Young Frankenstein is Mel Brooks' inspired pastiche of the black and white horror films of yesteryear. Shot in black and white itself, Young Frankenstein stars Gene Wilder as Dr Frederick von Frankenstein (pronounced "Fronkensteen"), who is trying to live down his family heritage and live a normal life and be a successful neurosurgeon. Some of his peers are disturbed that his career path seems to be taking him towards a destiny of being the natural successor to the infamous Dr Victor von Frankenstein (Frederick's grandfather) who created a monster, but Frederick is determined not to go that way. However, he does inherit his grandfather's castle, and despite misgivings goes to find out exactly what's there...
Of course, there's more than Frederick bargained for when he gets to the castle, and he is drawn inevitably towards completing the work his grandfather started. He has dubious help in the form of Igor (Marty Feldman), Inga (Teri Garr) and Frau Bulcher (Cloris Leachman). Igor is the hunchback assistant, Inga the pretty young thing whose purpose is generally unknown but she's very nice to look at so no-one suggests that she leave, and Frau Bulcher is the stern housekeeper who may just have been Victor Frankenstein's lover (and have a lot of knowledge about what really went on in that castle). With this motley assemblage of assistants, Frederick must fight his own impulses as well as deal with his fiancé, the local villagers who remember Frankenstein's monster only too well, and the investigative efforts of Inspector Kemp (Kenneth Mars). There's a certain logical inevitability about what happens, but when it's this funny, who cares?
Young Frankenstein is repeatedly funny, sometimes hilarious, and while there is a smattering of risqué jokes, in general this is pretty inoffensive, nostalgic fun. (Though if you're easily offended by innuendo though, this probably isn't the film for you.) Teri Garr's cleavage does make a large contribution to the film, but I found her comedic performance to be quite effective as well. I would hazard to say that Gene Wilder has never been better than in this film (though I did really like his portrayal of Leo Bloom in The Producers as well), and he carries the main role very well indeed. My wife is really not a fan of his, but even she thought he was very good here. Cloris Leachman and Kenneth Mars are funny in their scenes, and Marty Feldman is hysterical as Igor. Peter Boyle as the Monster is also very funny, and Gene Hackman has a short but very memorable scene as a blind man who tries to befriend the monster. The fiancé, Elizabeth, is played by Madeline Khan, who suits the role down to the ground.
The writing is generally good, spoofing the horror genre in general and giving the cast some great lines to deliver. (The story and screenplay were by Gene Wilder and Mel Brooks.) Brooks' directorial style is stamped all over this movie, and unlike some other occasions, he doesn't descend into smuttiness often enough to render the film less funny than it could have been. The whole movie - from the black and white filming, the music (by John Morris) to the filming techniques and transition styles - hark back to the style of early horror movies (and since I haven't seen many of them, I'm sure I missed many subtle references that would have made the film even funnier).
Personally, I would rate Young Frankenstein among my top three Mel Brooks films - I also love Blazing Saddles and High Anxiety. I've conducted surveys on two completely separate message boards, and the end result both times was Young Frankenstein conclusively being chosen as most people's favourite. It's also one of the Top 250 films of All Time as voted for by IMDB members (at #237 when this review was written, with an average rating of 8.0/10).
Overall, Young Frankenstein is funny from start to finish and spoofs its target very effectively. Anyone who likes comedies, and particularly spoofs, will definitely enjoy this one.
Other Information
Year of release: 1974 Rating: PG
Quotes
Igor: My grandfather used to work for your grandfather. Of course the rates have gone up.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Igor: You know, I'll never forget my old dad. When these things would happen to him... . the things he'd say to me. Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: What did he say? Igor: "What the hell are you doing in the bathroom day and night? Why don't you get out of there and give someone else a chance?"
Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: Igor, would you mind telling me whose brain I did put in? Igor: And you won't be angry? Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: I will NOT be angry. Igor: Abby someone. Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: Abby someone. Abby who? Igor: Abby Normal. Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: Abby Normal? Igor: I'm almost sure that was the name. Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: Are you saying that I put an abnormal brain into a seven and a half foot long, fifty-four inch wide GORILLA? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME?
Igor: Dr. Frankenstein... . Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: "Fronkensteen." Igor: You're putting me on. Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: No, it's pronounced "Fronkensteen." Igor: Do you also say "Froaderick"? Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: No... ."Frederick." Igor: Well, why isn't it "Froaderick Fronkensteen"? Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: It isn't; it's "Frederick Fronkensteen." Igor: I see. Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: You must be Igor. Igor: No, it's pronounced "eye-gor." Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: But they told me it was "ee-gor." Igor: Well, they were wrong then, weren't they?
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.