 | |
| Little Maria | |
| Franchise: | Universal Monsters |
| Notability: | Minor character |
| Type: | Victim |
| Gender: | Female |
| Location: | Frankenstein Village, Switzerland |
| Status: | Deceased |
| Born: | 1892 [1] |
| Died: | 1899 [2] |
| First: | Frankenstein (1931) |
| Actor: | Marilyn Harris |
Maria, also referred to as "Little Maria", is a fictional child victim featured in the classic Universal Monsters film series. Played by actress Marilyn Harris, she appeared in the 1931 film Frankenstein.
Biography[]
Notes & Trivia[]
- The character of Little Maria was created by director James Whale and screenwriters Garrett Fort and Francis Edward Faragoh based upon a composition drafted by John L. Balderston, which in turn, was inspired by concepts developed by author Mary Shelley.
- Maria's family name is not provided in either Frankenstein or in The Bride of Frankenstein. She is referenced in the latter, and her parents make an appearance in the beginning of the film, but she does not make an appearance herself.
- Playing the part of Little Maria is Marilyn Harris' second feature film work and her first credited work in film. She made a total of sixteen appearances in movies between 1930 and 1944. Harris also made an uncredited appearance in the 1935 sequel, The Bride of Frankenstein, as an unnamed little girl.
- Actress Marilyn Harris was born in Los Angeles, California on August 19th, 1924. She died in Los Angeles on December 1st, 1999 at the age of seventy-five.
- Maria serves as an analog to William Frankenstein, who is a character featured in the original novel, and is the younger brother of Victor Frankenstein. In the novel, the Frankenstein Monster comes upon William and plays with him, but upon learning that he is the brother of his creator, cruelly murders him. He then frames Frankenstein's maid, Justine Moritz, for the crime.
See also[]
External Links[]
References[]
- ↑ Date approximated based upon the age of actress Marilyn Harris in relation to the year in which it is believed this film takes place. See following footnote.
- ↑ Information from a grave plaque provided in The Bride of Frankenstein implies that the events of both films take place around the year 1899.