Frankenstein's Monster Gets Film Series at Washington University

Organizers of a Washington University film series think they've discovered a killer complement to summer heat: Frankenstein's monster.

"I thought, 'Vampires work, but we don't want to overdo it. So let's go for another monster," said Rebecca Copeland, director of the university's Summer School, which organizes the series. 

The films are free to the public and will play most Tuesdays in July. Organizers aim to bring people on campus with this and other non-academic events. The Summer School is housed in University College, the outreach branch of Washington University.

"We really would like to engage more with the community," Copeland said.  

The school hosted a Dracula film series two years ago amid excitement over the Twilight books and movies. It yielded the highest attendance of any series the school has held. Other series mixed domestic and international films with themes such as tobacco and being on the road.

Three films in the Frankenstein series have played so far, and attendance varies. One person attended the first film; six attended the second; and 27 attended the third, Copeland said. 

The next Frankenstein will play on campus July 12 because the series takes a break for the Fourth of July week. The film, Andy Warhol's Frankenstein, debuted in 1973.

"For the 1970s, it was very sensational, it was pretty violent and kind of a lot of sex," Copeland said. "It was actually rated X. But then things happened, life changes and it's no longer rated X because everything is so violent now."

At the same time, she said, the film is campy and makes fun of itself. 

Each film is introduced by a university instructor or graduate student. Dr. Peter Monahan, who teaches a class on vampires, will provide background information and context about the July 12 movie. 

The following week's film, a Japanese picture called Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl, will be introduced by a graduate student of Japanese literature and popular culture.