X
- 1974
- PG
- Twentieth Century Fox
- 1 h 46 m
- 1974
- PG
- Twentieth Century Fox
- 1 h 46 m
Summary The grandson of the infamous Dr. Frankenstein reluctantly decides to follow in his footsteps in this parody of horror films.
Directed By: Mel Brooks
Written By: Gene Wilder, Mary Shelley, Mel Brooks
- 1974
- PG
- Twentieth Century Fox
- 1 h 46 m
- 1974
- PG
- Twentieth Century Fox
- 1 h 46 m
Young Frankenstein
7.5
Where to Watch
Summary The grandson of the infamous Dr. Frankenstein reluctantly decides to follow in his footsteps in this parody of horror films.
Directed By: Mel Brooks
Written By: Gene Wilder, Mary Shelley, Mel Brooks
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
Based on 17 Critic Reviews
83
88% Positive
15 Reviews
15 Reviews
6% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
6% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
Based on 17 Critic Reviews
83
88% Positive
15 Reviews
15 Reviews
6% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
6% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
This is Mel Brooks' finest hour. [28 Jan 2005, p.11]
In addition to just being side-splittingly funny, Young Frankenstein is an aesthetic triumph.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 71 User Ratings
7.5
82% Positive
58 Ratings
58 Ratings
8% Mixed
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
10% Negative
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 71 User Ratings
7.5
82% Positive
58 Ratings
58 Ratings
8% Mixed
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
10% Negative
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
It is considered a classic for a reason.
Humorous, different, detailed.
A must Watch
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I am fond of Mel Brooks' films, and for me Young Frankenstein is my favourite of his and also one of my absolute favourites of the genre. It is wonderfully loopy and an ingenious send-up of universal horror clichés. Young Frankenstein is wonderfully shot in a sumptuous black and white, while the costumes, sets and make-up are wonderfully kooky. The story is fun too, while the script is hilariously quotable and Mel Brooks' direction is great. What gives Young Frankenstein real staying power is the marvellously done Puttin' on the Ritz musical number, the brain depository(outrageous to the point of being hilarious), the scene with Igor behind the book-shelves when they were looking the skulls(the facial expression and the breaking into song kills me every time), the old dad speech(then he just starts eating again), the hermit setting the monster's thumb on fire and the performances, with Gene Wilder giving one of his best performances as the infamous baron's grandson, and Peter Boyle almost stealing the show as the monster. The supporting performances are also a delight, Madeline Kahn's bride, Gene Hackman's blind hermit and Marty Feldman's hunchbacked Igor are very memorable. Overall, hysterically funny and kooky. 10/10 Bethany Cox
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Mel Brooks is home with Young Frankenstein, his most disciplined and visually inventive film (it also happens to be very funny).
The best of Brooks' movie parodies: a high-style sendup of Universal's James Whale-directed Boris Karloff "Frankenstein" movies. [26 Oct 2007, p.C3]
It isn’t a dialogue comedy; it’s visceral and lower. It’s what used to be called a crazy comedy, and there hasn’t been this kind of craziness on the screen in years. It’s a film to go to when your rhythm is slowed down and you’re too tired to think. You can’t bring anything to it (Brooks’ timing is too obvious for that) ; you have to let it do everything for you, because that’s the only way it works.
By and large, a rather pitiful parody of the Universal Frankenstein movies, taking typically Brooksian liberties with characters and plot, resorting to juvenile mugging, and relying to a great extent on fairly authentic sets and photography for its better moments.
Possibly Mel Brook’s best work. It’s a hilarious Halloween classic that achieves more with a single-worded joke than many comedy’s achieve as a whole. It’s wonderful.
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¡It's alive! ¡It's alive! Deliverately shot in B&W for pay tribute and recapture the feel of the Universal movies of 30's, it´s a hilarious perspective of the Frankenstein myte, that mixes as well the talent of Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder. THe sequence where creator and creature sings and dance "Putting on thr Ritz" is for getting stomachache by laughing. Hard to believe it scared to death to numbskull Homer Simpson.
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It's not only a spoof of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, but it's a spoof of all Gothic Novels and the movies that have been inspired by them. Also it's a slap-stick comedy, and it works on all these levels! It pokes fun at every ridiculous Gothic cliché with a very inventive and various ways that still hold up to date. But it's the editing that stands out above the rest ways. Yes the editing! I can't remember if I've seen before a film editing that works this effectively in the comedy genre. It's so subtle and creative. Gene Wilder did it again with his charismatic and charming performance that must play a vital role in making the audience riveted whatever the movie he is in.
Unfortunately, there are some jokes that didn't land. Mostly because they were repetitive. Although they worked at the first time, they lost their sharpness and effectiveness very quickly, maybe even at the second time they were repeated. The rest of the jokes that didn't hit the mark, which is quite few, were just because I didn't find them funny.
I think Young Frankenstein is a very funny and unique comedy, and if I may choose between the two Mel Brooks films that have been released that year, Young Frankenstein and Blazing Saddles, I would choose Young Frankenstein.
(8/10)
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Production Company
Gruskoff/Venture Films,
Crossbow Productions,
Jouer Limited
Release Date Dec 15, 1974
Duration 1 h 46 m
Rating PG
Genres
Tagline Come Early... Get a Seat!
Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 2 Nominations
Golden Globes, USA
• 2 Nominations
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
• 5 Wins & 5 Nominations
