You are a Mel Brooksat barely five years old, they would not have taken him to the cinema to see Frankenstein with his brother, would the world today be a grayer and less ironic place? Impossible to know. But maybe we wouldn't have Young Frankensteinthat comedy that took the classic horror monster of the 30s and immersed it in a whirlwind of laughter. Brooks desecrated the myth with his characteristic irreverence, and in the process, created another classic.
Released on December 15, 1974, Young Frankenstein was born from the shared genius between Brooks and his creative accomplice, Gene Wilder. Wilder, with his crazy mane and underlying tenderness, not only starred in the film as Frederick Frankenstein—”pronounced Fronkensteen”—but also co-wrote the script with the director. The idea was Wilder's, born between breaks from filming Hot Saddles. And although executives insisted on replacing Wilder, Brooks, true to his instincts, ignored the pressure and took a chance on his friend.
The result was a delirious tribute to the horror films of the 1930s, specifically to Frankenstein of James Whale (1931), which in turn was a stage adaptation of Mary Shelley's novel. And here we stop. Shelley, that young Englishwoman with a Gothic imagination, devised her “modern Prometheus” in the summer of 1816, by Lake Léman, while sharing nights of scary stories with her husband Percy, Lord Byron, and John Polidori. What Shelley could not have imagined is that, more than a century later, the monster of his nightmare would be resurrected once again, this time to make us laugh.
From Shelley to Brooks: a monster with a thousand faces
In Young Frankenstein, Gene Wilder plays Frederickgrandson of the infamous Victor Frankenstein. A university professor with a marked aversion to his lineage, Frederick inherits his grandfather's castle in Transylvania and, despite his initial resistance, ends up giving in to the temptation of following in his ancestor's footsteps. Accompanied by an unforgettable entourage—the hunchback Igor (Marty Feldmanwith her sparkling gaze), the radiant Inga (Teri Garr) and the somber Frau Blücher (Cloris Leachman)—, Frederick undertakes the experiment of bringing a corpse back to life. The result: an endearing monster, played by Peter Boyle, who sings and dances Puttin' on the Ritz with his creator in a scene that has aged like fine wine.
Brooks and Wilder struck a perfect balance between homage and parody. The film was shot in black and white to capture the atmosphere of classic horror films, and the laboratory that appears on screen is the same one used by James Whale in his 1931 version. This detail, more than a wink, is a statement of love for cinema. “I wanted everything to feel authentic, even if it was a comedy“Brooks said.
The art of laughing at myths
Brooks' comedy has the power to take something sacred and transform it into an absurd carnival without losing its essence. In Young Frankensteinthe humor never trivializes the original narrative; rather, the power. The creature remains a reflection of humanity: misunderstood, rejected, but desperate for connection. And while comic accidents and visual gags are the soul of the film, there is a subtle melancholy to its monster, a humanity that Peter Boyle conveys delicately.
But then again, this is a Mel Brooks comedy, and hilarious moments abound. The hunchback Igor, who changes sides of his hump every time he appears on screen. The sinister Frau Blücher, whose name causes horses to neigh in terror. Or the scene in which Wilder and Boyle indulge in an unexpected musical number, as ridiculous as it is glorious.
An immortal success
The film, which cost less than three million dollars, grossed 90 million and established itself as one of the best comedies in history, according to the American Film Institute. The legacy of Young Frankenstein It also includes a musical adaptation for Broadway and a multitude of tributes and parodies that demonstrate its lasting influence.
In 2023, the documentary Remembering Gene Wilder revived the memory of the actor, who died in 2016 at the age of 83. Mel Brooks, who turns 98 in 2024, reflected on his friend with the mix of humor and nostalgia that characterizes him: “I cried a lot when Gene died. But, as he would say, the show must go on. And for me, the secret to reaching 98 is simple: not dying.“.
The monster is still alive
50 years after its premiere, Young Frankenstein remains a comedic masterpiece, an example of how humor can revitalize even the oldest myths. The phrase “It's alive!” resonates not only as Dr. Frankenstein's cry of triumph, but also as a reminder that stories, when told with love and creativity, never die.
Brooks' cinema, with its ability to laugh at the solemn and make the absurd something brilliant, is the cinematographic equivalent of that lightning bolt that gives life to the monster. It is a spark of genius that lights up the screen, challenging norms, desecrating the classics and reminding us that, in art—as in life—there is always room for laughter.
Where to watch 'Young Frankenstein'
Young Frankenstein is available for purchase or rental on Amazon Prime Video. Users can access this classic comedy directed by Mel Brooks, which parodies the famous Frankenstein character, through the platform.
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