Colin Clive

Frankenstein: Colin Clive

The English stage and screen actor, Colin Clive, best known for his work in Frankenstein in 1931, was born January 20^th 1900 in Saint-Malo, France. He attended Stonyhurst College and eventually joined the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Clive was part of a military family, his father being a colonel in the royal military. He was expected to follow in his families footsteps when he fell off a horse and broke his knee (IMDb). This knee injury played a part to the start to his stage career (Wikipedia).

James Whale and Colin Clive first worked together on Clive’s first film Journey’s End and then again on Frankenstein as well Bride of Frankenstein. Clive is best known for his work as Dr. Frankenstein in Whale’s production of Marry Shelly’s world renowned novel Frankenstein (IMDb). IMDb says, “Who could forget Colin Clive's "It's Alive! It's Alive!" as he melted to the floor mumbling the same over and over in ecstasy after his success at animating the Monster…” Even for those who have not seen this first sound version of the film know this line showing just how much of an impact this film made even on future generations.

Clive did a total of eighteen films throughout his career. He also returned to stage a few times in 1934 and 35. His career was short lived however with Clive dying at age 37 from tuberculosis. He struggled with alcoholism for many years and this at times would affect his work. He could at times be caught napping on set, sometimes even drunk when expected to perform (Wikipedia). Some believe Clive’s alcoholism started out of depression for not being able to follow his family’s history in the military after his knee injury (IMDb).