Young Frankenstein: A Mel Brooks (and Gene Wilder) Film

Young Frankenstein is a classic satirical comedy, and possibly the most popular of Mel Brooks’ movies. Although the movie is often thought of and advertised as “A Mel Brooks Film”, the screenplay actually was a collaboration between Brooks and the movie’s star Gene Wilder, the latter being the originator of the idea of the movie.  Basing their satire on classic black-and-white horror movies, specifically the combination of Frankenstein and The Bride of Frankenstein, the team added the typical and semi-expected gags along with fresh and sometimes spontaneous material.  They were very careful to stick as close to possible to shooting the movie in the same fashion as the old horrors, but still for modern times.  They shot it in black and white, despite the producer wanting it to be in color, and they used old effects such as apparent fake lightning and that famous loud surprise horror sound (Dan, dan, DAN!)  Its such small details that are relatable and appreciated.  And surprisinly enough, when its been typical for Mel to make an appearance in his own movies, this time around he did not. 

I’ve seen the movie more than enough times now to find any joke too stimulating, but the biggest pleasure I find from the film is the portrayal of Igor by Marty Feldman.  His natural quirkiness of delivering lines, his large smile, and his giant bulging eyes always get a chuckle out of me and I find him the most lovable character in the movie.  When I was younger I always tried to figure out how they made Igor’s eyes so seemingly extraordinarily bulgy, as it was hard for me to accept that they were the actor’s natural state.  They are a little unsettling, but they add to his character and I guess in the long run I wouldn’t want it to be in any other way.  In the reverse, I find it ironic that Gene helped write the movie because out of the whole cast he’s my least favorite, both as his character Frederick Frankenstein and as an actor.  Frankenstein isn’t a likable character; he’s a temperamental, selfish, stuck-up jerk who only thinks of up-keeping his reputation as an established genius. In addition to this, he’s an adulterer, stereotypically ending up sleeping with his lab assistant.  Seriously, such a hot lab assistant as Inga (Teri Garr) would never sleep with some man who looked like that.  That crazy frizzy clown hair is not a turn on!  I’m also being tres harsh.  But I also find Gene’s acting in the movie rather mediocre, especially compared to his performances in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and Blazing Saddles.  He’s a good shouter when upset, but all of his emotions come across as synthetic and sometimes his lines are choppy.  Maybe he just does his best working amongst candy-grubbing children or black sheriffs.  Amongst the rest of the cast there are terrific and hilarious appearances by the Cloris Leachman as Frau Blucher and Madeline Kahn as Elizabeth.  True gems of the movie are the running gag of the horses’ scare of Blucher’s name, Igor’s ever repositioned hump, and definitely the “Putting on the Ritz” song/dance routine by Frankenstein and the Creature. 

Along the lines of what has already been stated, this is my favorite of Mel Brooks’ films… ok, actually it’s the my second favorite, after Robin Hood: Men in Tights.  But it’s definitely Mel at his least offensive but highest wit.  Though most of its pleasure has been lost to me over time, I’m confident any new viewer will be laughing nonstop. 


For more information on this movie, click on the link below:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072431/