Boris Karloff's greatest rival recommended him for his most famous role
Do you know who was nearly cast as Frankenstein?
Oh, what could have been! The history of Hollywood is littered with near-misses and almosts. Many iconic roles were originally intended for other actors. It happens all the time. Tom Selleck as Indiana Jones. Will Smith as Neo in The Matrix. The list is longer than the credits at the end of your favorite flick.
However, one of the most interesting instances came all the way back in 1931. Universal Studios was riding high on the success of its horror blockbuster Dracula. Production chief Carl Laemmle Jr. sought to capitalize on this victory with another Gothic literature adaptation, this time opting to bring Mary Shelley's Frankenstein to the big screen.
Given Dracula's proven viability, why wouldn't Universal recycle its star as Frankenstein's monster? Indeed, the studio wanted to attach Bela Lugosi, their newly minted horror icon, to this new, still-risky endeavour.
So, with filmmaker Robert Florey committed to making Frankenstein for Universal Studios, his first task was filming a two-reel test on a reused set from Dracula. Also reused from the earlier spookshow was its star, Bela Lugosi, now donning what would eventually become the iconic Frankenstein getup.
According to 1974's Boris Karloff and His Films, Lugosi wasn't terribly enthusiastic about walking a mile in Frankenstein's boots.
"I made up for the role and had tests taken, which were pronounced OK. Then, I read the script, and didn't like it. So I asked to be withdrawn from the picture. Carl Laemmle said he'd permit it if I'd furnish an actor to play the part. I scouted the agencies— and came upon Boris Karloff. I recommended him. He took tests. And that's how he happened to become a famous star of horror pictures— my rival, in fact."
Both Lugosi and director Robert Florey left the picture and were replaced by Karloff and James Whale, respectively. The rest, of course, is horror history.
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