프랑켄슈타인 Cine Art - Frankenstein

Boris Karloff Frankenstein head by Miles Teves, a Hollywood artist and conceptual designer who works on television productions, films, and computer games. He has worked on films from King Kong (2005,) Total Recall (1990,) Interview with the Vampire, Iron Man, The Passion of the Christ and so many more! Up for auction April 13th 2013! We will be holding a horror-inspired charity auction at the Monsterpalooza convention in Burbank. Follow us @BlacksparrowAuc on Twitter or Facebook for details.

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The 100% life-sized unbuilt resin Frankenstein models were a limited edition of 500 and cost around $500.00.  The 90% life-sized painted vinyl Frankenstein busts sold by Spencer's Gifts were a "limited edition" of 12,500 and sold for around $100.00.

 

I don't recall seeing the 100% life-sized unbuilt Phantom resin models advertised, but I assume the numbers and price would have been similar.  The 90% life-sized painted vinyl Phantom busts sold by Spencer's also sold for around $100.00.

 

There was also to be a Dracula bust, but CineArt didn't prosper and I don't know if it was ever officially released.

 

In addition to regular 100% life-sized unpainted resin Frankenstein model, CineArt made finished versions (with and without real hair and glass eyes), a full-body life-sized figure with optional programmable eyes that would follow any motion in a room, and a real bronze bust.

(Left) Here is a picture of some CineArt busts being painted at the factory:

(Right) Here is a picture of the CineArt bronze bust:

 

Before the Drac bust could be produced, there were knock-off copies being made in Asia.  There was an absolutely BEAUTIFUL glow-in-the-dark copy being sold for $44.00 by a couple of women in Los Angeles.  The quality was amazing.  No apparent shrinkage, and every tiny wrinkle and pore was there.  I have one next to a strong light in my bedroom.  After I turn out the light, I can use the glow from the bust as a nightlight for about 45 minutes - honestly.  It actually makes my bedpost cast a shadow on the opposite wall!

 

In my opinion, I think what killed CineArt was the fact that they released the 90% busts too soon.  Many people who bought the 500 piece limited edition unpainted 100% Frankenstein bust for $500.00 were unhappy about seeing another 12,500 finished 90% busts issued for only $100.00.

 

Like the Susan B. Anthony dollar coin failure, the size difference was too close for the price difference.  Many eBay listings for the Spencer Gifts bust describe it as "life-sized".  At 90% it is a little hard to argue with them.  The height difference between the two sizes is about 1.5 inches, not very noticable unless you display them side-by-side - but when you do, the difference seems much more dramatic.  

 

The cheap 100% knock-off copies were the death knell.  I know that the copies being made today are not that great, but the first copies that came out were really spectacular.  Later copies made from the same molds show a lot of fine detail loss.

I think these pictures were from a catalog. Lousy pictures, but I have them labeled as being CineArt:

 

Full Figure

The CineArt Frankenstein full figures were stupidly expensive. I don't recall the exact price. But I do seem to recall the sculptor-painted bust with real hair and glass eyes as being special order only and around $2500.00 and the bronze bust as being very limited casting number (50?) And around $7500.00. I am going totally by memory here. I was unable to locate the  CineArt price sheet.  I know I saved it - just can't locate it.

 

If someone can find their copy, please correct anything I've said.  Some of this information may be inside Amazing Figure Modeler Magazine No. 23 with the CineArt bust on the cover.

 

I was hoping I could buy a set of their Frankenstein arms and build my own figure, but they went out of business around the time I discovered the full figure even existed.. 

 

http://www.universalmonsterarmy.com/forum/index.php?topic=9955.0 

http://www.milesteves.com/sculpture.php

Struggling in 1995 to find the likeness and proportions with a few photos I could find in books, and glossies I could scrounge from Hollywood Book and Poster. Pre internet. And foolishly using Chavant NSP Hard clay in a cold garage in the middle of winter! I had yet to learn that one should always use the softest clay possible for any given project. It sure was both a challenge and a pleasure to dwell on the photos, peering back through time to try to understand this famous makeup, and to do honor to both Boris Karloff as well as the indelible and oddly ingenious artistry of the great Jack Pierce. I never did quite get the likeness right. One day I hope to have the chance to revisit this bust and nail it as well as did Madame Toussade's in their version, only with more detail. Thanks again to Gino Acevedo for recommending me for this gig and being a great art director.

(Left) Vinly / (Right) Resin