# Young Frankenstein (1974)

### reviewed by
Chris Casino

    Young Frankenstein

            ****

    A film review by Chris Casino.

    My ratings scale

    **** - Excellent
    *** - Pretty good
    ** - Fair, don't go out of your way, though.
    * - Don't say I didn't warn you.

Cast: Gene Wilder (Dr. Fredrick Frankenstein), Peter Boyle (The Monster), Marty Feldman (Igor), Madeline Kahn (Elizabeth), Teri Garr (Inga), Cloris Leachman (Frau Blucher), Kenneth Mars (Inspector Kemp), Gene Hackman (Blind man).

Written by Gene Wilder & Mel Brooks, Directed by Mel Brooks, produced by Michael Gruskoff, Cinematography by Gerald Hirschfield, Music by John Morris.

This film, penned by Wilder and Brooks based upon a concept Wilder came up with, was nominated for a Best Screenplay Oscar in 1974. What puzzles me is what could've possibly won over it, because it's easily one of the funniest movies ever made, and it's also genuinely good because it could just as easily have been released as a straight horror film.

This loving parody of the old Universal Frankenstein pictures, using beautiful black and white photography and a chilling Universal-style music score by John Morris (Brooks' usual music man) stars Gene Wilder as Dr. Fredrick Frankenstein (sorry, Fronk-on-steen, as he prefers it in the film, and says repeatedly), who inherits his grandfather, Victor's castle, which he is ashamed of, as well as his assistants Igor the usual hunchback (a hilarious Feldman), and busty Inga (Garr). He decides to create his own Monster (Boyle) in an attempt to clear the family name, but as usual, the hunchback steals the wrong brain from the laboratory, and the Monster goes on a menacing spree throughout the countryside, much to the charign of the villagers and the one armed, peculiar voiced Inspector Kemp (Mars, in a funny takeoff on Lionel Atwill from SON OF FRANKENSTEIN).

This film is an excellent example of the fact that Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder can make a really good parody that is faithful to the genre if they like it well enough, which they obviously did in this case. Mel Brooks directs with the style of James Whale, and as I say, he could've just as easily edited out the jokes, despite his usual sexual puns, which, thankfully, are toned down here--and I'm sure Wilder is to thank for that--, and it really is in the style of the old movies.

Not only that, but we also have the excellent performances from each and every one of the cast members (and thankfully, Brooks does not appear like he usually does). Particularly good are Wilder's mad doctor, Boyle's Monster, and Feldman's riotous hunchback. I'm not forgetting about Kahn as Elizabeth or Leachman as Frau Blucher (EEEHHEEEHEEEHEEEHEEHEE! Sorry, couldn't resist), though.

    Particular highlights:

1. Tie: Puttin' on the Ritz routine/blind man part 2. Feldman and Wilder's banter. 3. Scene where Wilder attempts to reach out to the Monster. 4. The fact that the Monster isn't as dumb as he looks (see the movie, you'll know what I mean).

This was ripped off fourteen years later by a low budget film called FRANKENSTEIN GENERAL HOSPITAL. I haven't seen this film, but I'm told it is the worst Frankenstein film ever made, and if it rips off this film as much as I've heard, I can see why. Except no cheap imitations, people. It's foolish to try to think you're going to make a good movie just by going and ripping this movie off. This is too good. You try that, you'll fail. I garauntee you that.

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