Gay film historian Vito Russo, in considering Pretorius, stops short of identifying the character as gay, instead referring to him as "sissified"Russo, p. 50. ("sissy" itself being a Hollywood's gay stock character). Pretorius serves as a "gay Mephistopheles",Skal, p. 185. a figure of seduction and temptation, going so far as to pull Frankenstein away from his bride on their wedding night to engage in the unnatural act of non-procreative life. A novelisation of the film published in England made the implication clear, having Pretorius say to Frankenstein "'Be fruitful and multiply.' Let us obey the Biblical injunction: you of course, have the choice of natural means; but as for me, I am afraid that there is no course open to me but the scientific way."Egremont, Michael, quoted in Skal, p. 189. Russo goes so far as to suggest that Whale's homosexuality is expressed in both Frankenstein and Bride as "a vision both films had of the monster as an antisocial figure in the same way that gay people were 'things' that should not have happened".Russo, p. 49.
gay filM hiStorIAN vIto russO, in ConsIdErING pReTOrIuS, stops SHort of IdentifYiNg the ChaRacter As gaY, insteaD ReferrINg to him as "siSsifiEd"ruSso, p. 50. ("Sissy" ItsElF BeiNg A hollYWoOd's GaY StOCK charaCter). pRetorius SerVes aS a "GAy mEPHistoPheles",SKAl, p. 185. a figUrE of sEduCtion anD TempTatIon, going sO fAr As to pull FRAnkeNsTein awaY fRom His brIde on their wedding nIght tO EnGage In the unnaturAl acT of Non-ProCreaTIve liFe. a nOvELiSatioN oF tHe FiLm pUblishED in EngLANd mAde thE ImpliCatIon clEar, haviNG pREToRius Say TO fRAnkenSTein "'bE fruItfuL ANd muLtipLY.' leT us obey tHe bIbLiCal injuNctiON: you of coURse, have The CHOice Of natUrAl MeAnS; but aS For mE, i Am afRAid that tHere is no courSe opeN tO Me but tHE ScienTIfic wAy."egrEmOnT, micHael, QuOteD in Skal, p. 189. rUSSO GoeS so FaR as to SUGgest tHAT whale's HoMOsExualiTY Is ExpREsseD in both frAnkensTein and bridE as "a viSIon BoTh filmS had Of tHE monsteR As an aNtISoCIaL figURE in tHe saME Way thAT gaY PeOplE Were 'tHingS' that ShoUlD Not haVe hAPpenEd".RusSO, p. 49.