To Be Where There's Life

Although, Blazing Saddles and Space Balls might be the most famous Mel Brooks films, ‘Young Frankenstein’ for me is really where he achieves a pinnacle in comedy. The comedy is laugh out loud and over the top, but it never resorts to cheap slapstick.  Mel Brooks does a great directing job, but the film belongs to his cast. Gene Wilder as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (pronounced "Fronkonstein").  Wilder famous roles include The Producers and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, but he delivers one of his finest comedy performances in Young Frankenstein.  Even though he doesn't quite beat Wilder, Marty Feldman is absolutely terrific in his role as the hunchback Igor.                  

The story centres on medical lecturer Frederick Frankenstein, who one day receives the will of his grandfather, Victor von Frankenstein, creator of the monster learning he's inherited Victor's old Transylvanian castle. Upon arriving in Transylvania, leaving behind his girlfriend Elizabeth (Madeline Khan) he meets Igor (pronounced "I-gor"; played by Marty Feldman) and his assistant Inga (Teri Garr playing the stereotypical blonde love interest).  After discovering his grandfather's downstairs laboratory, he begins pouring over Victor's old medical notes pertaining to the Frankenstein project and after initially trying to live down his heritage, Frederick becomes immersed in attempting to create another Frankenstein monster despite some resistance from current tenant Frau Blaucher (Cloris Leachman).  Frau's appearance ignites the film's most sustained running gag; whenever her name is uttered, horses start neighing in terror.  Upon successfully digging up a large enough body, Frederick's plans go awry when I-gor, instead of picking out the right brain takes an abnormal brain (or in his words, the brain from "Abby Normal").  After eventually waking up, Frankenstein monster escapes and while he appears threatening, he simply wants to be loved

Two stand out scenes from the movie include, one involving the Frankenstein monster walking into the house of a lonely blind man (Gene Hackman) where he invites the monster in for soup and wine. Unfortunately, the hot soup is poured over him and when attempting to light a cigar, the blind man sets Frankenstein's thumb on fire.  The other scene is where Frederick creates a hilarious performance for the public sympathy for the monster.  The choreography and monster’s singing is perfectly timed and really amusing.  Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder took a classic Universal Monster movie and made their own genuinely entertaining comedy.   

Cheers,