Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Way Back Wednesday - Young Frankenstein

(From IMDB) Young Frankenstein is a 1974 comedy film directed by Mel Brooks, and starring Gene Wilder. The screenplay was written by Brooks and Wilder.

This is a typical Mel Brooks comdey, and parodies the Frankenstein movies. This is the story of the young grandson of Baron Von Frankenstein(Gene Wilder), who gets his inheritance, and then goes to Transylvania to clear up the will. When he discoveries his Grandfather's personal library, he continues in his grandfather's footsteps.

Due to a mix-up by his assistant, Igor, Dr. Frankenstein implants an abnormal brain in his creation and then comdey insues. Things get more out of control when Dr. Frankenstein's bride shows up at the castle. The whole film is shot in black and white to simulate the old monster movie feeling.

Here is one of my favorite scenes from the movie. This is when Dr. Frankenstein realizes they may have used the wrong brain in the creature.
Dr. Frankenstein: Igor, would you mind telling me whose brain I did put in?
Igor: And you won't be angry?
Dr. Frankenstein: I will NOT be angry.
Igor: Abby someone.
Dr. Frankenstein: Abby someone. Abby who?
Igor: Abby Normal.
Dr. Frankenstein: Abby Normal?
Igor: I'm almost sure that was the name.
Dr. Frankenstein: Are you saying that I put an abnormal brain into a seven and a half foot long, fifty-four inch wide GORILLA?
[shakes and grabs him]
Dr. Frankenstein: IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME?

Trivia:
Rock band Aerosmith took a break from a long night of recording to see Young Frankenstein in 1974. Steven Tyler wrote the band's hit "Walk This Way" the morning after seeing the movie, inspired by Marty Feldman's first scene, the "walk this way... this way" scene.

Gene Wilder as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein
Peter Boyle as the Monster
Marty Feldman as Igor
Madeline Kahn as Elizabeth
Cloris Leachman as Frau Blücher
Teri Garr as Inga
Kenneth Mars as Inspector Kemp
Richard Haydn as Herr Falkstein
Liam Dunn as Mr. Hilltop
Danny Goldman as Medical Student
Gene Hackman as The Blind Man
Mel Brooks (uncredited) as Werewolf / Cat Hit by Dart / Victor Frankenstein (voice)

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