by David C. Terr

#74 <<    #75    >> #76

Title: Young Frankenstein

Director: Mel Brooks

Starring: Gene Wilder, Peter Boyle, Teri Garr, Madeline Kahn, Marty Feldman, Cloris Leachman

Release Date: Dec. 15, 1974

Running Time: 106 min

Genres: Comedy, Sci-Fi

 

Commentary
Young Frankenstein is one of Mel Brooks' funniest pictures. It's a spoof of the many Frankenstein movies made over the years, mainly from the '30s and '40s. Many of the props were even taken from the original version of Frankenstein from 1931. The script is a riot, as is the acting. Gene Wilder does a great job as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (pronounced fronk-en-steen), grandson of the famous Dr. Victor Frankenstein. Peter Boyle is also exceptional as the hideous monster, who nevertheless has a soft side for music, talent, and beautiful women.

Plot Summary

• Introduction: Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (Gene Wilder) works as a medical professor at an American university, convinced that his grandfather was a kook. After his grandfather dies, he inherits his estate in Transylvania, whence he takes a trip up to his castle. He is greeted by Igor (Marty Feldman), Inga (Teri Garr), and Frau Blucher (Cloris Leachman). After studying his grandfather's notes, he becomes convinced that he may have been right about reanimating dead tissue and decides to try for himself. He and Igor steal the body of a giant executed criminal. Igor gives Frankenstein an abnormal brain, having inadvertently destroyed the one he was supposed to use. As a result, they end up creating a giant monster which goes berzerk at the sight of fire.
• The Monster: The monster escapes from the castle and encounters a young girl and a blind man before Dr. Frankenstein and his associates are able to re-capture it. Once they do, Frankenstein decides to risk his life in order to convince the monster that he is loved. Frankenstein succeeds and teaches the monster to perform musical talent to a sold-out show. However, as a result of a small fire, the monster goes berzerk again and runs out of the theater to be captured by the authorities. Shortly thereafter, the monster escapes, having been tormented by the constable. Meanwhile, Frankenstein receives a visit from his fiancee Elizabeth, whom the monster finds and attacks. She ends up falling in love with the monster.
• Treatment: Dr. Frankenstein figures out a procedure for curing the monster of his madness by transferring part of his brain to him. The procedure works and the monster stops a mad mob from destroying him by telling his story. Now with a normal brain, the monster marries Elizabeth. Frankenstein ends up marrying Inga and gives her quite a surprise!

Cultural Significance
Young Frankenstein was one of the first of many movie genre spoofs by Mel Brooks. Here are some others:

• Blazing Saddles (1974) - western
• Silent Movie (1976) - silent movies
• High Anxiety (1977) - mystery/suspense, Alfred Hitchcock in particular
• History of the World, Part I (1981) - history
• Spaceballs (1987) - Sci-Fi , Star Wars in particular

Movie Clips

Here's a trailer narrated by Mel Brooks.

 

Here's a funny clip in which Frankenstein bids farewell to his fiancee.

 

Here's a funny scene involving a candle which opens a trapdoor.

 

Igor gives Dr. Frankenstein a fright in this scene.

 

Here's the scene in which Dr. Frankenstein and his associates first deal with the monster.

 

Here's the scene in which Dr. Frankenstein gets through to the monster.

 

Here's the monster's classic performance of "Puttin' on the Ritz".

 

Here's a deleted scene of Dr. Frankenstein and Inga's intellectual discussion.