Happy Birthday, James Whale! Born today in 1889, this English actor and film and theater director spent the greater part of his career in Hollywood. Today, he is best remembered for several classic horror films.
Whale was the sixth of seven children of William, a blast furnaceman, and Sarah, a nurse.
Though not physically strong enough to follow his brothers into the local heavy industries, Whale started work as a cobbler, reclaiming the nails he recovered from replaced soles and selling them for scrap for extra money.
Eventually, Whale discovered that he had some artistic ability and earned additional money lettering signs and price tags for his neighbors.
He later used his additional income to pay for evening classes at the Dudley School of Arts and Crafts.
In early August 1914, World War I broke out. Although Whale had little interest in the politics behind the war, he realized that conscription was inevitable.
Nonetheless, he voluntarily enlisted just before it was introduced into the British Army's Inns of Court Officer Training Corps in October 1915, and was stationed initially at Bristol.
Whale was subsequently commissioned as a second lieutenant into the Worcestershire Regiment in July 1916.
After some time, Whale was taken prisoner of war in battle on the Western Front in Flanders in August 1917, and was held at Holzminden Officers' Camp. He remained there until the war's end, being repatriated to England in December 1918.
While imprisoned, Whale became actively involved, as an actor, writer, producer and set-designer, in the amateur theatrical productions that took place in the camp, finding them "a source of great pleasure and amusement".
He also developed a talent for poker, and after the war he cashed in the chits and IOUs from his fellow prisoners that he had amassed in gambling to provide himself with finances for re-entry into civilian life.
His later success in directing the 1928 play Journey's End led to his move to the United States, first to direct the play on Broadway and then to Hollywood, California, to direct films.
Whale lived in Hollywood for the rest of his life, most of that time with his longtime companion. This was the prominent Hollywood film producer David Lewis.
Between 1931 and 1937, Whale developed a style characterized by the influence of German Expressionism and a highly mobile camera.
Among his credits, Whale is best known for directing the 1931 American pre-Code black and white science fiction horror film 'Frankenstein'. On a budget of $262,000, 'Frankenstein' grossed $12 million at the box office.
The film had been adapted from a 1927 play by British playwright, novelist and poet Peggy Webling, which in turn was based on Mary Shelley's 1818 Gothic horror science fiction novel Frankenstein; of the Modern Prometheus.
Because of the pre-Code era scenes and censorship at the time, the scene in which the Monster throws the little girl, Maria, into the lake and accidentally drowns her has long been controversial.
Upon its original 1931 release, the second part of this scene was cut by state censorship boards in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and New York.
Those states also objected to a line they considered blasphemous that occurred during Frankenstein's exuberance when he first learns that his creature is alive.
In Ireland, the film was banned on February 5, 1932, for being demoralizing and unsuitable for children or 'nervous people' – are-restricted certificates weren't introduced in the country until 1965.
Among his credits of the 1930s, Whale is known for directing the 1932 American pre-Code black and white horror/comedy film 'The Old Dark House' and the 1933 American pre-Code black and white science fiction horror film 'The Invisible Man'.
From the late 1930s to the early 1940s, Whale's film directing career was effectively over. However, he continued to direct for the stage and also rediscovered his love for painting and travel.
Four years after the release of 'Frankenstein', Whale directed the second and final film of which he is best known. This was the 1935 American black and white science fiction horror film 'Bride of Frankenstein'.
The film is widely regarded as one of the greatest sequels in cinematic history, with many fans and critics considering it to be an improvement on the original 'Frankenstein'.
Since its release the film's reputation has grown, and it is now frequently considered one of the greatest sequels ever made. It has been hailed as Whale's masterpiece.
Whale's investments made him wealthy and he lived a comfortable retirement. unfortunately, in 1956 that robbed him of his vigor and left him in pain.
The following year, he committed suicide on May 29, 1957 by drowning himself in his swimming pool. Whale was 67.
According to his personal life, Whale was openly gay throughout his career; something that was very unusual in the 1920s and 1930s.
As knowledge of his sexual orientation has become more common, some of his films, 'Bride of Frankenstein' in particular, have been interpreted as having a gay subtext and it has been claimed that his refusal to remain in the closet led to the end of his career.
In 1991, the United States Library of Congress selected 'Frankenstein' for preservation in the National Film Registry as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
In 1998, 'Bride of Frankenstein' was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Film Registry, having been deemed "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant".
Whale had been active from 1919–1952.
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