Dr. Frankenstein’s grandson, after years of living down the family reputation, inherits granddad’s castle and repeats the experiments.
Starring Gene Wilder, Madeline Kahn, Marty Feldman
Directed by Mel Brooks
Year 1974
Igor: Abby… Normal.
Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: [pause, then] Abby Normal?
Igor: I’m almost sure that was the name.
Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: [chuckles, then] Are you saying that I put an abnormal brain into a seven and a half foot long, fifty-four inch wide GORILLA?
[grabs Igor and starts throttling him]
Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: Is that what you’re telling me?
(aaaaand scene! My favorite part! Couldn’t help it)
The jokes go on in this one here. If you are unfamiliar with Mel Brooks, stop reading this now and go do some research darn it! He is da king of knee slaps and eye-rolls of the silver screen. When Halloween rolls around and you feel monstrous, but not particularly scary, give this one a try. It is hilarious and classic.
The other “need-I-say-more” factor to this film is the star himself, Mr. Gene Wilder. He absolutely owns any movie he walks onto, with his frantic admirable acting. This rendition of Dr. Frankenstein follows the familiar story line with a few back-country detours that will have you in stitches (ha ha, get it? Stitches? :>
If you will also take note, it isn’t as old as dust, but it is from the 70’s and in black and white. It gives a retro feel that will shake up your traditional movie night. Don’t disregard it as bad jokes and silly humor. Mel Brooks has a genre that is all to his own and will go down in the books as being classically hysterical.