Wikipedia:Main Page history/2012 October 31

the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

From today's featured article
Bride of Frankenstein is a 1935 American horror monster film, the first sequel to Frankenstein (1931). Bride of Frankenstein was directed by James Whale and stars Boris Karloff as the monster, Elsa Lanchester in the dual role of his mate and Mary Shelley, Colin Clive as Henry Frankenstein and Ernest Thesiger as Doctor Septimus Pretorius. The film follows on immediately from the events of its predecessor, and it is rooted in a subplot of the original Mary Shelley novel, Frankenstein (1818). In Bride of Frankenstein, a chastened Henry Frankenstein abandons his plans to create life, only to be tempted and finally coerced by the monster, encouraged by Henry's old mentor Dr. Pretorius, into constructing a mate for him. Preparation began shortly after the first film premiered, but script problems delayed the project. Principal photography started in January 1935, with creative personnel from the original returning in front of and behind the camera. Bride of Frankenstein was released to critical and popular acclaim, although it encountered difficulties with some state and national censorship boards. Since its release the film's reputation has grown, and it is hailed as Whale's masterpiece. (Read the full article) Recently featured: Charles Villiers Stanford – "Give Peace a Chance" – Porbeagle Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that the "Ladies of Téviec" (pictured) were murdered in the Stone Age, their bodies decorated with shell jewellery and buried in a midden under a roof of antlers? ... that Marjory Stephenson, along with Kathleen Lonsdale, was one of the first two women to be elected a Fellow of the Royal Society? ... that women who die in childbirth or pregnancy are believed to return as undead vampires and suck blood of their male relatives? ... that the crew of the armoured cruiser HMS Shannon attempted to rescue survivors from HMS Natal after Natal's magazines exploded on 30 December 1915? ... that John Eliot Gardiner performed Bach's cantatas for Reformation Day in the Schloßkirche, Wittenberg, including Gott der Herr ist Sonn und Schild, BWV 79? ... that the San Carlos tree frog is an "explosive breeder" and is stimulated to breed by the arrival of heavy rain? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
The Walt Disney Company announces an agreement to purchase Lucasfilm for US$4.05 billion and produce additional Star Wars films. After striking the Caribbean, Hurricane Sandy (satellite image pictured) causes widespread damage on the East Coast of the United States, including flooding in parts of New York City. In baseball, the San Francisco Giants defeat the Detroit Tigers to win the World Series. At least 80 people are killed in fighting between Buddhists and Muslims in Rakhine State, Burma. Recent deaths: Jacques Barzun Syrian civil war – Wikinews – More current events...
On this day...
October 31: Halloween; Samhain begins; Reformation Day in Protestantism 1517 – According to traditional accounts, Martin Luther first posted his Ninety-Five Theses onto the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, present-day Germany, marking the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. 1822 – Agustín de Iturbide, Emperor of the First Mexican Empire, dissolved the Mexican Congress and replaced it with a military junta answerable only to him. 1913 – Public transportation workers in Indianapolis, Indiana, US, went on strike, shutting down mass transit in the city and sparking riots when strikebreakers attempted to restart services. 1941 – Over 400 workers completed the 60-foot (18 m) busts of U.S. Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. 1984 – Indira Gandhi (pictured), India's only female prime minister, was assassinated by two of her own Sikh bodyguards, sparking anti-Sikh riots throughout the country. More anniversaries: October 30 – October 31 – November 1 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now October 31, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

Enzifer, the guitarist of the Norwegian black metal band Urgehal. Urgehal are known for their extensive use of the traditional corpse paint and for Enzifer's striking on stage appearance, which incorporates facial spikes as well as traditional arm and body spikes. Their musical style and sound resemble that of the Norwegian black metal bands that arose in the early 1990s.

Photo: Vassil

Recently featured: De Zoeker, Zaandam, Netherlands – Tartini Square, Piran, Slovenia – Red-headed Finch

Archive – More featured pictures...

Other areas of Wikipedia

Community portal – Bulletin board, projects, resources and activities covering a wide range of Wikipedia areas.
Help desk – Ask questions about using Wikipedia.
Local embassy – For Wikipedia-related communication in languages other than English.
Reference desk – Serving as virtual librarians, Wikipedia volunteers tackle your questions on a wide range of subjects.
Site news – Announcements, updates, articles and press releases on Wikipedia and the Wikimedia Foundation.
Village pump – For discussions about Wikipedia itself, including areas for technical issues and policies.