History YMMV / Frankenstein1931

* AccidentalAesop: Maria’s death at the Monster's hands could be interpreted as an object lesson on why you shouldn’t leave your children home alone.

* AudienceColoringAdaptation: The film simplified and compressed the original story considerably and changed the character of the Monster. In particular, the monster in the original story was actually very intelligent and able to speak and move like a normal human, not the stiff, shambling, groaning monster of the movies. He also did not have bolts in his neck or a cylindrical flat-top head. {{Lightning|candoanything}} being used to animate the creature was also solidified by this movie, while in the book, Victor refuses to explain the procedure so no one will be tempted to make the same mistakes as him. ''Film/BrideOfFrankenstein'' solidified the idea that the monster was called Frankenstein, though this mix-up was already in effect in the preceding decades. And the idea of the monster being brutish, unintelligent, and unable to speak was established by the book's first dramatic adaptation, Richard Brinsley Peake's stage play ''Presumption, or the Fate of Frankenstein'', as early as 1823.

** As noted under IAmNotShazam, Frankenstein's assistant is named Fritz instead of Igor, and he doesn't speak with a lisp not devious.
** The secret to bringing back the dead is not lightning. As Frankenstein explains to his professor, he found a new frequency on the electromagnetic spectrum and turned it into a ray which somehow brings the dead back to life, the lightning is to jumpstart the body. This would be more memorable if the ray was demonstrated like the lightning instead of just mentioned.

* OneSceneWonder: Maria, the girl who the monster [[spoiler:accidentally drowns]] left a lasting impact on audiences who were horrified by [[spoiler:her character's death.]]

* WhatAnIdiot: It's a sad lookout when the monster with the supposedly abnormal brain ends up being the most intelligent character in the movie.
** The Monster has risen, and Frankenstein, the doctor and Fritz are trying to control him... except Fritz has a torch in his hand and the Monster is afraid of fire and getting more riled by the moment by its presence.\\
'''You'd Think They'd''': '''''GET THE BLOODY TORCH OUT OF THERE.'''''\\
'''Instead:''' They let Fritz ''get even closer with the bloody torch'', agitating the Monster further.
** Fritz has been abusing and antagonizing the Monster, enraging him.\\
'''You'd Expect''': Doctor Frankenstein to sternly admonish Fritz to stay as far away from the Monster as possible.\\
'''Instead:''' Fritz keeps screwing with the Monster until the Monster hangs him with his own whip. And then is completely berserk.
** Frankenstein and the Waldman have subdued the Monster, and believe he may be dead. Waldman has promised to dispose of him quickly.\\
'''You'd Expect''': They'd get some gasoline, find a clear patch, and immediately incinerate the Monster then scatter the ashes just to be sure, if for no other reason than to prevent any diseases from the dead body parts from a myriad of corpses.\\
'''Instead''': Waldman places the Monster on the gurney again and decides he's going to have him some dissectin'. The Monster snaps his neck.
** The Monster has escaped and comes across a young girl playing in a field.\\
'''You'd Expect''': That faced with a rotting, scarred, lumbering creature, she would scream and run with all speed to find a responsible adult (which, given the caliber of the adults in ''this'' film would entail her running straight into another movie...)\\
'''Instead''': She asks "would you be my friend?" and gives him a bouquet of flowers. He ends up accidentally causing her death by drowning.
** The Monster is on the loose, and is believed to be coming towards the Frankenstein estate, where Henry Frankenstein is about to be married to his fiancee, Elizabeth, and may even be in the house.\\
'''You'd Expect''': Henry would make sure that at least an area code was between Elizabeth and the Monster, would not leave her by herself, and certainly make sure there was an escape route for her in case of trouble.\\
'''Instead''': He locks her, alone, from the outside (ensuring she can't get out) in a ground-floor room with big, ''unsecured'' glass windows, perfect for the Monster to walk right through to terrorize her.
** Frankenstein is leading his section of the angry mob on their search to find The Monster. He hears something and wants to investigate.\\
'''You'd Expect''': Frankenstein would go back and make sure that at least some of the mob came with him.\\
'''Instead''': He shouts to them, and when he doesn't get a response, climbs up the hill alone where the Monster layeth down the smack upon him.

* ImageSource: For DeathOfAChild

* MemeticMutation: IT'S ALIIIIVE!

** When the Monster confronts Henry's fiancee. While the scene is still fairly chilling and unnerving even by today's standards, right as she discovers the Monster behind her and screams for her life, the Monster lets out a snarl that... well, let's just say it gives the scene a healthy dose of unintended hilarity.

** The hunchback assistant for Frankenstein is not [[TheIgor Igor]], but rather Fritz. Igor is a broken-neck assistant for Frankenstein in the third film ''Film/SonOfFrankenstein''.

* IAmNotShazam: The Monster is ''not'' named Frankenstein. In fact he is assigned no name at all.

* AudienceColoringAdaptation: The film simplified and compressed the original story considerably and changed the character of the Monster. In particular, the monster in the original story was actually very intelligent and able to speak and move like a normal human, not the stiff, shambling, groaning monster of the movies. He also did not have bolts in his neck or a cylindrical flat-top head. ''Film/BrideOfFrankenstein'' solidified the idea that the monster was called Frankenstein, though this mix-up was already in effect in the preceding decades. And the idea of the monster being brutish, unintelligent, and unable to speak was established by the book's first dramatic adaptation, Richard Brinsley Peake's stage play ''Presumption, or the Fate of Frankenstein'', as early as 1823.

* AccidentalAesop: Maria’s death at the Monster’s hands could be interpreted as an object lesson on why you shouldn’t leave your children home alone.

** Frankenstein and the other doctor have subdued the Monster, and believe he may be dead. The other doctor has promised to dispose of him quickly.\\

'''Instead''': The other doctor places the Monster on the gurney again and decides he's going to have him some dissectin'. The Monster snaps his neck.

* IAmNotShazam:
** The name of the hunchbacked assistant is not [[TheIgor Igor]], it's Fritz. ''[[MyNaymeIs Ygor]]'' is an unrelated character from the third and fourth movies, who had a broken neck and didn't really assist the Doctor (he's the main antagonist in fact). The name was transplanted to the assistant for the parody film ''Film/YoungFrankenstein'', where it's remained ever since.
** The Monster is ''not'' named Frankenstein. In fact he is assigned no name at all.