The mother of all monster movies, 1931's Frankenstein starring Boris Karloff as the title character's creation, remains an enduring classic. 44 at the time, Karloff had been acting for twelve years before he became a household name playing the monster in this adaptation of Mary Shelley's novel.

Gay British Director James Whale helmed the project, one of several horror flicks he presided over, others including Bride of Frankenstein and The Invisible Man. But it is Frankenstein that many people over the years have come to see as a metaphor for his own persecution.

Filmed some two decades before by Thomas Edison's film company, this remains the quintessential version. Karloff's performance and make-up became the definitive way the monster would be portrayed.

Nowadays it's a cliche, having been parodied to death. But at the time, it was something original. In the future, we won't see a photo of Robert De Niro as the monster from the 1994 version.

Colin Clive plays the obsessed scientist Dr. Frankenstein. He decides to develop a life by putting together parts of various dead people. This film includes his immortal "It's alive!" line. In the original cut, the doctor continues, "Now I know what it's like to be God!" Unfortunately, the good doctor inadvertantly gives his creation the brain of a criminal, which then drives it to kill.

Prints of the film now include the infamous scene in which the Monster sees a little girl tossing flowers in a lake and then picks her up and throws her in, drowning her. When the townspeople discover this, they begin an earnest search for the Monster. They find him and imprison him, taunting and threatening him. He manages to escape and makes his way to a windmill, with everyone in tow.

The doctor shows up and tries to save him but the Monster throws him off from the top of the structure. The community is screaming for blood and they set fire to the windmill, with the anguished Monster supposedly perishing.

Jason: Although by today's standards, the original that started it all is relatively light on blood on scares, the atmosphere it creates is masterful and classic. If the image of Karloff as the Monster isn't firmly embedded in your psyche by now, then something's wrong with you!

Hunter: This movie is only 70 minutes, but despite it's age and the fact that there's no music in it, it holds up well. The monster is a tragic figure and the way Karloff plays him, he's extremely sympathetic. It's a wonderful childlike performance. Great moody atmosphere too!