Saturday, April 28, 2012

A-Z Challenge: Young Frankenstein

"Tragedy is when I cut my finger.  Comedy is when you walk into an open sewer and die."
- Mel Brooks

Young Frankenstein is one of many comedy greats from Mel Brooks.  I'm glad I had an open letter to fit him in here.  Between this, History of the World, Blazing Saddles, The Producers, and Spaceballs, not to mention Get Smart! (the TV show), it's no small wonder he has an Oscar, Emmy, Tony, and Grammy on his mantel.

Young Frankenstein (pronounced Fraank-en-steen) also features Gene Wilder, who was a gifted comic performer (and frequent Mel Brooks collaborator), and the late great Peter Boyle (aka Raymond's dad) as a singing monster.  And then there's Teri Garr in her youthful hotness and Marty Feldmen with his bulging eyes...he had such great facial expressions this movie could have worked as a silent film.

If you have never seen this movie, shame on you.  It's an American classic, and you owe it to yourself to watch it, followed immediately by The Producers, Blazing Saddles, History of the World Part I, and Spaceballs.

May the Schwartz be with you.

#


4 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

One of my favorite movies!

D.G. Hudson said...

I'm a Mel Brooks fan, after all, Anne Bancroft (Mrs. Robinson of the Graduate fame) thought he was funny.

Young Frankenstein succeeded as well because of Gene Wilder, IMO.

Laurel said...

Let's not overlook Terry Garr. What knockers!

Love this movie. Love it so hard. Every now and then That Boy I Married and I bust out with "Puuuttin' on the Witz!" and devolve into debilitating giggles.

Spaceballs is also up there, mainly because of the Mog, the man-dog who is his own best friend. But Young Frankenstein is the best.

Red said...

Love this one. Saw it with much younger cousins when it first came out...they could not understand why I was rolling in the aisle. Silly little brats.

The Producers is the only one on your list I have not seen. I love Mel Brooks' movies...always.
Red.