Peggy Webling and the Story behind Frankenstein : The Making of a Hollywood Monster

unpublished play for the first time. A vital critical edition, this book includes: - the 1927 British Library "Frankenstein" script used for the first production of the play in Preston, Lancashire - the 1928 "Frankenstein" script in the Library of Congress, used for productions in UK provincial theatres from autumn 1928 till 1930 - the 1930 "Frankenstein" Prompt Script for the London production and later provincial performances, held by the Westminster Archive, London - Webling's private correspondence including negotiations with theatre managers and Universal Pictures, family letters about the writing and production process, and selected contracts - Text of the chapter 'Frankenstein' from Webling's unpublished literary memoir, "The Story of a Pen" for additional context - Biography of Webling that bears directly on the sensibilities and skills she brought to the writing of her play - History of how the play came to be written and produced - The relationship of Webling's play to earlier stage and film

adaptations - An exploration of playwright and screenwriter John L. Balderston's changes to Webling's play and Whale's borrowings from it in the 1931 film Offering a new perspective on the genesis of the "Frankenstein "movie, this critical exploration makes available a unique and necessary 'missing link' in" "the novel's otherwise well-documented transmedia cultural history. [Publisher's Text]

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