It's Alive: The True Story of Frankenstein

For this engrossing documentary, hosted in competent fashion by Roger Moore, with narration by Eli Wallach and others, focus is upon the lasting influence of teen-aged author Mary Shelley's novel, continually in print since 01 January, 1818, a work of iconic significance, examining its various manifestations within stage, screen, and other formats, the 1931 James Whale directed film being examined in substantial detail. That famous feature, with Boris Karloff, is discussed relative to its casting (Bela Lugosi refused the part of the monster because the script denies the character any possibility of engendering pathos, as he saw it as strictly a killing machine; Bette Davis was offered the female lead by Whale but she was denied the role by Universal Pictures kingpin Carl Laemmle, Jr.