More Than The Bride Of Frankenstein Quiz

Answer: Lewisham, London, England

She was born on October 28th, 1902, in Lewisham, London, England.

Answer: Her father was the eccentric youngest son of the Earl of Lanchester.

When Elsa was 11, she was enrolled in Isadora Duncan's School of Dance in Paris. A year later, Elsa was forced to return home with the outbreak of WWI. She was then enrolled in boarding school at King's Langley, Bershire, Wales, where she taught dance to the other children for her education and board.

The life style of her parents, James "Shamus" Sullivan and Edith Lanchester, was truly shocking in that day and age. They were not only activists in a number of unpopular issues, but did not believe in marriage. Edith's father and brother actually caused the sensation of the year when they had her kidnapped and put into an asylum for opening living with Sullivan, something unheard for a lady of good family, in 1895.

This was a time when being a free spirit was equated with being mentally unbalanced--at least in women.

Answer: Moved to London and started The Children's Theater in Soho

Elsa was a product of her parents' Bohemian lifestyle. She was very independent, and moved to London when she was 16. Here she helped start The Children's Theater in Soho. She taught acting in London for a few years. While in London, she joined a group called Cave of Harmony Productions that put on one-act musical comedies.

She made her film debut in a short subject "The Scarlet Woman" in 1924. Elsa was featured in her first motion picture, the British movie "One of the Best", in 1927.

Answer: 1928

Elsa Lanchester first appeared in the first of many films with future husband, Charles Laughton, in 1928"s "Blue Bottles". This quirky movie about a burglar's convention is based on the story by H.G. Wells. The screenplay was by Frank Wells, III, and it was directed by Ivor Montagu. "Blue Bottles" is now available on home video.

Answer: One

Charles Laughton was her one and only husband. They were married from 1929 until his death on December 15th, 1962.

Answer: False

It was not Laughton, but a pretty good look-alike we see as tiny King Henry VIII in Dr. Pretorious's apartment. Laughton and Lanchester starred together in 1933's "Private Live Of Henry VIII", so I think the tiny King Henry was a little bit of innocent fun-poking by James Whale at the husband-wife pair.

Answer: He admired her acting in "Private Life of Henry VIII".

Whale had seen Elsa in "Private Life of Henry VIII", and liked what he saw. She was never Whale's mistress. Elsa did not need Laughton's help. In fact she was very careful to keep her career separate from that of her famous husband's. She took a role with Laughton only if she felt she would have acted the part even if Laughton had not been involved in the movie. Elsa said "We had separate acting careers when we first meet and separate we have kept them ever since".

She did not want to seen as part of a "team". Elsa was 5 feet 4 and 1/2 inches tall.

Answer: Witness for the Prosecution

Elsa was nominated, but did not win, an Oscar in 1957 for "Witness For The Prosecution". She did win a Golden Globe in 1958 for her performance. If you have never seen it, "Witness For The Prosecution" is an excellent adaptation of the play by Agatha Christie. Both Laughton and Lanchester's performances were superb.

She was also nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her work in "Come to the Stable" (1949) but did not win.

Answer: Lassie Come Home

She appeared in "Lassie Come Home" (1943) as Mrs. Carradaugh.

Answer: Mary Poppins

Elsa played Katie Nana, the Banks's nanny that was just quitting as the story starts. It seems that Jane and Michael have run away from Katie Nana in the park chasing their kite. Remember how an unsuspecting Mr. Banks holds the cab door open for Katie Nana as she leaves? "Mary Poppins" (1964) starred Dick Van Dyke as Bert, and Julie Andrews won an Academy Award for her performance in the title role.

Answer: Frankenstein

She did not appear in the original 1931 Universal classic "Frankenstein". She did, of course, play the dual roles of Mary Shelley/Monster's mate in the 1935 sequel "Bride Of Frankenstein" which starred Boris Karloff as the Monster. I honestly feel the second was best.

She played Mrs. Oates in "Spiral Staircase" (1946), Henrietta Stiles in "Williard (1971), and Julia Hawthorn in "Terror in the Wax Museum" (1973). All three of these movies are very good watches, indeed.

Answer: Mother Goose

She played Mother Goose on the episode "Mother Goose" which aired on Dec. 21, 1958. Elsa appeared on many television shows, including a recurring role as Aunt Henrietta in "Nanny and the Professor" during the 1970-1971 season. Some of the shows that she guest starred on were: "I Love Lucy" (1956), "The Man From UNCLE" (1964), "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour" (1964), and "It Takes A Thief" (1969).

Answer: Night

She was the old lady who could grow anything planted in her garden, because she had "Green Fingers". This episode first aired in Jan. 1972 on "Night Gallery" hosted by Rod Serling. "Night Gallery" is now playing on television in syndication, so I hope you get to see Lanchester in "Green Fingers". It was one of the best episodes of the show filmed.

Answer: Elsa Lanchester: Herself

She wrote "Charles Laughton And I" in 1938. Her book "Elsa Lanchester: Herself" was published in 1983.

Answer: Charles

Laughton died on December 15th, 1962. Elsa Lanchester died of pneumonia at the Motion Picture and Television Hospital in Woodlandhills, California on Dec. 1986. She was 84 years old. At her request there were no funeral or memorial services held. The title of her first motion picture sums up her 60 year career: Elsa Lanchester was indeed "One of the Best". I hope you enjoyed this look at the life and roles of the lady who really was "More Than Frankenstein's Bride".