In 1974, famed comic director Mel Brooks released Young Frankenstein , his parody of and homage to the horror films of the 1930s, especially James Whale's Frankenstein and The Bride of Frankenstein.   The term “instant classic” is bandied about much too often these days, but that's just what this film has become.

Igor, Frankenstein's assistant, in a scene reminiscent of the 1931 Frankenstein, has stolen an “abnormal brain” from the medical school.   And this is how Frankenstein learns of it:

To this day, it's not unusual to call people Abby Normal as an insult!

The film is the story of Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, (Gene Wilder) grandson of the infamous Victor Frankenstein (Henry in the Whale films).   A brilliant surgeon in America, he still tries to distance himself from his family heritage, to the point of making sure people know that it's pronounced “Fronk-en-shteen,” not Frank-en-stein.

Gene Wilder as Frederick Frankenstein. Source: Mel Brooks Movie Site, http://www.ladyofthecake.com/mel/frank/yfimages.htm

The rest of the movie tells how Frankenstein finds acceptance from society, and his monster finds love and happiness.   Elizabeth becomes the Monster's bride, but young Frankenstein finds solace in the arms of the lovely Inga.

One of the film's most famous scenes is the one in which the tuxedoed Frankenstein and his creation do a song and dance routine to “Puttin on the Ritz” in front of a medical convention in Bucharest. When they started to film the scene, no one was sure what the Creature should say. Boyle came up with a strangled version of "Puiinin da reeez!"   On screen, it works brilliantly.

Many scenes from Frankenstein and The Bride of Frankenstein show up in this film.   The first is a parody of the little girl drowning scene, taken from Frankenstein .   But there is no accidental murder here.   Although the audience is mentally prepared for one, in this version, the girl is catapulted from a see-saw straight through her bedroom window and into her bed, where her parents peek in to wish her good night before she falls asleep.

As Roger Ebert has written, the film “works on a couple of levels: first as comedy, and then as a weirdly touching story in its own right. A lot of the credit for that goes to the performances of Gene Wilder, as young Frankenstein, and Peter Boyle as the monster. They act broadly when it's required, but they also contribute tremendous subtlety and control. Boyle somehow manages to be hilarious and pathetic at the same time.” (Ebert)

Because of this level of skill in the film-making, I find this an excellent film to watch when studying Frankenstein .   In fact, more than one student has argued (on exams) that this version of the story comes closest to the spirit of Shelley's work!   They know that it is a comedy, but the story is touching and the Monster's search for love and understanding is clearer.

Other students have argued that had Shelley's Victor taken his parental role to the Creature seriously, as the Frederick Frankenstein character does in this film, the stories would have had similar endings!

But take a look at this bit of dialog from the film:

Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: [to The Monster] Hello handsome. You're a good looking fellow, do you know that? People laugh at you, people hate you, but why do they hate you? Because... they are jealous. Look at that boyish face. Look at that sweet smile. Do you wanna talk about physical strength? Do you want to talk about sheer muscle? Do you want to talk about the Olympian ideal? You are a God. And listen to me, you are not evil. You... are... good.

[the Monster starts to cry, and Dr. Frederick Frankenstein hugs him]

Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: This is a nice boy. This is a good boy. This is a mother's angel. And I want the world to know once and for all, and without any shame, that we love him. I'm going to teach you. I'm going to show you how to walk, how to speak, how to move, how to think. Together, you and I are going to make the greatest single contribution to science since the creation of fire.

#   When Dr. Frankenstein descends the stairs into the basement of the castle there is a gargoyle on the wall made to look like director Mel Brooks.

# The assistant property master's name, Charles Sertin, is on the third brain on the shelf.

Mel Brooks made a cameo appearance in this film, making the sound of the off-screen cat screaming when hit by a dart.