Mel Brooks classic

Film Review

Young Frankenstein

My Rating: 9 / 10

A dark, rainy, night, the sound of thunder, an old mansion and the camera focuses on the coffin of Baron Von Frankenstein. This seems like a typical scene from a 1930s horror film. It is hard to believe that this is the opening scene of one of the most hilarious films you would ever see. Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein is a warm and loving parody of Universal’s various adaptations of Mark Shelley’s classic novel, Frankenstein. Brooks, previously acclaimed for film parodies like Blazing Saddles, succeeds in guiding a brilliantly chosen cast through scene after scene hilarity. With a well-structured plot, brilliant acting and hilarious screenplay, Young Frankenstein is so superbly made that it is possible to forget that it is actually a parody.

Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (Gene Wilder) is a respected lecturer at a medical school who gets irritated whenever someone brings up the subject of his grandfather, the famous mad scientist. He even insists that his name is pronounced “Fraunk-en-steen” clearly embarrassed by his ancestry. The story begins when the doctor inherits his family estate in Transylvania where he discovers his grandfather’s secret laboratory, the truth and success of his experiments and that he wasn’t really a mad scientist. Dr. Frederick decides to continue his grandfather’s research, the reanimation of dead tissue. Assisting him is the hunchback Igor (Marty Feldman) and the buxom lab assistant Inga (Teri Garr). They succeed in reassembling and bringing a dead body to life only to see their plans go awry. The creature, accidently fitted with an abnormal brain, escapes and the stage is set for an entertaining revision of the Frankenstein legend.

Playing the lead character of Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, co-writer Gene Wilder delivers an outstanding performance. He plays the role of a scientist who goes through a transition from someone embarrassed of his family’s history to someone who is proud of being a Frankenstein to perfection. His brilliant comic timing makes him perfectly suited for the role. If Blazing Saddles had made him a star, Young Frankenstein would immortalize him as one of the funniest men ever to grace the silver screen. Among the rest of the cast, Marty Feldman, Teri Garr and Peter Boyle, who plays the monster, deliver memorable performances. Feldman, especially, is adorable as the hunchback lab assistant and with his amazing screen presence, almost steals the show from Wilder.

The film is full of numerous extremely funny scenes. For example, the scene in which the doctor, Igor and Inga are standing in front of the castle door that has huge knockers. The doctor comments, “What knockers!!” to which Inga replies, “Oh, thank you doctor” thinking he was referring to her breasts. In another scene when the doctor and Igor are exhuming the dead body, the doctor says, “What a filthy job…” Igor replies “It could be worse, it could be raining” and it immediately starts to pour. There are many other hilarious scenes like the ones with the revolving bookcase, the little girl, the blind hermit (Gene Hackman) and the heavily accented Inspector Kemp (Kenneth Mars). The writers’ hard work doesn’t go unnoticed as none of the scenes appear out of place. It is easy to get out of control when writing for a comedy, especially if you are spoofing. The writers’ seem to be in control throughout delivering hilarious moments scene after scene.

As a parody, Young Frankenstein makes references to almost every Frankenstein film released by Universal. The hunchback assistant and the scenes involving the stealing of the abnormal brain and the young girl are all from Frankenstein (1931). The abduction of Elizabeth and the scene with the blind hermit are from Bride of Frankenstein (1935). The main plot and the character of Inspector Kemp are picked up from the Son of Frankenstein (1939). The dancing sequence with the monster reminds you of a similar scene from King Kong (1933).

Filming the movie in black and white with 1930s-style opening credits, Brooks succeeds in giving the movie the look and feel of the original Frankenstein (1931). The use of old and outdated film scene transitions like wipes, box-outs etc and traditional filming techniques, like the use of a moving background instead of a moving camera in the train scene, recreates the 1930s film experience for the viewer. Brooks even goes to the extent of recreating the Frankenstein laboratory using the same equipment and the same sets as the original. The eerie violin music playing in the background, the continuous horse neighing when someone says “Frau Blucher” and the constant sound of thunder and lightning gives a real horror film experience. Clearly, Brooks leaves no stone unturned in creating the atmosphere of the horror film genre.

Unlike most parodies, the movie is more than just a bunch of funny gags weaved together scene after scene over a broad storyline. It transcends from the usual parody form and pays honest tribute to the original novel – it’s dismay, horror and sadness. The movie does not drift away from the fact that the monster is unloved not because of his actions but because of his appearance. In that sense Young Frankenstein could be described as a Gene Wilder-Mel Brooks interpretation of Mark Shelley’s novel.

Although slightly dragged in the ending sequences, the film was a highly entertaining watch. I am going with two thumbs up and nine out of ten for Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein. One should watch it for Gene Wilder and Marty Feldman’s brilliant performances, for the great camera work, brilliantly written script and of course for Mel Brooks, probably the best comedy film maker of all time.