looks set to unspool the early years of one of Britain’s most famous authors, in a surprisingly timely story of philosophy, feminism, and tragedy.
Directed by Saudi Arabia’s first female film director, Haifaa al-Mansour, Mary Shelley casts Elle Fanning as the young author – before she found fame by penning Frankenstein: Or, The Modern Prometheus, in 1818. Shelley’s life was one filled with tragedy – such that it should make any cinematic telling of the tale riveting and moving. She was the daughter of the philosopher and feminist Mary Wollstonecraft, who died while her daughter was...
Directed by Saudi Arabia’s first female film director, Haifaa al-Mansour, Mary Shelley casts Elle Fanning as the young author – before she found fame by penning Frankenstein: Or, The Modern Prometheus, in 1818. Shelley’s life was one filled with tragedy – such that it should make any cinematic telling of the tale riveting and moving. She was the daughter of the philosopher and feminist Mary Wollstonecraft, who died while her daughter was...
- 2/11/2017
- by Sarah Myles
- We Got This Covered
Now here is an interesting piece of indie film news. Haifaa Al-Mansour, the first female director to come out of Saudi Arabia, has plans to direct Elle Fanning as the writer Mary Shelley in A Storm in the Stars. Just take a moment and let that sink in.
A Storm in the Stars will tell the story of the then-17 year old Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley’s relationship with the poet Percy Shelley, leading to her becoming his second wife. The script is said to mainly concern the difficulties of Mary’s life, her first love, and grappling with a culture out of step with her concerns. Her parents were Mary Wollstonecraft, an early feminist who penned A Vindication of the Rights of Women, and philosopher William Godwin. Mary Shelley was raised by her father to liberal political views, and eventually met and began an affair with the poet Percy Shelley...
A Storm in the Stars will tell the story of the then-17 year old Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley’s relationship with the poet Percy Shelley, leading to her becoming his second wife. The script is said to mainly concern the difficulties of Mary’s life, her first love, and grappling with a culture out of step with her concerns. Her parents were Mary Wollstonecraft, an early feminist who penned A Vindication of the Rights of Women, and philosopher William Godwin. Mary Shelley was raised by her father to liberal political views, and eventually met and began an affair with the poet Percy Shelley...
- 7/30/2014
- by Lauren Humphries-Brooks
- We Got This Covered
In the new adaptation of Mary Shelley's novel, the two leads switch between the roles of Frankenstein and his 'hideous progeny', telling the story from the creature's point of view
"And now, once again, I bid my hideous progeny go forth and prosper . . ." Thus Mary Shelley, prefacing the revised 1831 edition of her Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus. By then she had possibly surmised that a novel she wrote when she was not quite 19 had begun to take on the poetic force of myth. Several unlicensed stage versions had thrilled the rowdier London venues through the 1820s, and Shelley understood that polite society did wonder how a mere girl had conceived of "so very hideous an idea".
Today nearly everybody knows – or thinks they know – the tale of Frankenstein: an unhinged visionary doctor who makes the crude shape of a man from grave-robbed body parts and brings it to life,...
"And now, once again, I bid my hideous progeny go forth and prosper . . ." Thus Mary Shelley, prefacing the revised 1831 edition of her Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus. By then she had possibly surmised that a novel she wrote when she was not quite 19 had begun to take on the poetic force of myth. Several unlicensed stage versions had thrilled the rowdier London venues through the 1820s, and Shelley understood that polite society did wonder how a mere girl had conceived of "so very hideous an idea".
Today nearly everybody knows – or thinks they know – the tale of Frankenstein: an unhinged visionary doctor who makes the crude shape of a man from grave-robbed body parts and brings it to life,...
- 2/12/2011
- The Guardian - Film News
How many authors does it take to create a monster? Random House recently published a new edition of the novel Frankenstein with a surprising change: Mary Shelley is no longer identified as the novel's sole author. Instead, the cover reads "Mary Shelley (with Percy Shelley)." Why is Percy now getting marquee billing? It's a significant moment in the long-running struggle to determine the true author (or authors) of what is considered one of the most important novels ever written. And it also raises questions about how credit has traditionally been divided up for writing couples. The controversy started almost 200 years ago when the first edition of Frankenstein was published anonymously. Most readers just assumed Frankenstein had been written by Percy Shelley because of its dedication to William Godwin, who was Percy's mentor as well as...
- 9/29/2009
- by Victoria Rosner
- Huffington Post
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