"Life! Life! Do you hear me? Give my creation... liiiiife!"
Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder's loving parody of the classic Universal Horror films of the 1930s. Appearing in 1974, gorgeously shot in black and white (No offense!), using laboratory props from the original Frankenstein and starring a cast of brilliant comedic actors all at the very height of their talents, it is generally regarded as one of the funniest and most quotable movies ever made. It was adapted into a stage musical in 2007.It is reported that the cast and crew had so much fun making the movie that they added in extra scenes just to keep it going.In 2003, this movie was added to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress, for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance. Two other works by Mel Brooks share this honor, The Producers and Blazing Saddles.And, since it keeps coming up, "Blücher" (*Whinny*) is not the German word for "glue"; it's just a common misconception.The Market-Based Title for the film in Italy, Frankenstein Junior, is NOT To Be Confused With the actualFrankenstein Jr..
This film provides examples (or rather subversions) of:
Affectionate Parody: As noted, 1930s horror movies. Heavy emphasis on "affectionate," too.
Anywhere But Their Lips: It's only in their first scene together that Elizabeth says "Not on the lips," to Freddy, and the reason is that she doesn't want her makeup smudged.
Subverted in that she doesn't seem to want to be touched anywhere, lest she mess up her hair, her nails, her dress, etc. In the end she and Frederick say goodbye by shaking elbows. She even flinches when he blows her a kiss.
Bilingual Bonus: The two couples that accompany Frederick in the trains have exactly the same conversation, the first in English, the second in German.
Black Comedy Rape: See below. The scene serves to set up the final joke of the film.
Blind and the Beast: The films parodies the blind-man scene in Bride of Frankenstein. Look carefully at this blind man, though: that's a young Gene Hackman. Gene plays it utterly straight. Even with the gags it's a touching scene.
Cobweb Jungle: In the passage leading to Dr. Frankenstein's laboratory and the laboratory itself.
Corpsing: Was understandably a problem throughout the shoot. In several scenes you can see Gene Wilder is just barely holding it together.
Creator Cameo: Brooks is the model for one of the castle's gargoyles, and ad-libbed a cat's yowl when Frederick accidentally throws a dart out the window, as well as the howl of the "werewolf".
Creepy Changing Painting: A scowling portrait of Victor Frankenstein is highly visible in Fredrick's room. When Frederick finds his grandfather's instructions and decides to continue his work, a lightning-illuminated close-up shows the portrait looking very pleased.
Creepy Housekeeper: Frau Blücher (*WHINNY*) is the quintessential creepy housekeeper: every time her name is mentioned, horses rear in fear. Also, in regards to Victor Frankenstein: "He... vas... my... BOYFRIEND!"
Don't Explain The Joke: Averted — during the Walk This Way scene, Igor shows Frederick what he means. It doesn't ruin the joke at all, though. Supposedly, this gag was the inspiration for the Aerosmith song of the same name.
In point of fact, it worked so well, it's something of a Running Gag for Mel Brooks. It shows up in most (if not all) of his films. The walk is different, but the joke is always the same.
Executive Meddling: Almost. Columbia Pictures was originally going to produce the film, but the execs didn't like the idea of using black-and-white for it. The filmmakers took it to 20th Century Fox instead.
Getting Crap Past the Radar: The conversation aboard the train is almost certainly about the old couple's son masturbating.
So many Double Entendres and sex references. So, so many. Even some profanity. It's amazing that this movie was rated PG (though they didn't have PG-13 back then).
In the Blood: "Des-ti-ny! Des-ti-ny! No es-caping that for me!"
Also something of a subversion; Frederick is doing just fine escaping the family tradition (aside from a hamtastic moment in his lecture on neurobiology) until his great-grandfather's will and then his "servant" Frau Blücher (*WHINNY*) railroad him into it.
Just a Stupid Accent: Deliberately, this being a Mel Brooks film. The movie takes place in Transylvania (located in Romania), but the townsfolk generally have bad German or Cockney accents.
Music Soothes The Savage Beast: Frau Blücher (*WHINNY*) is able to calm the monster down by playing the violin. Later, it is used to lure him to capture.
Names to Run Away From Really Fast: Just saying "Frau Blücher" (*WHINNY*) frightens horses. Just the name; the woman's actual presence doesn't bother them at all.
Neck Lift: The Monster, to the police officer tormenting him.
"OPEN THIS GODDAMN DOOR OR I'LL KICK YOUR ROTTEN HEADS IN!!!"
"MOMMY!!"
Offscreen Teleportation: "There's a possibility of electrocution! Do you understand?...I say there's a possibility of electrocution! Do you understand?!"
"I understand, I understand, why are you shouting?"
Reverse Polarity: Apparently this is the ultimate secret to raising the dead. Either that or Victor plugged his equipment in backwards at first, the scene isn't clear.
Rock Bottom: Frederick Frankenstein and Igor are digging up a grave.
Shaggy Search Technique: "Put - the candle - back!" Part of the parody is that Dr. Frankenstein was using legitimate means to search for it before the trope kicked in
Shaming The Mob: The Monster himself does it, with a speech mostly cribbed out of Shelley's original book.
Shoe Shine, Mister?: When Frederick's train pulls in, he asks a shoeshine boy, "Pardon me boy, is this the Transylvania Station?" The boy replies "Ja, ja. Track 29. Oh, can I give you a shine?" This is a Shout-Out to the 1941 song "Chattanooga Choo Choo".
Igor's hump, which changes position from scene to scene; Marty Feldman decided to do this on his own, without telling anybody beforehand. When someone finally noticed, they added a bit where Frederick does as well.
Brooks ad-libbed the sound of a cat getting hit with one of Frederick's darts.
Almost a Throw It Out moment; in some interviews, Mel Brooks stated that the only point during production where he and co-writer Gene Wilder seriously disagreed was the inclusion of the "Puttin' On the Ritz" number. Gene loved the idea but Mel hated it. After Gene vehemently defended the scene, Mel decided, "If you feel that strongly about it, we'll shoot the scene. If it works, we'll use it, if not, we won't." They shot it and it became one of the highlights of the movie.
Torches and Pitchforks: "A riot is an ugly thing. Und, I think that it's just about time that we had vun!!"
; it's just a common misconception.The Market-Based Title for the film in Italy, Frankenstein Junior, is NOT To Be Confused With the actual Frankenstein Jr..
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