Young Frankenstein Is One Of The Funniest Movies Ever Made. Mel Brooks’ 1974 Classic Is A Brilliant Parody Of Old Horror Movies With An Incredible Cast, Perfect Comedy And Enough Memorable Moments To Make It A True Classic.
Young Frankenstein is one of those movies that somehow gets funnier every time you watch it. Mel Brooks took the classic Frankenstein story, mixed it with old Universal horror movies and created a comedy that still feels incredibly clever more than fifty years later.
Gene Wilder stars as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, the grandson of the original Victor Frankenstein. Frederick has spent his life trying to distance himself from his family’s strange reputation, even insisting that his name is pronounced “Fronkensteen.” Of course, that plan does not last very long.
After inheriting his family’s castle in Transylvania, Frederick travels there and discovers the laboratory and research left behind by his grandfather. With the help of Igor and Inga, he eventually becomes fascinated by the same experiments that made his grandfather infamous.
Marty Feldman is absolutely hilarious as Igor, Frederick’s bizarre assistant who constantly creates problems while somehow remaining completely lovable. His delivery, facial expressions and physical comedy are a huge part of what makes the movie work. Igor is one of those characters who could probably make an ordinary conversation funny.
Teri Garr plays Inga, Frederick’s beautiful and equally memorable assistant, while Madeline Kahn plays Elizabeth, Frederick’s fiancée. Kahn is fantastic in the movie, especially as Elizabeth becomes increasingly involved in the madness surrounding Frederick and his experiments.
Then there is Peter Boyle as the Monster. Boyle does not simply play the character as a scary creation. He turns the Monster into one of the funniest characters in the movie, particularly once Frederick begins trying to teach him how to behave like a civilized person.
Kenneth Mars also deserves plenty of credit as Inspector Kemp, complete with an exaggerated accent and one of the most ridiculous performances in the entire movie. The supporting cast is filled with characters who could easily have been one note, but every actor finds something funny to do with them.
Mel Brooks directed the film and co wrote it with Gene Wilder. What makes the movie especially impressive is how carefully Brooks recreates the look and feel of the classic Frankenstein films before completely tearing them apart with comedy.
The movie was shot in black and white, which was a perfect decision. It gives Young Frankenstein the appearance of an actual 1930s horror movie, right down to the laboratory equipment and old fashioned cinematography. Brooks even used some of the original laboratory equipment from James Whale’s Frankenstein films.
The plot follows Frederick’s transformation from a respected medical lecturer into someone who becomes completely fascinated by his family’s experiments. He eventually creates his own Monster, but things predictably become complicated once the creature escapes and begins wandering around the countryside.
The comedy comes from the contrast between the serious horror movie presentation and the ridiculous things happening inside it. Brooks never needed to completely destroy the atmosphere to get a laugh. Sometimes the funniest moments are simply characters behaving absurdly while everything around them looks completely serious.
The performances are another reason Young Frankenstein has aged so well. Gene Wilder is perfectly cast because he can play Frederick as an intelligent and serious man while also allowing his character to become increasingly unhinged. He understands exactly when to go completely over the top and when to let the situation provide the joke.
There are so many memorable scenes that it is almost impossible to pick just a few. The laboratory, the Monster’s performances, Igor’s strange behavior, the musical number “Puttin’ On The Ritz” and the repeated jokes throughout the movie have all become part of its legacy.
What I really love about Young Frankenstein is that it is not simply making fun of Frankenstein. It is clearly made by people who genuinely love those old horror movies. The parody works because Brooks and Wilder understand the source material so well. They recreate it with enough accuracy that the comedy becomes even funnier.
For me, that is the biggest reason Young Frankenstein remains a true classic. It is not just a collection of random jokes thrown into a horror story. The writing, performances, cinematography, music and direction all work together perfectly. It is funny from beginning to end without ever feeling like it is trying too hard.
Young Frankenstein is more than fifty years old now, and it still holds up incredibly well. Gene Wilder, Marty Feldman, Peter Boyle, Teri Garr, Madeline Kahn and the rest of the cast created something special under Mel Brooks’ direction. It is one of those rare comedies that can be watched over and over again, and that is exactly what makes it a true classic movie.
