“Young Frankenstein” it’s a american comedy from 1974 directed by Mel Brooks, and is a parody of the classics monster movie from the 1930s and 1940s, especially from Mary Shelley’s novel “Frankenstein”.
The film follows the grandson of the famous Dr. Victor Frankenstein, Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (played by Gene Wilder), who inherits his grandfather’s castle in Transylvania and decides to follow in his footsteps in creating a monster. The cast also includes Marty Feldman as his hunchback assistant Igor, Teri Garr as Dr. Frankenstein’s assistant, Cloris Leachman as the castle housekeeper, and Peter Boyle as the monster.
The film is known for its comedic gags, quotes and parodies of famous scenes from the original Frankenstein films, and received positive reviews from critics and audiences. Additionally, the film was also a huge box office hit, earning over $86 million worldwide.
“Young Frankensteinhas become a comedy classic, beloved by many for its surreal comedy and stellar cast.
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Plot
The plot of “Young Frankensteinfollows Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (Gene Wilder), a brilliant but eccentric medical professor living in New York City who has always disowned his famous grandfather, Dr. Victor Frankenstein. However, when he inherits the grandfather’s castle in Transylvania, Frederick decides to visit it to find out more about his past.
Arriving in Transylvania, Frederick meets the clumsy and hunchbacked assistant Igor (Marty Feldman), who gives him a secret book from his grandfather that contains instructions for creating a monster. Despite initial reluctance, Frederick decides to follow the instructions and creates a monster (Peter Boyle) which he tries to teach the word “Normal”.
Grandpa’s castle is also home to a housekeeper (Cloris Leachman) who harbors a dark family secret. Meanwhile, Frederick’s fiancé Elizabeth (Teri Garr) arrives in Transylvania to join him, but soon becomes the object of the monster’s attention.
The plot unfolds through a series of comic gags, often parodies of famous scenes from the original Frankenstein films, which lead to the film’s conclusion with a great musical finale.
Movie Characters
Here are the main characters of the film “Young Frankenstein”:
Doctor Frederick Frankenstein: played by Gene Wilder, he is the nephew of the famous Doctor Victor Frankenstein. He is an eccentric and brilliant professor of medicine who inherits his grandfather’s castle in Transylvania and decides to follow in his footsteps in creating a monster.
Igor: played by Marty Feldman, he is Frederick’s awkward and hunchbacked assistant. Help Frederick find his grandfather’s secret book that contains instructions for creating a monster and become his assistant in creating the monster.
Monster: played by Peter Boyle, is the creature that Frederick creates in his laboratory. He is rather awkward and clumsy at first, but over time he learns to speak and becomes more intelligent.
Elizabeth: played by Teri Garr, is Frederick’s girlfriend. She arrives in Transylvania to join him, but soon becomes the object of the monster’s attention.
Inga: played by Madeline Kahn, is Frederick’s assistant. She is also his secret lover and helps him in the creation of the monster.
Frau Blucher: played by Cloris Leachman, she is the housekeeper of Frederick’s grandfather’s castle. He has a dark family secret which is revealed at the end of the film.
These are just some of the characters in the film, which also includes other supporting characters and celebrity cameos.
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Production
“Young Frankenstein” is a 1974 film, directed by Mel Brooks and produced by Michael Gruskoff. The screenplay was written by Brooks together with Gene Wilder, who also played the title role, Dr. Frederick Frankenstein.
The film is a parody of classic horror films and science fiction of Frankenstein from the 1930s, especially “Frankenstein” from 1931 and “Bride of Frankenstein” from 1935, both directed by James Whale. Brooks used the same set and costumes used in the original films to create an authentic setting.
The film’s budget was approximately $2.8 million, which was quite a large amount for the time. Filming was primarily done at 20th Century Fox studios in Los Angeles, with some scenes shot in Germany to create the Transylvanian feel.
The film was a box office success, earning more than $86 million worldwide, making it one of the most successful films of 1974. It was also critically acclaimed and won the Academy Award for Best Art Direction. The film has acquired cult status over time and is considered one of the best parodies of film horror Of all times.
Distribution and Reception
“Young Frankensteinwas released to theaters in the United States on December 15, 1974 by 20th Century Fox. The film was a huge box office success, grossing more than $86 million worldwide, far exceeding its production budget of $2.8 million.
The film received positive reviews from critics, with many critics praising the intelligent humor and bravura performances. In particular, Gene Wilder was highly praised for his portrayal of Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, which was considered one of his best career roles.
The film also won the Academy Award for Best Art Direction and received several other nominations, including for Best Original Score and Best Editing. During the years, “Young Frankensteinhas become one of the most beloved cult films of all time, praised for its comedy, originality and its respect for the tradition of the classic Frankenstein horror films of the 1930s.
“Young Frankensteinwas a major commercial and critical success, helping to solidify the careers of Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder as two of the greatest comedians and directors of their time. The film is still regarded today as a milestone in the cinema history and one of the best examples of parody comedy of all time.
Style
The style of “Young Frankenstein” is typical of parody comedy, which is based on the use of comical and grotesque situations to make fun of a certain cinematic genre or style. In the case of this film, the targeted genre is classic horror, in particular Frankenstein movie from the 30s.
The film is based on the use of witty dialogues and ironic jokes, often with references to other films or historical events, which refer to the popular culture of the time. Directed by Mel Brooks often uses the contrast between dark and menacing environments and bizarre and colorful characters to create an atmosphere of comedy and grotesque.
The soundtrack of the film, written by John Morris, uses music and songs that recall the soundtracks of the Frankenstein films of the 30s, but with a comic and ironic touch. The choice of using the same scenography and costumes of the original films helps to create an authentic, but at the same time grotesque and comical atmosphere.
In summary, the style of “Young Frankenstein” is based on the use of tongue-in-cheek quips, contrasts between menacing environments and bizarre characters, and the parody of 1930s Frankenstein films. This style was highly appreciated by audiences and critics, who saw the film as a perfect example of parody comedy.
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Director
The director of “Young Frankensteinis Mel Brooks, born Melvin Kaminsky, a noted American comedian, actor, screenwriter, and director. Brooks was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1926, and rose to prominence in the 1960s and 1970s for his satirical and parody comedies .
Prior to becoming a director, Brooks worked as a comedian and television writer, collaborating with some of the biggest names in comedy of the day. In 1967, Brooks directed his first film, “The Producer of Mel Brooks,” which earned him an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
Following the success of his first film, Brooks went on to direct and produce many other spoof comedies, including “Young Frankenstein”, ‘Spaceballs’, ‘Robin Hood: Men in Tights’ and ‘Dracula is Dead and Loving It.’ Throughout his career, Brooks has received numerous awards and accolades, including a Grammy, Tony, Emmy and BAFTA .
Brooks’ work is characterized by the use of comic and grotesque situations, often inspired by films and the most iconic situations of cinema and popular culture, and by a sharp and intelligent humor. Thanks to his ability to create bizarre characters and absurd situations, Brooks is considered one of the greatest directors of parody comedies in the history of cinema.
