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To a new world of gods and monsters!
~ Pretorius' most famous line

Dr. Septimus Pretorius is the main antagonist of the 1935 Universal horror film The Bride of Frankenstein. He is a mad scientist and the mentor of Dr. Henry Frankenstein, who persuades his protégé to create a mate for his monster in order to spawn a race of monsters to help him take over the world.

He was portrayed by the late Ernest Thesiger.

Early life[]

Pretorius was once a professor of philosophy at the University of Ingolstadt, and the mentor of the young Dr. Henry Frankenstein, his prize pupil. Pretorius' experiments with the creation of life from lifeless matter - including by means of alchemy - inspired Frankenstein to conduct his own experiments with dead tissue, which eventually led him to create an undead creature.

Eventually, however, Pretorius was fired from the university for conducting unethical experiments, such as creating miniature homunculi via alchemy. His massive ego would not allow for the possibility that he had done something wrong, however, so he convinced himself - and anyone else who would listen - that the University fired him because they felt threatened by a man who "knew too much". He then became determined to create a race of human-sized undead creatures he could use to take over the world.

In Bride of Frankenstein[]

Upon hearing of Frankenstein's Monster running amok soon after its creation, Pretorius goes to Castle Frankenstein to visit his former pupil, who is still recovering from the injuries he suffered at the hands of his creature. Pretorius shows Frankenstein his own creations - miniature, semi-human beings grown "from seeds" resembling such fanciful figures as a ballerina, a mermaid, and even the Devil himself ("There's a certain resemblance to me, don't you think? Or do I flatter myself?").

When the Monster is found to have survived the events of the previous film, Pretorius entreats Frankenstein to help him create an undead female as the Monster's mate, but Frankenstein refuses, saying that he has learned his lesson from the first time he performed such an experiment. Unmoved, Pretorius blackmails his former student, threatening to expose Frankenstein to the police unless he helps him with his experiments. Frankenstein throws Pretorius out, but the mad scientist is determined to see his experiments through.

Pretorius locates the Monster in a crypt where the creature has gone to hide after being chased by angry villagers. He sets a picnic on top of a coffin, and shares his meal with the Monster, convincing the lonely creature that he is his friend. He then promises the Monster that he will create a mate for him if he accompanies him to Castle Frankenstein. Overjoyed at the prospect of companionship, the Monster agrees. At Pretorius' command, the Monster kidnaps Frankenstein's wife, Elizabeth, in order to force Frankenstein's cooperation. After Pretorius creates a synthetic brain, he inserts it into the skull of a female creature Frankenstein has built from corpses. They give the creature life through the same processes Frankenstein used for the Monster, and Pretorius dubs her "the bride of Frankenstein".

When the Bride sees the Monster for the first time, however, she screams in horror. Heartbroken, the Monster resolves to destroy himself and his mate by blowing up the castle. He tells Frankenstein and Elizabeth to run, but when Pretorius tries to leave as well, he forces him to stay and be destroyed as well, saying "We belong dead." Seconds after Frankenstein and Elizabeth escape the castle, the Monster blows up the castle, killing Pretorius, his mate, and (apparently) himself.

Trivia[]

  • Thesiger and the film's director, James Whale, who were both gay, decided to subtextually portray Pretorius as the stereotype of an impish, effeminate homosexual.
  • Pretorius served as an inspiration for the character of Mr. Hyde in the 2017 film The Mummy.

External links[]

Navigation[]

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Book
Dr. Victor Frankenstein | Frankenstein's Monster

Movies
Universal: Dr. Henry Frankenstein | Frankenstein's Monster | Fritz | Dr. Septimus Pretorius | The Wolf Man | Count Dracula | Gustav Niemann | Ygor | Sandra Mornay
Hammer: Baron Victor Frankenstein | Frankenstein's Monster
Van Helsing: Count Dracula | Vampires (Aleera, Marishka, & Verona) | Igor | Dwergi | Velkan Valerious | Mr. Hyde | Grey Werewolf
ITV: Dr. Victoria Frankenstein | Frankenstein's Monster
Frankenweenie: Mr. Whiskers | Shelley | Were-Rat | Sea Creatures
Frankenstein's Army: Viktor Frankenstein | Zombots | Demitri | Vassili | The Sturmbannführer
I, Frankenstein: Adam Frankenstein | Prince Naberius
FRANKƐN5TƐ1N: Adam Frankenstein | Dr. Victor Frankenstein
Victor Frankenstein: Dr. Victor Frankenstein | Inspector Roderick Turpin | Frankenstein's Monster
Toho: Baragon | Gaira

TV
Penny Dreadful: Dr. Victor Frankenstein | Frankenstein's Monster
Frankenstein MD: Dr. Victoria Frankenstein | Iggy DeLacey | Robert Walton

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Universal Monsters

Common Members
Dracula | Frankenstein's Monster | The Mummy | The Wolf Man | The Creature from Black Lagoon | The Invisible Man |

Additional Members
Mr. Hyde | The Bride of Frankenstein | Renfield | Igor | Henry Frankenstein | Baron Victor Frankenstein | Dr. Septimus Pretorius | Imhotep | Larry Talbot | Werewolf by London | The Invisible Agent | Ygor | Fritz | Metaluna Mutant | Mole People | The Creeper | Count Orlok

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