"Oh... you must've been the tallest one in your class." Awesome Gene Hackman delivery. Right up there with, “There's a strong streak of good in you, Superman. But then nobody's perfect... almost nobody.”
I think Marty Feldman switches his bulging hunch back several times in the movie too! And he really stole the movie too, which was quite a feat since he was competing with major comedic “heavy weights” like Wilder and Kahn.
@@rring44 I only recently noticed in Naked Gun while Frank Drebin speaks to the press after exiting his plane, in the background luggage is falling from the plane directly onto the tarmac. It's those subtle bits of hidden humor that are the cherries on the top.
By the way, the Walk This Way gag was the inspiration for the Aerosmith song. They needed another song for their album and took a break to go see this movie, then loved the joke so much they made it into a song XD
It inspired the lyrics. The melody was pretty much written, but they couldn't come up with any lyrics that satisfied them. So, they decided to take a break and clear they're heads with a movie. The rest is history.
I've met Gene Wilder on several occasions, such a wonderful and quiet man. We lived in the same town and I was managing a video store back in the early 90's that Gene was a frequent customer of. When he came in you would hardly know he was there and nobody made a fuss. During one visit he came up to me asking if we had Mary Shelly's Frankenstein and I joked I wasn't sure but we have Young Frankenstein, he chuckled about that. One other visit while perusing he found a movie on the shelf that starred himself and Donald Sutherland called Start The Revolution Without Me and he started yelling "Where did you get this? I don't even have this! Can you get me a copy of this film???" I told him we'd get him one and we had it for him in a few days.
I love Start the Revolution... I watched a VHS copy from TBS and wore it out. My brother bought the DVD years ago and I still play it from time to time. Paris, France: 1789!
I have *NEVER* clicked on a video this fast! Wilder is THE master of comedic timing! And he and Brooks were at the peak of their powers at this point. Oh, and the lab equipment are the actual props from the 1931 Frankenstein film.
Wilder has a unique quality that's hard to describe because, uh, it's unique. He's innately likable and his Wonka captures Roald Dahl's take on adults from a kid's perspective perfectly...mysterious, powerful, god-like and untrustworthy...tempered by humanity and unexpected kindness. He's sort of a genius at enigmatic performance and pathos. To manage that in the middle of slapsticky stuff is hella talent
@@ShanWatchesMovies The equipment in the laboratory is the same equipment from the original 1931 Frankenstein film starring Boris Karloff and this was purposely shot in black & white. Try Mel Brooks' "History Of The World Part I". Laughs galore.
I'm surprised there was no mention of the beautiful and talented Terry Garr? When Frankenstein says "What knockers!" She's soooo cute when she answers with "Why thank you doctor." (Yum Yum) Nor the brilliant Madeline Khan in the supporting role as Victors girlfriend or Cloris Leachman as Frau Blucher (horses whinny in the background.) A brilliant supporting cast worth mentioning. Other than that a fun and very entertaining reaction. 👍
Richard Pryor has some writing credit on "Blazing Saddles" and soon after that He and Wilder would begin a acting partnership. "Silver Streak", "Stir Crazy"' and "See no Evil, Hear no Evil" are a few to take a peek at.
Absolutely! More Madeline Kahn and Kenneth Mars (the guy with the eyepatch and wooden arm in this one) in addition to Barbara Streisand, Ryan O’Neal and a bunch of character actors that gained fame in other movies and TV shows - Boss Hogg from the Dukes of Hazzard, Higgins from Magnum PI, Austin Pendleton, M. Emmett Walsh, and a very young Randy Quaid. Also Liam Dunn, the preacher in Blazing Saddles and the old man in the reflex demonstration in YF.
The shifting hump on Igor's back was an ad-libbed gag. Marty Feldman had been shifting the hump back and forth for several days before cast members finally took notice. It was then added in the movie
This is by far my favorite Mel Brooks movie. And I think it's not just because it's funny. I think it's because he hewed so closely to the aesthetic of those old movies (most notably, the black-and-white cinematography) - it gives it a magical, timeless quality that doesn't just make it a "good comedy," but it has that feel of classic cinema. It's beautiful, dreamlike and transporting in a way that Spaceballs isn't. I don't know if Brooks knew that would be the effect of his aesthetic choices, or if he was merely just shooting it this way as part of the parody. But for me, that was the end result.
I agree. Not just the talent of the actors and actresses, but the fit. They played the parts so well, I can't imagine a different person in those roles. Some movies seem destined for greatness. I don't know if it's luck, or if the casting is just so perfectly thought out, and comes to be through incredible effort. I always wondered that. Like Will Ferrell in Elf. His comedic style fit that movie to a T, and I don't think anyone else would have filled that role as perfectly.
Much of the lab equipment came from the original Frankenstein movie! There's a really cool mural on the exterior of the soundstage they shot the film on at 20th Century Fox. How are you doing?
"It's Franken-steen." One of Gene Wilder's best performances that he wrote himself in collaboration with Mel Brooks. I saw this in my local musical theater with my son
Young Frankenstein was shot in black and white as an homage to the old monster movies of the 1930s and ‘40s, including the original Frankenstein movie series that featured Boris Karloff as the monster. The lab equipment was found in storage and was the original equipment used in the first Frankenstein film, 1930s. To truly appreciate this movie you really need to see the originals, Frankenstein and the Bride of Frankenstein. The idea for the film was originally Gene Wilder’s. He and Brooks then worked on it together.
This is tied with Robocop for my favorite movie of all time. So self-aware, such completely timeless comedy. This is Mel Brooks at his finest and Gene Wilder at the peak of his game. He does more with his faces than most actors due with the full range of tools...think about that moment when he talks to Igor about his hump and Igor says "What hump?" and Wilder just looks around and it's absolutely the funniest thing I think I've ever seen. Or the enormous schvanstucker scene. Seriously, watch those scenes again with eyes on Wilder's face in those moments, it's perfect. Peter Boyle, Marty Feldman, Cloris Leachman, Madelina Kahn and Teri Garr...what a supporting cast. It's a murderers row of supporting cast. I finally got the chance to see it in the theater and it just made it so much better to see it on the big screen, it was magical. I have almost so much to say about the brilliance of this movie that I basically can't say anything. It speaks for itself. PS those are the actual props from the original Frankenstein movie from 1931, with Mel Brooks' voice playing the voice of the doctor. But he does have one more cameo - when they're playing darts and you hear a cat screech, that's actually Brooks just off-screen making the cat noise himself. This is a spoof to be sure, but one that is so good that it basically stands on its own as also an entry into the Frankenstein movies, one of the best in my opinion. I've seen this film a million times and I'm sure I'm just getting started.
couldn't agree more. One of my favorites. There are many comedies that are hilarious, but this movie, because of the nod to old black and white films, makes it that much more interesting. I don't think it would have felt as good in color. The gags still would have been funny, but the whole feel of the movie would have been different.
It was a joy watching your reaction to this movie. I saw Young Frankenstein several times in the cinema (as I did Airplane!) and sitting among each new audience was like me experiencing the movie for the first time. The basic narrative of the movie follows the movie Son of Frankenstein with additional nods to Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein -- all directed by James Whales. Two things I've noticed (one immediately) is that the clock chimes 13 before the coffin is opened; something I counted because that part startled me and I wanted to know when it happened. The other thing is I believe Gene Hackman glanced over in the director after he says "Cigars" in his falsetto to gauge his reaction. Again, a super-enjoyable reaction video.
The plot is more of a spoof of the Universal Boris Karloff Frankenstein movie and the sequel, Bride of Frankenstein (especially the one with the blind man and the fiancee's hair due at the end). There's another Mel Brooks/Gene Wilder movie you have to watch, The Producers, from 1967! That movie was basically a breakthrough for both Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder, that one is also very funny! XD =) I'm pretty sure Peter Boyle didn't use a bald cap since he was already bald, he was even bald in Taxi Driver too.
A number of elements in *Young Frankenstein* are also inspired by the third film in the Universal series, *Son of Frankenstein,* including the one-armed policeman and the character of Ygor (originally played by Bela Lugosi). One really needs to see at least the first three Universal *Frankenstein* movies to fully appreciate *Young Frankenstein.*
@@oliverbrownlow5615 There's only one gag that looks like it came from the fifth movie, 'Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man', which is the way the 'transferance' set-up is done. That comes straight from that movie.
@@Carandini Intetesting. I never noticed that. It's surprising to me, though, that Brooks didn't parody that film's hilariously out of place elaborate musical production number, "Fa-Do-La, Fa-Do-Le" (where the Villagers sing to Larry Talbot, aka the Wolf Man, merrily wishing him eternal life, which causes him to freak out since this is the very "curse" he's trying to escape). It's a very Mel Brooks-like moment, but perhaps the Wolf Man not being in *Young Frankenstein,* and a wish not to steal the thunder of YF's own hilariously inappropriate "Puttin' On the Ritz" sequence combined to exclude any other musical numbers (at least until the Broadway version).
12:20 this deserves a new comment section, just in case you don't know who plays the old blind man, Gene Hackman (The French Connection, 1971, and Unforgiven, 1992 and a TON of other excellent movies). Hackman asked to be in this movie because he loved or was best friends with Brooks, he didn't care what it was, credited or uncredited.
Great choice, Shan. I first saw this when it first came out, in 1974. I was a 9 year old fan of the original horror series, which was still in heavy pre-cable TV rotation at the time. I may or may not have known it was a comedy beforehand; I can't recall. But as much as I loved the old horror films, this film started my love affair with Mel Brooks' work. Perhaps it isn't the type of thing you're looking to react to on your channel, but I do recommend you see the original films... At the very least 'Frankenstein' (1931), 'The Bride of Frankenstein' (1935) and 'Son of Frankenstein' (1939). Aside from seeing some great early film work by James Whale, and iconic performances of Frankenstein's monster by Boris Karloff, you'll also see what a labor of love 'Young Frankenstein' was for Gene Wilder and Mel Brooks. There is so much they borrowed and even stole, when appropriate, to make their film look and feel right. They bought the rights from Universal Studios so they could mirror and mimic several of the themes and storylines, and worked with the original laboratory sets that were used in those movies. 'Blazing Saddles' is probably the most iconic piece of work Brooks and Wilder did together. But this film is their masterwork...and seeing those early films fill in many of the 'reasons' why. Dig your channel.
11:07, I love the dinner scene, here Eye Gore says his father said to him: "What the hell are you doing in the bathroom day and night!? Why dont you get out of there? Give someone else a chance." Lol!
Peter Boyle actually met his wife on the lot during the filming of this movie whilst still in makeup. He figured that if she would go out with him looking like that, she was definitely the one. I have the order of funniest movies flipped. Blazing Saddles is a very close second tied with Airplane!. Mel is the master of meta!
Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein (both 1974) are probably Mel Brooks cinematic peak. Few directors can claim to have made 2 absolute classics for the ages just a few months apart.
Stir Crazy, where Wilder partners with Richard Pryor, and The Frisco Kid, where he partners with Harrison Ford. As for Mel Brooks, have you done High Anxiety, a sort of Hitchcock parody, or History of the World, Part I?
Fun fact.....if you didn't know. Frau Blucher (scared horses sfx) Blucher means glue in German. Horses hooves were used for glue.....so....they had to be killed for it. Their hooves were made into common old school glue. WAYYY BACK in the day. This is what I've read over the 4 decades since seeing this in the theaters.
Fun Fact: the title of Aerosmith song "Walk this Way" is taken from this. Marty Feldman is awesome in this. You are probably never gonna hear Puttin' on the Ritz in the same way again. Also eminently quotable. "Put The Candle Back!" is my personal favorite.
I'm surprised I haven't seen anyone mention yet, but Mel Brooks actually had very little to do with this movie. It's all the work of Gene Wilder flexing his acting, writing and directing talents.
The idea and most of the screenplay was Wilder, but Wilder didn’t feel comfortable with directing so he brought the project to Brooks to direct, although he was surprised when Brooks said yes because he didn’t think Mel would direct a film he didn’t write. PS. During the dart game, the cat scream was Mel Brooks.
This is one of my favorite movies and I'm really glad you liked it! Gene Wilder is a great actor and I look forward to more of your reviews of his movies.
The movies that this movie was paying homage to were Frankenstein (1931) and Bride of Frankenstein (1935). This movie uses the same props that were used in the original 1930s movies. I recommend watching these pioneer films! ---- For more Wilder: Mel Brooks' (1969) The Producers; The Frisco Kid (1979) also w/Harrison Ford; The Woman in Red (1984)
This whole film is a comedy tribute to the films Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein. The fear of fire, the little girl at the well, the blind monk, and the creature's bride's beehive hairstyle are all taken directly from the original films. The lab equipment electrical props are the same as used in the original film (the guy who made them still had them in storage). The titles, lab set, and castle mattes are the same. I'm not sure about the castle entry hall, but I wouldn't put it past them to have duplicated that too. It's a tour du force of call backs, especially being filmed in B&W like the original. Didn't it start in 3x4 and transition to wide screen as well? A great film.
The movie spoofs some of the most memorable scenes from Frankenstein but the main plot and characters are more of a spoof on the third movie of the series, Son of Frankenstein (Igor, the one-armed policeman).
My all time favorite movie! Also Blazing Saddles and this both came out in 1974! Greatest one two punch by a director until Spielberg had Schindler’s List and Jurassic Park in 1993.
Fun fact: The props in the lab are the same ones used in the actual Frankenstein movies. And Bleuca means Glue, hence why the horses panic at the sound of her name (horses used to be rendered into glue).
Teri Garr was GORGEOUS back in the day. She was great in Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Mr. Mom with Michael Keaton. She has MS and pretty much homebound now (I have MS too).
I've loved this movie for the past 35 years and to this day, I still quote it incessantly. Also, I can't read the name Igor without pronouncing it Eye-gor in my head.
To appreciate all the hidden (and some not so hidden) inside jokes, you have see the original Universal Monster films. Basically, this movie has a ton of homages to Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, and Son of Frankenstein - the three with Boris Karloff as the monster. You really need to watch them!
Thanks for this! I grew up loving Mel Brooks. I'm a new fan and am enjoying your videos. Now with Spring here and baseball season around the corner I would love to see you review "A League of Their Own" starring Gina Davis and Tom Hanks. ⚾️💕
Other Mel Brooks movies - SpaceBalls (spoof of Star Wars and other sci fi movies), History of the World part 1, High Anxiety (spoof of Hitchcock-movies), Silent Movie (spoof of the silent movie-genre), The Twelve Chairs (very underrated, but it's a pretty funny movie too) and even though the 90's wasn't the best year for Brooks he still made some pretty funny movies such as Robin Hood: Men in Tights (mostly spoof of the Kevin Costner-movie Robin Hood: Prince of Theives), Life Stinks and Dracula: Dead and Loving It (which is the last/latest movie he directed).
This was a Wilder movie. Brooks was still on the set of Blazing Saddles. And Wilders one stipulation was that Brooks not appear because he breakes the 4th wall too much and Wilder wanted this to be a more serious movie... Ha
The blind hermit is played by Gene Hackman. If you haven't seen it, you should watch Hackman in "The French Connection". Some amazing film making, including a mostly illegally shot car chase scene.
Everything is in the style of the original Frankestein film. If you have never seen that, that might be something you might enjoy for the German expressionist cinema style of the 1910's-1930's. The blind man, the little girl, the violin etc are all in the original but more tragic lol Madeleine Khan looks like "the Bride of Frankenstein" in the end scenes :)
I have the spelling wrong but the woman’s name faubruka has something to do with a glue factory. Horses contain collagen which is an ingredient for glue.
My father used to call me Abby.... normal lol. My third favorite Mel Brooks movie is History of the World Part 1 after Young Frankenstein and Blazing Saddles. It is a very funny movie, but it has a couple dated jokes you will have to cut. I would highly recommend you watch it though. A second recommendation is "Children of Men." You will be straight up blow away by it, it is a 9/10 easily. It has some of the best directing and shooting of any film.
If you go back and watch the original Frankenstein films (especially the Bride), you will get so much more of what's in Mel's loving parody. Almost everything refers back to something in those older films. :)
If you did not notice Mel Brooks played the blind man that set the monsters finger on fire. Mel Brooks had a hell of a time getting black and white film even back then. Everything was shot in color and converted to black and white. Brooks insisted on black and white film stock as he never wanted a color version released.
See No Evil, Hear No Evil shows off more of Wilder's comedic talents (along with Richard Pryor). Would look into their catalogue or maybe do a poll (other Prior/Wilder films include Silver Streak and Stir Crazy), though I thought See No Evil is the best comedic performance of the bunch.
FYI all the credits being at the beginning was a law back in the day, that is why all these old movies do that. It wasn't as much a directorial choice, but i am sure Mel would have done that anyway LOLZ PS: Feldman is the greatest
This movie works slightly better when you've see the original Universal Frankenstien films. It works without it too.. but you'll get all the references, homages and callbacks.
It’s a shame you didn’t see the original Universal Frankenstein movies before seeing this. Mel Brooks is a parodist, but he’s a very respectful one, and he only parodies what he likes himself. Young Frankenstein, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, and High Anxiety (which is a parody of Hitchcock films) in particular have lots of jokes you only get if you’ve seen the movies they’re mocking. The one-armed policeman, the blind hermit, and the girl with the flower are right out of the original movies. Believe it or not, even the scene where Igor is scared of his own reflection in a lightning storm was done in the original Frankenstein - just not quite as slapstick-y.
Shan, for more movies by Mel Brooks (some he is some and some not) please see the list below. It's in no particular order. History of the World: Part 1 Dracula, Dead and Loving It High Anxiety Silent Movie Robin Hood: Men in Tights The Producers Life Stinks To Be or Not to Be The Twelve Chairs Gene Wilder is in The Producers. For more movies with with Gene Wilder, please the list below...again...it's in no particular order The Producers The Woman in Red Silver Streak The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother The Frisco Kid Stir Crazy Haunted Honeymoon See No Evil, Hear No Evil Funny About Love The World's Greatest Lover
This is the best movie reaction channel out there! Please watch "The Producers" too, and if you haven't seen it, "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" would be great.
Not sure if it’s been mentioned, but the horses always react to the name Frau Boucher because Boucher is the German word for glue. So it’s a horses and glue factory bit.
The german word for glue is "Kleber"...and the lady's name is Bluecher according to imdb. I'm german and there is no meaning of Bluecher that I know of...it seems to be just a name.
@@CptApplestrudl It looks like spellcheck changed how I spelled her name. Or something. Anyway, I wanted to double-check the story as I had heard it after I posted and apparently Mel Brooks has said he thought that Blucher translated to glue, but he was wrong. So that was the intended joke, but Mel just goofed it up.
Don’t know if you noticed but Gene Hackman played the blind hermit 👍
“ Come back, I was going to make espresso” 😂
"Oh... you must've been the tallest one in your class."
Awesome Gene Hackman delivery. Right up there with, “There's a strong streak of good in you, Superman. But then nobody's perfect... almost nobody.”
It's funny how no one ever notices the guy is wearing an eye patch and a monocle on the same eye.
I watched it 20 times and never saw it lol. The best comedies have a lot of very small and hidden jokes.
"Stay close to the candles, the staircase can be treacherous." Candles aren't lit. Lol
Kenneth Mars was hilarious.
I think Marty Feldman switches his bulging hunch back several times in the movie too! And he really stole the movie too, which was quite a feat since he was competing with major comedic “heavy weights” like Wilder and Kahn.
@@rring44 I only recently noticed in Naked Gun while Frank Drebin speaks to the press after exiting his plane, in the background luggage is falling from the plane directly onto the tarmac. It's those subtle bits of hidden humor that are the cherries on the top.
By the way, the Walk This Way gag was the inspiration for the Aerosmith song. They needed another song for their album and took a break to go see this movie, then loved the joke so much they made it into a song XD
It inspired the lyrics. The melody was pretty much written, but they couldn't come up with any lyrics that satisfied them. So, they decided to take a break and clear they're heads with a movie. The rest is history.
@@danielallen3454 Ah that's what it was! I didn't remember all the details. Thank you :)
I've met Gene Wilder on several occasions, such a wonderful and quiet man. We lived in the same town and I was managing a video store back in the early 90's that Gene was a frequent customer of. When he came in you would hardly know he was there and nobody made a fuss. During one visit he came up to me asking if we had Mary Shelly's Frankenstein and I joked I wasn't sure but we have Young Frankenstein, he chuckled about that. One other visit while perusing he found a movie on the shelf that starred himself and Donald Sutherland called Start The Revolution Without Me and he started yelling "Where did you get this? I don't even have this! Can you get me a copy of this film???" I told him we'd get him one and we had it for him in a few days.
I love Start the Revolution... I watched a VHS copy from TBS and wore it out.
My brother bought the DVD years ago and I still play it from time to time.
Paris, France: 1789!
I have *NEVER* clicked on a video this fast! Wilder is THE master of comedic timing! And he and Brooks were at the peak of their powers at this point. Oh, and the lab equipment are the actual props from the 1931 Frankenstein film.
Thank you and thank you for the trivia too!
Wilder has a unique quality that's hard to describe because, uh, it's unique. He's innately likable and his Wonka captures Roald Dahl's take on adults from a kid's perspective perfectly...mysterious, powerful, god-like and untrustworthy...tempered by humanity and unexpected kindness. He's sort of a genius at enigmatic performance and pathos. To manage that in the middle of slapsticky stuff is hella talent
@@ShanWatchesMovies The equipment in the laboratory is the same equipment from the original 1931 Frankenstein film starring Boris Karloff and this was purposely shot in black & white. Try Mel Brooks' "History Of The World Part I". Laughs galore.
@@josephcox178 you are 100% correct about the lab eq/Karloff statement
I'm surprised there was no mention of the beautiful and talented Terry Garr? When Frankenstein says "What knockers!" She's soooo cute when she answers with "Why thank you doctor." (Yum Yum) Nor the brilliant Madeline Khan in the supporting role as Victors girlfriend or Cloris Leachman as Frau Blucher (horses whinny in the background.) A brilliant supporting cast worth mentioning. Other than that a fun and very entertaining reaction. 👍
Richard Pryor has some writing credit on "Blazing Saddles" and soon after that He and Wilder would begin a acting partnership. "Silver Streak", "Stir Crazy"' and "See no Evil, Hear no Evil" are a few to take a peek at.
‘See no evil, hear no evil’ may be thought of as a flop but a crack up every time I watch it. The premise alone is hilarious.
I love See No Evil, Hear no Evil.
Stir Crazy is by far the best!
Pryor was originally cast as Bart in Blazing Saddles... but the studio had concerns over his history of drug use.
Gene Wilders best work. This film sets the bar for the genre. You will love it, I bet the farm on that.
It was a real fun time!
By the way, someone else commented that "What's Up Doc?" would be a great selection for you. I second that motion! It is brilliant.
Absolutely! More Madeline Kahn and Kenneth Mars (the guy with the eyepatch and wooden arm in this one) in addition to Barbara Streisand, Ryan O’Neal and a bunch of character actors that gained fame in other movies and TV shows - Boss Hogg from the Dukes of Hazzard, Higgins from Magnum PI, Austin Pendleton, M. Emmett Walsh, and a very young Randy Quaid. Also Liam Dunn, the preacher in Blazing Saddles and the old man in the reflex demonstration in YF.
Second that suggestion wholeheartedly. Made during Peter Bogdanovich's creative peak, as was PAPER MOON which someone else suggested.
The shifting hump on Igor's back was an ad-libbed gag. Marty Feldman had been shifting the hump back and forth for several days before cast members finally took notice. It was then added in the movie
RIP Cloris Leachman, who passed away just this January.
I believe that the monster’s makeup was intentionally obvious. One of the ones that’s often mentioned was the idea of giving him a zipper on the neck.
This is by far my favorite Mel Brooks movie. And I think it's not just because it's funny. I think it's because he hewed so closely to the aesthetic of those old movies (most notably, the black-and-white cinematography) - it gives it a magical, timeless quality that doesn't just make it a "good comedy," but it has that feel of classic cinema. It's beautiful, dreamlike and transporting in a way that Spaceballs isn't.
I don't know if Brooks knew that would be the effect of his aesthetic choices, or if he was merely just shooting it this way as part of the parody. But for me, that was the end result.
One of the greatest casts of all time.
I agree. Not just the talent of the actors and actresses, but the fit. They played the parts so well, I can't imagine a different person in those roles. Some movies seem destined for greatness. I don't know if it's luck, or if the casting is just so perfectly thought out, and comes to be through incredible effort. I always wondered that. Like Will Ferrell in Elf. His comedic style fit that movie to a T, and I don't think anyone else would have filled that role as perfectly.
Much of the lab equipment came from the original Frankenstein movie! There's a really cool mural on the exterior of the soundstage they shot the film on at 20th Century Fox. How are you doing?
The voice over you hear when we first see the lab is also from the original movie.
"It's Franken-steen." One of Gene Wilder's best performances that he wrote himself in collaboration with Mel Brooks. I saw this in my local musical theater with my son
Young Frankenstein was shot in black and white as an homage to the old monster movies of the 1930s and ‘40s, including the original Frankenstein movie series that featured Boris Karloff as the monster. The lab equipment was found in storage and was the original equipment used in the first Frankenstein film, 1930s.
To truly appreciate this movie you really need to see the originals, Frankenstein and the Bride of Frankenstein. The idea for the film was originally Gene Wilder’s. He and Brooks then worked on it together.
Shan! I liked your reaction! This film was very good! Your channel is the best! Congratulations on 11.2k subscribers!
Wow thank you so much Anastasia!
This is tied with Robocop for my favorite movie of all time. So self-aware, such completely timeless comedy. This is Mel Brooks at his finest and Gene Wilder at the peak of his game. He does more with his faces than most actors due with the full range of tools...think about that moment when he talks to Igor about his hump and Igor says "What hump?" and Wilder just looks around and it's absolutely the funniest thing I think I've ever seen. Or the enormous schvanstucker scene. Seriously, watch those scenes again with eyes on Wilder's face in those moments, it's perfect. Peter Boyle, Marty Feldman, Cloris Leachman, Madelina Kahn and Teri Garr...what a supporting cast. It's a murderers row of supporting cast. I finally got the chance to see it in the theater and it just made it so much better to see it on the big screen, it was magical.
I have almost so much to say about the brilliance of this movie that I basically can't say anything. It speaks for itself. PS those are the actual props from the original Frankenstein movie from 1931, with Mel Brooks' voice playing the voice of the doctor. But he does have one more cameo - when they're playing darts and you hear a cat screech, that's actually Brooks just off-screen making the cat noise himself.
This is a spoof to be sure, but one that is so good that it basically stands on its own as also an entry into the Frankenstein movies, one of the best in my opinion. I've seen this film a million times and I'm sure I'm just getting started.
couldn't agree more. One of my favorites. There are many comedies that are hilarious, but this movie, because of the nod to old black and white films, makes it that much more interesting. I don't think it would have felt as good in color. The gags still would have been funny, but the whole feel of the movie would have been different.
It was a joy watching your reaction to this movie. I saw Young Frankenstein several times in the cinema (as I did Airplane!) and sitting among each new audience was like me experiencing the movie for the first time.
The basic narrative of the movie follows the movie Son of Frankenstein with additional nods to Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein -- all directed by James Whales. Two things I've noticed (one immediately) is that the clock chimes 13 before the coffin is opened; something I counted because that part startled me and I wanted to know when it happened. The other thing is I believe Gene Hackman glanced over in the director after he says "Cigars" in his falsetto to gauge his reaction. Again, a super-enjoyable reaction video.
The plot is more of a spoof of the Universal Boris Karloff Frankenstein movie and the sequel, Bride of Frankenstein (especially the one with the blind man and the fiancee's hair due at the end). There's another Mel Brooks/Gene Wilder movie you have to watch, The Producers, from 1967! That movie was basically a breakthrough for both Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder, that one is also very funny! XD =) I'm pretty sure Peter Boyle didn't use a bald cap since he was already bald, he was even bald in Taxi Driver too.
The Producers is already on the list
@@ShanWatchesMovies Nice! =)
A number of elements in *Young Frankenstein* are also inspired by the third film in the Universal series, *Son of Frankenstein,* including the one-armed policeman and the character of Ygor (originally played by Bela Lugosi). One really needs to see at least the first three Universal *Frankenstein* movies to fully appreciate *Young Frankenstein.*
@@oliverbrownlow5615 There's only one gag that looks like it came from the fifth movie, 'Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man', which is the way the 'transferance' set-up is done. That comes straight from that movie.
@@Carandini Intetesting. I never noticed that. It's surprising to me, though, that Brooks didn't parody that film's hilariously out of place elaborate musical production number, "Fa-Do-La, Fa-Do-Le" (where the Villagers sing to Larry Talbot, aka the Wolf Man, merrily wishing him eternal life, which causes him to freak out since this is the very "curse" he's trying to escape). It's a very Mel Brooks-like moment, but perhaps the Wolf Man not being in *Young Frankenstein,* and a wish not to steal the thunder of YF's own hilariously inappropriate "Puttin' On the Ritz" sequence combined to exclude any other musical numbers (at least until the Broadway version).
Igor: "Could be worse."
VF: How?"
Igor: "Could be raining."
:DD
12:20 this deserves a new comment section, just in case you don't know who plays the old blind man, Gene Hackman (The French Connection, 1971, and Unforgiven, 1992 and a TON of other excellent movies). Hackman asked to be in this movie because he loved or was best friends with Brooks, he didn't care what it was, credited or uncredited.
thats weird, I could've sworn this was already on your channel. Glad you are watching it, its my one of my favorite comedies.
Mel Brooks provided the Wolf Howl in the scene with "Where Wolf?" "There Wolf!"...
Gene Wilder in The Silver Streak, absolutely priceless. Whole movie a Masterpice, the whole productions
Great choice, Shan. I first saw this when it first came out, in 1974. I was a 9 year old fan of the original horror series, which was still in heavy pre-cable TV rotation at the time. I may or may not have known it was a comedy beforehand; I can't recall.
But as much as I loved the old horror films, this film started my love affair with Mel Brooks' work.
Perhaps it isn't the type of thing you're looking to react to on your channel, but I do recommend you see the original films...
At the very least 'Frankenstein' (1931), 'The Bride of Frankenstein' (1935) and 'Son of Frankenstein' (1939). Aside from seeing some great early film work by James Whale, and iconic performances of Frankenstein's monster by Boris Karloff, you'll also see what a labor of love 'Young Frankenstein' was for Gene Wilder and Mel Brooks.
There is so much they borrowed and even stole, when appropriate, to make their film look and feel right. They bought the rights from Universal Studios so they could mirror and mimic several of the themes and storylines, and worked with the original laboratory sets that were used in those movies.
'Blazing Saddles' is probably the most iconic piece of work Brooks and Wilder did together. But this film is their masterwork...and seeing those early films fill in many of the 'reasons' why.
Dig your channel.
11:07, I love the dinner scene, here Eye Gore says his father said to him:
"What the hell are you doing in the bathroom day and night!? Why dont you get out of there? Give someone else a chance." Lol!
Peter Boyle actually met his wife on the lot during the filming of this movie whilst still in makeup. He figured that if she would go out with him looking like that, she was definitely the one.
I have the order of funniest movies flipped. Blazing Saddles is a very close second tied with Airplane!.
Mel is the master of meta!
"High Anxiety" was a funny Mel Brook's spoof of Alfred Hitchcock suspense films, especially "Vertigo".
Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein (both 1974) are probably Mel Brooks cinematic peak.
Few directors can claim to have made 2 absolute classics for the ages just a few months apart.
2 movies. High Anxiety, a great Mel Brooks film. The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother. Gene Wilder's directorial debut. Insanely funny.
I cracked up so hard at your reactions to Igor pretending to be the Freshly Dead head and the start of Puttin’ on the Ritz
Stir Crazy, where Wilder partners with Richard Pryor, and The Frisco Kid, where he partners with Harrison Ford.
As for Mel Brooks, have you done High Anxiety, a sort of Hitchcock parody, or History of the World, Part I?
The play on Broadway in NYC was amazing.
Fun fact.....if you didn't know.
Frau Blucher (scared horses sfx)
Blucher means glue in German.
Horses hooves were used for glue.....so....they had to be killed for it. Their hooves were made into common old school glue. WAYYY BACK in the day.
This is what I've read over the 4 decades since seeing this in the theaters.
Fun fact: Blucher does NOT mean glue in German. Do some fact checking before you just repeat things you heard, like some parrot.
Fun Fact: the title of Aerosmith song "Walk this Way" is taken from this. Marty Feldman is awesome in this. You are probably never gonna hear Puttin' on the Ritz in the same way again. Also eminently quotable. "Put The Candle Back!" is my personal favorite.
I'm surprised I haven't seen anyone mention yet, but Mel Brooks actually had very little to do with this movie. It's all the work of Gene Wilder flexing his acting, writing and directing talents.
The idea and most of the screenplay was Wilder, but Wilder didn’t feel comfortable with directing so he brought the project to Brooks to direct, although he was surprised when Brooks said yes because he didn’t think Mel would direct a film he didn’t write.
PS. During the dart game, the cat scream was Mel Brooks.
Mel Brooks co-wrote the screenplay & directed it... Checkout the opening credits or look it up online to see...
This is one of my favorite movies and I'm really glad you liked it! Gene Wilder is a great actor and I look forward to more of your reviews of his movies.
I love it when you say "Fronkenstein". Great review as always Shan.
The actor who questions Dr. Frankenstein is the same actor who voiced Brainy Smurf.
The movies that this movie was paying homage to were Frankenstein (1931) and Bride of Frankenstein (1935). This movie uses the same props that were used in the original 1930s movies. I recommend watching these pioneer films! ---- For more Wilder: Mel Brooks' (1969) The Producers; The Frisco Kid (1979) also w/Harrison Ford; The Woman in Red (1984)
"I suggest you put on a pair of pants." RIP Cloris Leachman. Best. Leo.
Interesting fact. All the props in Frankenstein laboratory were the original props from the 1932 Frankenstein movie.
This whole film is a comedy tribute to the films Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein. The fear of fire, the little girl at the well, the blind monk, and the creature's bride's beehive hairstyle are all taken directly from the original films. The lab equipment electrical props are the same as used in the original film (the guy who made them still had them in storage). The titles, lab set, and castle mattes are the same. I'm not sure about the castle entry hall, but I wouldn't put it past them to have duplicated that too. It's a tour du force of call backs, especially being filmed in B&W like the original. Didn't it start in 3x4 and transition to wide screen as well? A great film.
One of the funniest movies ever made. Marty Feldman was priceless
The movie spoofs some of the most memorable scenes from Frankenstein but the main plot and characters are more of a spoof on the third movie of the series, Son of Frankenstein (Igor, the one-armed policeman).
My all time favorite movie! Also Blazing Saddles and this both came out in 1974! Greatest one two punch by a director until Spielberg had Schindler’s List and Jurassic Park in 1993.
Fun fact: The props in the lab are the same ones used in the actual Frankenstein movies.
And Bleuca means Glue, hence why the horses panic at the sound of her name (horses used to be rendered into glue).
Again, her name is Bluecher and that's not even a word in german.
Stop spreading this lie.
@@roaringviking5693 Lying implies that you know it's wrong.
Teri Garr was GORGEOUS back in the day. She was great in Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Mr. Mom with Michael Keaton. She has MS and pretty much homebound now (I have MS too).
This is a parody from the original Movie , which was frightening when it came out in 1932. If you never seen the original, its a must check out
Aerosmith got the idea for their song Walk this Way, from this movie
I've loved this movie for the past 35 years and to this day, I still quote it incessantly. Also, I can't read the name Igor without pronouncing it Eye-gor in my head.
To appreciate all the hidden (and some not so hidden) inside jokes, you have see the original Universal Monster films. Basically, this movie has a ton of homages to Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, and Son of Frankenstein - the three with Boris Karloff as the monster. You really need to watch them!
"I can't believe (Brooks) is filming in b&w in the 70s."
Can I raise you a silent movie in the 80s?
Thanks for this! I grew up loving Mel Brooks. I'm a new fan and am enjoying your videos. Now with Spring here and baseball season around the corner I would love to see you review "A League of Their Own" starring Gina Davis and Tom Hanks. ⚾️💕
Other Mel Brooks movies - SpaceBalls (spoof of Star Wars and other sci fi movies), History of the World part 1, High Anxiety (spoof of Hitchcock-movies), Silent Movie (spoof of the silent movie-genre), The Twelve Chairs (very underrated, but it's a pretty funny movie too) and even though the 90's wasn't the best year for Brooks he still made some pretty funny movies such as Robin Hood: Men in Tights (mostly spoof of the Kevin Costner-movie Robin Hood: Prince of Theives), Life Stinks and Dracula: Dead and Loving It (which is the last/latest movie he directed).
This is one of my all-time favorites.
This was a Wilder movie. Brooks was still on the set of Blazing Saddles. And Wilders one stipulation was that Brooks not appear because he breakes the 4th wall too much and Wilder wanted this to be a more serious movie... Ha
The blind hermit is played by Gene Hackman. If you haven't seen it, you should watch Hackman in "The French Connection". Some amazing film making, including a mostly illegally shot car chase scene.
"The Producers" has Gene Wilder and was written by Mel Brooks.
Everything is in the style of the original Frankestein film. If you have never seen that, that might be something you might enjoy for the German expressionist cinema style of the 1910's-1930's. The blind man, the little girl, the violin etc are all in the original but more tragic lol
Madeleine Khan looks like "the Bride of Frankenstein" in the end scenes :)
INGA was played by the same actress that starred with Richard Dreyfus in Close Encounters
I have the spelling wrong but the woman’s name faubruka has something to do with a glue factory. Horses contain collagen which is an ingredient for glue.
Your facial expression at the introduction of Igor. 🤣🤣
They went to attention to detail and got the original set of Frankenstein's laboratory from the movie starring Boris Karloff as the monster
The original Republic movies Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein are well worth a look.
Republic? Don't you mean Universal?
@@brandonhendrix7223 D'oh! You are correct.
That blind older man is played by Gene Hackman who you would know as Lex Luthor in the original Superman movie starring Christopher Reeves
My father used to call me Abby.... normal lol. My third favorite Mel Brooks movie is History of the World Part 1 after Young Frankenstein and Blazing Saddles. It is a very funny movie, but it has a couple dated jokes you will have to cut. I would highly recommend you watch it though.
A second recommendation is "Children of Men." You will be straight up blow away by it, it is a 9/10 easily. It has some of the best directing and shooting of any film.
If you go back and watch the original Frankenstein films (especially the Bride), you will get so much more of what's in Mel's loving parody. Almost everything refers back to something in those older films. :)
Talking about black and white movies, I highly recommend "The Lighthouse".
Sleepers, Dead Poets Society and School Ties are some of my favs and would love to hear you talk about.
Great review...you'll enjoy Brooks' The Producers too.
It was a parody of the first three 1930's Frankenstein films. You'll get the gags more when you've seen those films.
If you are a Mel Brooks fan AND a Alfred Hitchcock fan, the movie High Anxiety is a must-see.
The actor who plays Igor's eyes were actually like that
If you did not notice Mel Brooks played the blind man that set the monsters finger on fire. Mel Brooks had a hell of a time getting black and white film even back then. Everything was shot in color and converted to black and white. Brooks insisted on black and white film stock as he never wanted a color version released.
@Brad 2021 That is what the credits said but it was Mel Brooks. He liked to mess with people's heads.
@@StanSwan I believe it was actually Andy Kaufman impersonating Brooks impersonating Hackman, but a brillant job in any case.
love your reactions as always. this movie is timeless. Mel brook and Gene Wilder are both geniuses
Greatest comedy of all time IMO. Can't wait to watch your reaction.
See No Evil, Hear No Evil shows off more of Wilder's comedic talents (along with Richard Pryor). Would look into their catalogue or maybe do a poll (other Prior/Wilder films include Silver Streak and Stir Crazy), though I thought See No Evil is the best comedic performance of the bunch.
The Producers next please! That's my favorite from Brooks.
FYI all the credits being at the beginning was a law back in the day, that is why all these old movies do that. It wasn't as much a directorial choice, but i am sure Mel would have done that anyway LOLZ PS: Feldman is the greatest
Get this, the set of the laboratory is actually the same set (reconstructed I assume) from Frankenstein (1931).
Both Genes, Wilder and Hackman first were together in "Bonnie and Clyde".
Another great Gene Wilder film would be See no evil, Hear no evil 1989, a comedy co starring Richard Pryor. i think you will enjoy it
Wilder: The producers, Stir Crazy
Absolutely classic comedy!!! Great reaction xx
I'm glad you enjoyed!
Haunted Honeymoon, written/directed by Gene Wilder. It's *something*.
Did you notice Madeline Kahn was sporting the Bride of Frankenstein hair style. You might not have seen that film.
Shan, I could be wrong, but back then the credits and titles were required at the beginning due to some union laws. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
This movie works slightly better when you've see the original Universal Frankenstien films. It works without it too.. but you'll get all the references, homages and callbacks.
Wilder and Richard Pryor star together in "Stir Crazy", a great comedy
Yayyyyyy. More Brooks please!
Great stuff
It’s a shame you didn’t see the original Universal Frankenstein movies before seeing this. Mel Brooks is a parodist, but he’s a very respectful one, and he only parodies what he likes himself. Young Frankenstein, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, and High Anxiety (which is a parody of Hitchcock films) in particular have lots of jokes you only get if you’ve seen the movies they’re mocking.
The one-armed policeman, the blind hermit, and the girl with the flower are right out of the original movies. Believe it or not, even the scene where Igor is scared of his own reflection in a lightning storm was done in the original Frankenstein - just not quite as slapstick-y.
Shan, for more movies by Mel Brooks (some he is some and some not) please see the list below. It's in no particular order.
History of the World: Part 1
Dracula, Dead and Loving It
High Anxiety
Silent Movie
Robin Hood: Men in Tights
The Producers
Life Stinks
To Be or Not to Be
The Twelve Chairs
Gene Wilder is in The Producers. For more movies with with Gene Wilder, please the list below...again...it's in no particular order
The Producers
The Woman in Red
Silver Streak
The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother
The Frisco Kid
Stir Crazy
Haunted Honeymoon
See No Evil, Hear No Evil
Funny About Love
The World's Greatest Lover
This is the best movie reaction channel out there! Please watch "The Producers" too, and if you haven't seen it, "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" would be great.
Not sure if it’s been mentioned, but the horses always react to the name Frau Boucher because Boucher is the German word for glue. So it’s a horses and glue factory bit.
The german word for glue is "Kleber"...and the lady's name is Bluecher according to imdb.
I'm german and there is no meaning of Bluecher that I know of...it seems to be just a name.
@@CptApplestrudl It looks like spellcheck changed how I spelled her name. Or something. Anyway, I wanted to double-check the story as I had heard it after I posted and apparently Mel Brooks has said he thought that Blucher translated to glue, but he was wrong. So that was the intended joke, but Mel just goofed it up.
Another great Gene Wilder film that is underrated that I think you should consider watching is Silver Streak.
If you liked this you should check out Dracula: Dead and Loving It! It's also Mel Brooks and stars Leslie Nielsen, and in my opinion, is quite funny.
This movie and Blazing Saddles was made in the same year.