Life Without Soul (lost silent film adaptation of "Frankenstein"; 1915)

Advertisement poster for the film.

Status: Lost

Life Without Soul was a silent American horror film released back in 1915.^[1] It was written by Jesse J. Goldberg and directed by Joseph W. Smiley. This was the second film adaptation of the Mary Shelley novel Frankenstein.^[2]

Plot

It told the tale of a wealthy physician who discovers a "Fluid of Life" that can animate the dead. While reading Shelley's Frankenstein, Frawley falls asleep and dreams about animating a clay statue called "The Creation" (Percy Standing). After witnessing the horrors of the monster, Frawley awakens from his dream and destroys the elixir.

Production

This five-part film was produced by the Ocean Film Corporation and featured English-born actor Percy Darrell Standing wearing little to no make-up as the 'Brute Man'. The film was reissued in 1916 by the Raver Film Corporation with added scientific documentary footage detailing the reproduction methods of fish.^[3]

Availability

The film has been lost for many years and has not yet surfaced anywhere. It is unknown if any copy of the film still exists.

Some stills of the movie and a promotional pamphlet have resurfaced, the latter describing the plot in some detail.

Gallery

Percy Standing as "The Creation". This still has been used as reference for the poster's art.
A still from the film. It's been used for the advertisement poster.
Another still from the film.
Part of a still from the film, with "The Creation" attacking.
Promotional pamphlet for the film, from an eBay listing.
Back of the promotional pamphlet, from the eBay listing.