Shock Theatre
1. The 1931 version of Frankenstein was lovingly directed by the same man who discovered its star driving a truck on the Universal lot while between pictures. James Whale, who admired Tod Browning's Dracula, decided he wanted something more than another Gothic Romance for his film, certainly achieved it through stark photography and an amazingly human performance from his Monster.
2.And the Monster was billed simply as Karloff on the end credits. They may have wanted him to seem more mysterious than the run of the mill Hollywood actor.

3. It is sad to report, but Bela Lugosi refused the part because of his belief that audiences expected to hear his melodious voice, and he may have had a point, and since there were no words for the monster in the movie, film-goers would feel cheated.He also disagreed with the amount of make up to be used to turn him into the creature. Lugosi wanted some of his Hungarian good looks to shine through, Whale, the make up man and the producers nixed that one quick. So, Bela walked away from the role that made his toughest competition, Boris Karloff, a star and turned the rest of his career into a sad history of left over parts for the King of the Vampires.

Lugosi died, penniless, of drug- related complications in 1956 while filming possibly one of the worst movies in history, (Not counting the one directly before this one, Bride of the Monster.) Edward D. Woods Junior's Plan Nine From Outer Space. A hell of an end for such a fine star.

4. The brilliant make up for the Frankenstein Monster actually went through three stages before Jack Pierce, master of screen make up, perfected the one finally used. Pierce went on as master of make up for more than two decades with Universal, creating countless effects, including Lon Chaney Junior's Wolf Man, during which each yak hair was applied individually to Chaney's face!
5. Claude Raines. Unfortunately Nelson Eddy was also in the picture, which ruins it for most horror fans.
6.Herbert Lom. Yes, Clouseau's boss from all the Pink Panther films!