Fittingly, James Whale’s Frankenstein turned 85 years old today.
Many of the monsters in Universal’s oeuvre were both misunderstood and tragic figures, and none moreso than Frankenstein. The creation of a same-named mad scientist, Frankenstein just wanted to fit in and be treated like everyone else, but sometimes the world is just too cruel for such acceptance. Thanks to this new commercial from Apple, however, Frankie finally receives the warm welcome he’s always yearned for.
In the two-minute ad, which will surely be cut down significantly for TV, Frankenstein leaves his solitary hideout and heads out into the world in an effort to spread some holiday cheer; though things initially go about as sour as you’d expect, all it takes is one little girl to turn everything around. Thankfully, unlike in the original film, Frankenstein doesn’t toss her into the water.
The touching ad, titled “Frankie’s Holiday,” stars Brad Garrett as the monster. It’s amusing to remind that Garrett and the late Peter Boyle played father-and-son in “Everybody Loves Raymond,” because Boyle of course played Frankenstein’s monster in Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein!
Now more than ever, open your heart to EVERYONE.