Young Frankenstein (1974)

This is a hilarious satire of the old 1931 Frankenstein movie and subsequent sequels.

Director Mel Brooks has spoofed other movies with Robin Hood: Men in Tights and High Anxiety. None are as good as this one. Even his very funny, lowbrow Blazing Saddles comes in second to this one.

The screenplay, written by Brooks and Gene Wilder, deserves a lot of the credit. I, however, feel it is the cast that makes this movie the complete comedy classic that it is.

The always funny, Madeline Kahn is great as the snobbish fiancée. She adds so much to a joke with the raising of her eyebrows or a smirk on her face. Her scenes with the monster are very memorable. Even when talking about 'poo poo undies.'

Marty Feldman as Igor is a stitch. Popping up nearly as often as his hump changes sides. With his bug eyes and snide remarks, he steals nearly every scene he's in.

The movie though, belongs to Gene Wilder.

In many movies, a role could be played by any number of actors. Ben Affleck, Leonardo DiCaprio, or any other pretty faced young man could have played Matt Damon's part in Saving Private Ryan, and probably better. No one, however, could play the role of Dr. Frankenstein with such hysterics as Gene Wilder. Screaming such lines as 'Throw it I say', 'It! Could! Work!', and 'Sedagive!'

His performance is so incredibly droll.

A screamingly funny movie that is most certainly the high-water mark of Mel Brooks' career as a filmmaker. This is also Gene Wilder's best performance with the possible exception of Willy Wonka. As Eric points out, the late Madeline Kahn is a standout. In fact the ensemble cast is one of the best ever assembled, including Teri Garr, Cloris Leachman and Peter Boyle as the monster.

Filmed in black and white, this is a winning tribute as well as hilarious spoof of the Frankenstein franchise. I laughed the hardest during the scene where Gene Wilder's Doctor Frankenstein (pronounced Fronkensteen) discovers the secret passage behind the bookcase. "Put the candle back."

Musical numbers are a staple of virtually all of Mr. Brooks' movies and Young Frankenstein doesn't disappoint. Featuring an inspired soft-shoe duet of Irving Berlin's Puttin' on the Ritz by the doctor and his creation.

Seven years earlier Gene Wilder had a cameo in Bonnie and Clyde which featured Gene Hackman. In Young Frankenstein Hackman returns the compliment as the blind man.

Remember when Mel Brooks was funny?

With Young Frankenstein, he proves that he is not only funny, he is a comedic genius! Firing jokes at such a rapid pace, you never stop laughing. This is one of his best films and the least likely to offend.

Another thing about this movie, which is often overlooked, and Patrick touched upon, is that this movie is a tribute to the old horror films, and is beautifully filmed with great care. More care than you might expect from a comedy.

Eric contends that Gene Wilder is the funniest one in this movie, and I agree that he is great, but I always laugh hardest at Igor.