"And you won't be angry?"
"I will NOT be angry."
"Abby someone."
"Abby someone. Abby who?"
"Abby Normal."
"Abby Normal?"
"I'm almost sure that was the name."
"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?"
Young Frankenstein (1974) 106 min"I will NOT be angry."
"Abby someone."
"Abby someone. Abby who?"
"Abby Normal."
"Abby Normal?"
"I'm almost sure that was the name."
"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?"
We all, more or less, know the story of Victor Frankenstein and his creation of a monster..but how did that affect future generations? Banking on the success of the 2 James Whale films (Frankenstein in 1931 and its sequel The Bride of Frankenstein in 1935) Universal Studios released two films where Victor's sons brought the monster to life (Wolf in The Son of Frankenstein in 1939 and Ludwig in The Ghost of Frankenstein in 1942). Thirty years (and many BAD Frankenstein films later) Victor's grandson Frederick takes the reins, but satirizing Whales films in the process.
The films open in an homage to Citizen Kane with the death and decay of Victor Frankenstein (he's a skeleton when the audience sees him). At the reading of his will (which was cut from the film, but is available on the DVD version) his grandson Frederick (Wilder) inherits everything. Frederick lives in New York and is a medical professor. He doesn't want to be associated with the legend of his grandfather and orders his students to call him Fronkenstein and gets into heated arguments about his grandfathers work (which he dismisses). After learning about his inheritance he leaves his fiance Elizabeth (Madeline Kahn) and journeys to Transylvania. He is met by his assistant Igor (pronounced eye-gore, Feldman), "My grandfather used to work for your grandfather" (the character of Igor was introduced in The Son of Frankenstein not the James Whale film), and his attractive assistant Inga (Teri Garr) "Would you care for a roll in the hay?" At the castle they meet his housekeeper Frau Blucher (Cloris Leachman), in German the word 'Blucher' means glue, so everytime a character says her name the horses rear up and whinny in fright. After a fruitless search for Victor's laboratory Frederick, Inga, and Igor follow the sound of an eerie violin which leads them to the lab and to Victor's diary called "How I Did It". This diary causes Frederick to dream the impossible and create his own monster (Boyle). Two note-worthy characters are the blind monk (Gene Hackman) and the Police Inspector (Kenneth Mars). Mel Brooks likes to use the same actors in his features, and they somehow always make it believable. Major Kudos go to Hackman's monk...the scene where he meets and feeds the monster is one of the funniest moments in the film.
While this film is a satire, it takes on a personality of its own and actually brings the story (or atleast the characteristics of the monster) closer to the novel: the monster begins confused but also has child-like qualities...it is easier to pity and laugh at him (or with him). This is my favorite Frankenstein adaptations (even though it is an adaptation of other films) and in my top three favorite Mel Brooks films (the others being Blazing Saddles and The Producers).
Dude, it's quotable: the conversation I quoted at the top is my favorite part of the film...and there are many other crazy moments like that
Buy it: I would suggest seeing the 2 Whale films first so this one makes more sense, but it can also stand on its own (I saw this film prior to seeing any Frankenstein films or reading the novel and I still love and appreciate it!)
The films open in an homage to Citizen Kane with the death and decay of Victor Frankenstein (he's a skeleton when the audience sees him). At the reading of his will (which was cut from the film, but is available on the DVD version) his grandson Frederick (Wilder) inherits everything. Frederick lives in New York and is a medical professor. He doesn't want to be associated with the legend of his grandfather and orders his students to call him Fronkenstein and gets into heated arguments about his grandfathers work (which he dismisses). After learning about his inheritance he leaves his fiance Elizabeth (Madeline Kahn) and journeys to Transylvania. He is met by his assistant Igor (pronounced eye-gore, Feldman), "My grandfather used to work for your grandfather" (the character of Igor was introduced in The Son of Frankenstein not the James Whale film), and his attractive assistant Inga (Teri Garr) "Would you care for a roll in the hay?" At the castle they meet his housekeeper Frau Blucher (Cloris Leachman), in German the word 'Blucher' means glue, so everytime a character says her name the horses rear up and whinny in fright. After a fruitless search for Victor's laboratory Frederick, Inga, and Igor follow the sound of an eerie violin which leads them to the lab and to Victor's diary called "How I Did It". This diary causes Frederick to dream the impossible and create his own monster (Boyle). Two note-worthy characters are the blind monk (Gene Hackman) and the Police Inspector (Kenneth Mars). Mel Brooks likes to use the same actors in his features, and they somehow always make it believable. Major Kudos go to Hackman's monk...the scene where he meets and feeds the monster is one of the funniest moments in the film.
While this film is a satire, it takes on a personality of its own and actually brings the story (or atleast the characteristics of the monster) closer to the novel: the monster begins confused but also has child-like qualities...it is easier to pity and laugh at him (or with him). This is my favorite Frankenstein adaptations (even though it is an adaptation of other films) and in my top three favorite Mel Brooks films (the others being Blazing Saddles and The Producers).
Dude, it's quotable: the conversation I quoted at the top is my favorite part of the film...and there are many other crazy moments like that
Buy it: I would suggest seeing the 2 Whale films first so this one makes more sense, but it can also stand on its own (I saw this film prior to seeing any Frankenstein films or reading the novel and I still love and appreciate it!)
Rating: PG
Director: Mel Brooks
Starring: Gene Wilder as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein
Peter Boyle as the Monster
Marty Feldman as Igor
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