Young Frankenstein
October 18, 2005
Of all the Halloween films made in the past 30 years or so, one of my favorites to this day is Young Frankenstein. More of a comedy than a fright or gorefest, this Gene Wilder/Mel Brooks collaboration released in 1974 is not only one of the funniest movies made (right up there with Blazing Saddles and History of the World), it’s also the perfect Halloween movie, paying homage to the classic Universal horror films of the 1930s and 40s.
Before the movie was even brought to life on paper, Gene Wilder was contacted by his agent at the time about starring in a movie with Peter Boyle and Marty Feldman. Wilder thought it was a fantastic idea but wondered why his agent paired such a selection of actors, only to find out that he shared the same agent mutually with both of the actors. Shortly after, Wilder began the first draft of what would become Young Frankenstein sparked from a “What If?” idea wherein he wondered what it would be like if he were the grandson of the infamous Dr. Frankenstein.
Eventually, Wilder contacted his close friend Mel Brooks about possibly directing the feature but had his doubts since Brooks rarely directed films that he didn’t write or collaborate on. Wilder would later say that Brooks, after being informed about this proposition, simply shook his head asking his friend, “What are you getting me into?”.
What are some of your favorite Halloween films?
10 comments
As a kid I liked watching Elvira’s Move Macabre tv show. I faintly remember her showing “Attack of the Killer Tomatoes” and “The Blob”.
by greg on October 18, 2005 at 4:08 pm. #
Young Frankenstine is one of my favorite older movies. As a comedy, it has many memorable one-liners. What about the labratory assistant saying “roll in zee hay”? Igor is a great character too, lots of weird quirks to his behavior, plus those beedy eyes.
Awesome mention of a great film. And congrats on expecting a baby boy soon! That comment thread got quite long by the time I read it.
How ’bout Aliens. Anyone?
by Mike on October 18, 2005 at 9:17 pm. #
Mike: Yes, I do remember “Roll in zee hay?”, and then Teri Garr rolling around and exclaiming, “Rollin’ in ze hay, rollin’ in ze hay!”.
Oh, and it’s “eye-gore.”
Thanks for the well wishes, I’m quite stoked about it and yes, it was quite a long thread, but something that will be nice to put into a small book format someday, as a keepsake for my son.
Aliens was a great movie and not only that but had it’s memorable moments, like the much spoofed “abdomen jumping alien”. Remember Space Balls? “Hello my baby, hello..”.
by kartooner on October 18, 2005 at 9:39 pm. #
Wow, Mell Brooks films might be an entirely new post one day, but he has created some intriguing films. The one-liners continue in Spaceballs. “Our radar’s been jammed!” Gotta love Rick Moranis in that stuff too, Dark Helmet
.
It’s interesting to note that Space Balls might be considered a parody. However, it is so loosely based upon Star Wars that it walks a fine line between an original concept and parody. Regardless, it’s a geeks laugh-out-loud flick.
“May the schwartz be with you!”
by Mike on October 18, 2005 at 10:30 pm. #
Happy Ghost Time Erik! I remember when you were little, about 2 or 3 you couldn’t even go down a store asle without freaking out when they had Holloween masks out…you’d cry and really get upset. Now you love those horror movies!
Keep up the good work and keep remembering only family/friends matter in life, the rest is pretty much bullshit.
Love,
Dad
by Dad on October 20, 2005 at 1:31 pm. #
Night of the Living Dead, The Nightmare Before Christmas and so many others…
by trysop on October 20, 2005 at 5:53 pm. #
Haha.. Erik.. Lets not forget how our father rented horror movies for us growing up so it would desensitize us to horror movies. Watching Pin Head, Freddy, Jason, Michael totally made me man now when it comes to watching scary movie with dates. They jump back like 20 feet, while I just casually yawn. Haha.. How awesome. By the time we were 10, we knew pretty much where all the guts were located in a body..
Love ya!
by Matt (brother) on October 21, 2005 at 6:41 pm. #
Good times, great horror movies…I’m proud of Matt, he remembered the movies I’d show you guys…nothing beats a good monster movie huh? I still enjoy being scared…as do my two sons!
Happy Holloween Boys! Now answer the door, give out on piece of candy (unless its a good costume, that scores two candies) and tell Laddie to stop barking!
Love,
Dad / Grandpa Bud
by Dad on October 22, 2005 at 10:00 pm. #
classic.
by ndo on October 24, 2005 at 2:25 am. #
Such a funny film!
I recommend the original Dawn of the Dead, and then the comedy spoof Shaun of the Dead.
by Dan Bailey on November 7, 2005 at 4:15 pm. #