Review of Young Frankenstein (1974) by Spangle — 17 Aug 2017

A goofy and silly Mel Brooks spoof on Frankenstein and gothic horror, Young Frankenstein is obviously a classic of the genre and one of those films that everybody should see at least once. Quite funny and silly along the course of its runtime, Young Frankenstein largely mirrors the plot of the original text by Mary Shelley and film by James Whale, aside from how it starts, even seguing perfectly into the original's sequel Bride of Frankenstein at the end of the film. Introducing us to Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (Gene Wilder), a normal scientist who is ashamed of his grandfather Victor, arrives in Transylvania to bury his grandfather only to stumble onto his book of his re-animated life research and how-to guide. Reading it and falling in love with the idea, he steals a body and brain to create his Monster (Peter Boyle). With the help of hunchback Igor (Marty Feldman) and hot girl Inga (Tori Gerr), he must create his creature, keep him in the castle, and keep him from the villagers.

Witty as always, gags throughout the film deliver great laughs even when they are impeccably silly or simple. With Igor's hunch constantly switching sides, it shows the attention-to-detail that Mel Brooks was always known for, while also delivering excellent laughs. Constant jokes about the Monster's lengthy member may be a bit juvenile, but somehow Brooks makes it come off. As was always the case, this pairing of Brooks and Gene Wilder was a match made in heaven with the two in perfect harmony throughout with Wilder able to deliver the script's witty lines and comical moments with great zip and timing. As with any Brooks spoof/parody film, Young Frankenstein is simply an easy watch with smart comedy that consistently delivers laughs or smirks throughout the film. Kooky, outrageous, and constantly enjoyable, Young Frankenstein simply works as a comedy spoof of gothic horror films.

That said, compared to Brooks' other hits I have seen, Young Frankenstein is not nearly as funny. Not as witty as Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein is still funny, but not nearly as funny. Instead, much of it relies on the silly situations the characters find themselves in, which elicits smiles or chuckles, but never laughs. Compared to Blazing Saddles, which was littered with hysterical comedic moments, Young Frankenstein is never uproariously funny. Light, smart, and definitely funny, but Young Frankenstein is more about situational comedy instead of the witty banter form of comedy that I personally prefer. As such, the comedy in Young Frankenstein is good, but simply not my style the entire time. As a result, this one did underwhelm a bit in that regard considering my previous exposure to Brooks was so excellent and memorable.

What is excellent, however, is the detail of the film, especially in the production design. Capturing the look and feeling of a gothic horror film, Young Frankenstein's set pieces were perfect for a horror film. With rotating book cases, creepy candles and looming rooms, weird contraptions, creepy photos, and even more unsettling workers in the home, every piece of this film's set and structure captures the mood the film is going for perfectly. Sinister and imaginative, these elements make this a parody/spoof of a genre that actually often works as a realization of that genre. The key highlight being Frederick and Inga searching for the mysterious music in the home. While goofy with the hidden passageways, the film nonetheless conjures up a creepy atmosphere that is filled with anticipation for what could be lurking right around the corner. Visually, the film is equally as stunning, making use of German expressionist lighting throughout. With dark shadowy corners lurking about the set piece, the film's stylish photography and lighting delivers on the atmosphere the film aims to create and further the feeling that dark, ominous occurrences are afoot in the film.