Young Frankenstein

As a special Halloween treat, I revisit an old favorite: Mel Brooks' brilliant Young Frankenstein (1974), an affectionate spoof of classic Universal monster films, most notably King Kong (1933) and The Bride of Frankenstein (1935). Besides paying exquisitely detailed homage to these films, it shows Brooks at his satirical best, using a great script, exquisite direction and a supremely talented cast to create a great comedy.

Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (Gene Wilder) is a professor working in the United States, who seeks to distance himself from the shameful activities of his ancestors. However, the death of his father brings him to Transylvania, meeting hunch-backed assistant Igor (Marty Feldman), the ditsy blonde assistant Inga (Teri Garr) and the deranged caretaker Frau Blucher (Cloris Leachman). Frankenstein soon finds himself obsessed with his family's research, and sets about creating his own monster (Peter Boyle) - with predictable (though quite humorous) results.

Brooks' film is one of the great examples of movie spoofery. The movie is a great mixture of wit and broad silliness, and both tracks of the film work perfectly. Unlike contemporary spoof movies, Young Frankenstein benefits from its creators having an obvious affection for the source material; the movie isn't a mockery so much as a good-natured ribbing, and works all the better for its fidelity to the source material. Several scenes are recreated verbatim from the films - particularly the Monster's encounter with an incorrigible little girl and a blind, lonely (but quite clumsy) hermit (Gene Hackman) - and smoothly transfered from horror to comedy. Brooks made a career out of spoofing classic movies, but he never quite hit this level of perfection again.

Brooks does a remarkable job recreating the look and feel of the Universal masterpieces. The atmospheric direction, Gerald Hirschfield's gorgeous black-and-white cinematography, John Morris's moody score and the use of classic Universal sets would be appropriate for a straight horror film; that it's used for a comedy makes it all the more effective. Brooks stages the film's major set-pieces - namely the science convention culminating in a Frankenstein-Monster duet of Puttin' on the Ritz - with admirable aplomb.

Gene Wilder gives a marvelously over-the-top performance, never striking a wrong note in his portrayal of the arrogant scientist and mad doctor. Peter Boyle is equally funny, playing childlike innocence and naughty silliness brilliantly. Perhaps the best performance, however, is Marty Feldman as Igor, witty, wacky, and anything but the subservient imbecile he's usually made out to be. The movie contains a plethora of fun performances: Madeline Kahn as Wilder's impatient wife, Cloris Leachman as the ominous Frau Blucher (Whinney!), Teri Garr as the ditzy assistant Inga, and Kenneth Marrs' posable police inspector (who owes a great deal to Dr. Strangelove).

Young Frankenstein is a comedic gem and perhaps the greatest spoof movie ever made. Happy Halloween to my readers!