Life Without Soul (1915)

  Life Without Soul (1915) was the second film adaption of Mary Shelley's novel.  This American film directed by Joseph W. Smiley and written by Jesse J. Goldburg, received good reviews after it's release.  Though it does not completely depict Shelley’s tale, the film does contain many of its elements. It this version of the tale a scientist name Victor Frawley creates a life giving formula. Taking a break from his labors Frawley falls to sleep while reading Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein.

               The story continues in Europe were Frawley and his friend assume the roles from the novel. Frawley, now in the role of Victor Frankenstein uses his newly created elixir to bring a statue to life. The monster demands a mate.    Frawley/Frankenstein agrees to comply but when he breaks his promise the monster kills Victor’s sister, his best friend Henry Cleval and then finally murders his bride on their wedding night. Frawley/Frankenstein final traps the monster in a cave where Frawley/Frankenstein manages to blow up the cave with dynamite thus trapping the monster within the cave forever.  Frawley/Frankenstein then dies from exhaustion, it is at that point that Frawley wakes up and then destroys his elixir.

With a run time of 70 minutes Life Without Soul (1915) was the first feature length version of Frankenstein.  Initially releasedby the Ocean Photoplays company in November 1915, the film was later rereleased in new footage by Raver Film Corporation in March 1916. At this time there are no copies of either version of this film known to exist. 

  

Percy Standing as The Monster