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Halloween Movie Review: “Young Frankenstein”

“Young Frankenstein”

Release date: December 15, 1974

Runtime: 106 mins

Starring: Gene Wilder

  Peter Boyle

  Terri Garr

  Marty Feldman

Directed by: Mel Brooks

Given that today is Halloween, I wanted to take the opportunity to look back on one of my favorite comedies. “Young Frankenstein” nails the Halloween feel while also being hilarious. 

Gene Wilder stars as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, the grandson of Dr. Victor Frankenstein, the main character from the 1931 classic and the novel on which it was based. Frederick is desperate to escape his infamous grandfather’s shadow and insists his name is actually pronounced “steen” rather than “stein.” When his uncle dies, Frederick is left Frankenstein’s Castle in the will. He departs for Transylvania to settle things, kicking off the whole adventure. 

The props used in the movie are the exact same ones used in the original Frankenstein film. They lend the movie an authentic look and feel. It is a parody which lovingly emulates the original’s atmosphere. This makes it all the funnier. Best of all, it is among the rare parodies that does not require the audience to be familiar with the work it is parodying. Prolific and celebrated comedy director Mel Brooks uses just the right lighting, set design, sound design and camera placement to pull this off. 

“Young Frankenstein” is so chock full of jokes and utilizes so many different types of humor—puns, slapstick, parody, absurdism—I am almost positive everyone will encounter something they find funny here. The “Puttin’ on the Ritz” scene is so iconic and well-known at this point, but I laugh every time I see the movie. It is as fun to rewatch as it is to experience for the first time. 

The script definitely deserves praise for how funny the movie is, but the performances are really what makes it work as well as it does. Gene Wilder is great as the title character. Without his convincing performance holding everything together, the rest of the movie would not be nearly as memorable. Wilder is most remembered today for his portrayal of Willy Wonka, and rightfully so; however, his work on this movie deserves just as much recognition.  For most of the running time, he plays the straight man, the one comparatively normal person in a group of oddballs. Around the midpoint, when he transitions into the mad scientist, the change feels natural. He plays the character as being in denial of his background only to fully embrace it and take pride in it by the end. It is not just a great comedic performance, it is a great performance, period.

The supporting cast are all perfect as well. I particularly enjoy Marty Feldman as Igor. His crooked nose and bulging eyes make him seem born to play the part. It goes beyond just his appearance though. His line delivery and the way he physically devotes himself to the part so fully, through his gait and walking with a hunchback make him stand out. Really though, there is not a bad performance in the movie. Peter Boyle as the monster is just as good, if not better than Boris Karloff’s in the original movie. Madeline Khan is hysterical despite being absent for much of the movie. Terri Garr, Cloris Leachman, Gene Hackman, all of them bring their all to their respective roles. 

“Young Frankenstein” is a movie which can be enjoyed equally by children and adults. It does contain several instances of innuendo, is suggestive in a couple instances and contains very light swearing, but I believe this would be the perfect choice for a Halloween family movie night for kids eight and up. Even if you just want to watch a movie with friends for Halloween but are not big on horror, this is a perfect choice. Basically what I am saying is, everyone should give it a watch. 

Happy Halloween!

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