Original artwork, not a still
In the name of God! Now I know what it feels like to be God!
— Frankenstein · 1931
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
This is the moment the mad scientist becomes a figure everyone knows: the delight of creation tipping over into hubris, shouted at the sky. The 'blasphemy' that censors cut only made it more famous, and it was later ranked among the greatest movie quotes. Every stormy-night parody goes back to this laboratory.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for FrankensteinShow the scene
At the climax of Universal's 1931 Frankenstein, directed by James Whale, Henry Frankenstein and his assistant Fritz raise the stitched-together body on an operating table up through the tower roof into a thunderstorm. Lightning and the equipment charge it, and the creature's hand moves. Henry is ecstatic and has to be restrained by Victor and Dr Waldman. When Victor exclaims 'in the name of God', Henry answers that he now knows what it feels like to be God. State censors cut the line on release; home-video releases later restored it.
Sources (2)
- Frankenstein (1931 film), WikiquoteHenry's laboratory sceneReference checked
- Frankenstein (1931 film), WikipediaPlot; Pre-Code era scenes and censorship history; Home mediaReference checked
Context reviewed
