Young Frankenstein (1974)

Director:

Mel Brooks

Writers:

Gene Wilder (screen story and screenplay) and
Mel Brooks (screen story and screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

15 December 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

The scariest comedy of all time!

Plot:

Dr. Frankenstein's grandson, after years of living down the family reputation, inherits granddad's castle and repeats the experiments.

Plot Keywords:

Castle | Experiment | Assistant | Reanimation | Monster

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 10 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Gene Wilder	...	Dr. Frankenstein
Peter Boyle	...	The Monster
Marty Feldman	...	Igor
Cloris Leachman	...	Frau Blücher
Teri Garr	...	Inga
Kenneth Mars	...	Inspector Kemp
Richard Haydn	...	Herr Falkstein
Liam Dunn	...	Mr. Hilltop
Danny Goldman	...	Medical Student
Oscar Beregi Jr.	...	Sadistic Jailor (as Oscar Beregi)
Arthur Malet	...	Village Elder
Anne Beesley	...	Little Girl
Monte Landis	...	Gravedigger
Rusty Blitz	...	Gravedigger
John Madison	...	Villager
John Dennis	...	Orderly in Frankenstein's Class
Rick Norman	...	Villager
Rolfe Sedan	...	Train Conductor
Terence Pushman	...	Villager (as Terrence Pushman)
Randolph Dobbs	...	Third Villager - Joe
Norbert Schiller	...	Emcee at Frankenstein's Show
Pat O'Hara	...	Villager (as Patrick O'Hara)
Michael Fox	...	Helga's Father
Lidia Kristen	...	Helga's Mother
Madeline Kahn	...	Elizabeth
Richard A. Roth	...	Insp. Kemp's Aide (as Richard Roth)
Gene Hackman	...	Blindman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ian Abercrombie	...	Second Villager (uncredited)
Leon Askin	...	Herr Waldman (scenes deleted) (uncredited)
Mel Brooks	...	Werewolf / Cat Hit by Dart / Victor Frankenstein (voice) (uncredited)
John Carradine	...	Beaufort Frankenstein (voice) (scenes deleted) (uncredited)
Lou Cutell	...	Frightened Villager (uncredited)
Berry Kroeger	...	First Village Elder (uncredited)
Jeff Maxwell	...	Medical Student (uncredited)
Clement von Franckenstein	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Mel Brooks

Writing credits
Gene Wilder		(screen story and screenplay) and
Mel Brooks		(screen story and screenplay)
Mary Shelley		(novel "Frankenstein") (as Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

Produced by
Michael Gruskoff	....	producer

Original Music by
John Morris

Cinematography by
Gerald Hirschfeld		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
John C. Howard

Casting by
Jane Feinberg
Mike Fenton

Production Design by
Dale Hennesy

Set Decoration by
Robert De Vestel		(as Bob de Vestel)

Costume Design by
Dorothy Jeakins

Makeup Department
Edwin Butterworth	....	makeup artist (as Ed Butterworth)
Mary Keats	....	hairdresser
William Tuttle	....	makeup creator

Production Management
Frank Baur	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Marvin Miller	....	assistant director
Barry Stern	....	second assistant director
Michael Grillo	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Anthony Goldschmidt	....	graphic designer
Jack M. Marino	....	property master (as Jack Marino)
Charles Sertin	....	assistant property master
Hendrik Wynands	....	construction coordinator (as Hank Wynands)
John Alvin	....	poster artist (uncredited)
Edward T. McAvoy	....	scenic artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gene S. Cantamessa	....	production mixer (as Gene Cantamessa)
Don Hall	....	sound editor
Richard Portman	....	production rerecordist

Special Effects by
Henry Millar Jr.	....	special effects
Hal Millar	....	special effects
Gary L. King	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Matthew Yuricich	....	matte artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Roger Creed	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Jesse Wayne	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
James Plannette	....	gaffer
Richard Tim Vanik	....	camera operator (as Tim Vanik)
Eric D. Andersen	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)
Douglas Bolder	....	best boy (uncredited)
John F. Ganther	....	best boy (uncredited)
John Monte	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Charles Record	....	key grip (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Carolyn Ewart	....	wardrobe: women
Phyllis Garr	....	wardrobe: women
Dick James	....	wardrobe: men
Ed Wynigear	....	wardrobe: men

Editorial Department
Stanford C. Allen	....	assistant editor
William D. Gordean	....	assistant editor

Music Department
John Morris	....	conductor
John Morris	....	orchestrator
Jonathan Tunick	....	orchestrator
Gerry Vinci	....	musician: violin solo (uncredited)
Dan Wallin	....	scoring mixer (uncredited)

Other crew
Anthony Goldschmidt	....	title designer
Ray Quiroz	....	script supervisor
John Campbell	....	unit publicist (uncredited)

Thanks
Ken Strickfaden	....	special thanks: original Frankenstein laboratory equipment (as Kenneth Strickfaden)

Production Companies

• Gruskoff/Venture Films
• Crossbow Productions
• Jouer Limited

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1974) (USA) (theatrical)
• MGM-Fox (1975) (Finland) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1981) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Key Video (1988) (USA) (VHS)
• TV3 (1989) (Finland) (TV)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1995) (Finland) (TV)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment España S.A. (2001) (Spain) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox de Argentina (2004) (Argentina) (all media) (re-release)
• Gativideo (2004) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2004) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-release)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2006) (Canada) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (????) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Abril Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• CBS/Fox (????) (USA) (VHS)
• CBS/Fox (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Showtime (198?) (Finland) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Cinemobile System  location services (uncredited)
• DeLuxe Laboratories  prints (as De Luxe)
• Panavision  filmed with (as Panavision Equipment)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Canada:PG | Iceland:LH | Norway:16 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:15 | UK:AA (original rating) (1975) | UK:PG (re-rating) (2000) | USA:PG (Approved No. 24007) | West Germany:12 | Netherlands:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Finland:K-16 | Canada:G (Quebec) | South Korea:15 | New Zealand:PG | Argentina:13 | Germany:12 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Mayfair Theatre - 214 Santa Monica Boulevard, Santa Monica, California, USA

Company:

Gruskoff/Venture Films

Trivia:

Gene Wilder conceived the "Puttin' on the Ritz" scene, while Mel Brooks was resistant to it as a mere "conceit" and felt it would detract from the fidelity to Universal horror films in the rest of the film. Wilder recalls being "close to rage and tears" and argued for the scene before Brooks stopped him and said, "It's in!". When Wilder asked why he had changed his mind, Brooks said that since Wilder had fought for it then it would be the right thing to do. But it was only when he soon saw the musical number along with a howling audience that Brooks was finally confident about the sequence.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): The Monster's opinion of fire changes frequently throughout the movie. Sometimes he is deathly afraid of it, at other times he sits for hours next to an open fire showing no reaction at all.

Quotes:

[as monster runs out the door]
The Blindman:Wait. Where are you going? I was going to make Espresso.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Brief Film Reviews: My DVD/Blu-Ray Collection" (2010)

Soundtrack:

I Ain't Got Nobody (and Nobody Cares for Me)

Possibly Mel Brooks' Best Film

Over 30 years later this film still provides a ton of laughs to audiences.

It's always good to see the late Marty Feldman, whose face was hysterical and perfect for this film. In fact, he, along with the camera-work, really make this film one to watch and enjoy multiple times. Teri Garr was at her best and never looked as pretty as did in here. Add in the great talents of Gene Wilder, Madeline Kahn, Gene Hackman, Peter Boyle, Cloris Leachman, etc., and you have a memorable movie with a lot of memorable scenes.

Looking at the Frankenstien "monster" in a tuxedo or sitting up in bed with a cigar reading The Wall Street Journal are just a few of the outlandish scenes, along Wilder entering the mansion commenting on the "nice knockers."

Kudos, also, for Mel Brooks having the good sense to film this in black-and- white. It may have been his best film, although "Blazing Saddles" would give it a run for its money. My only complaint was Wilder's constant yelling, which becomes abrasive and can give you a headache after awhile! Still, this has to be considered one of the best "comedy classics" ever.