PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Mel Brooks has a genius mind, and I love any movie he was a part of. Young Frankenstein was one of the first horror comedies I saw. I remember thinking that nothing seemed scary with a bit of laughter. I am now obsessed with horror comedies. The movie reaches my level of juvenile humor. It feels good to feel happy occasionally, and Young Frankenstein is my happiness. The movie fits well with another Mel Brooks film, Dracula Dead and Loving It. Some people have Monty Python-type humor; I never got it, but that’s just me. I fell face first for Young Frankenstein.
Synopsis
A young scientist named Frederick Frankenstein (Gene Wilder) takes over his grandfathers estate and all that comes with it, including Igor (Marty Feldman). The young scientist once again tries to raise the dead. However; Igor drops a healthy brain when sneaking into the medical school and instead he grabs A-B-Normal. The movie quickly unfolds into a hilarious game of catching a monster (Peter Boyle) who escapes out of fear. As the manhunt for the monster grows, we see his bad luck. There is a price on his head and the entire village hunts him down, who will win this fight?
A Lost Generation
Young Frankenstein comes from a generation that wasn’t afraid to have juvenile and sometimes controversial humor. Many people say movies like Young Frankenstein are from a forgotten era of offending others. A film like this was treasured in the 1970’s by fans of all ages. We may have forgotten a tasteful joke like Mel Broks spread throughout his movies. Instead, we remember the raunchy and racy humor that came with the times. Young Frankenstein is a treasured memory from when people halfway got along. America was coming out of a very dark time where different races had to use separate water fountains. Humor like this was accepted and celebrated because it was how we saw the nation after the Civil Rights Movement; we all just wanted a joke to ease the tension.
A Personal Legacy
Young Frankenstein will always be top-tier entertainment for me. I see the humor and stay grounded, knowing this wasn’t exactly hateful or controversial, as some people say. The movie is meant to make you laugh so hard you started snorting; the epic show tune scene won it for me. Even thinking back on it now, I giggle without watching the movie. That’s the purpose of comedy to me. I will always cherish Young Frankenstein as a staple of my childhood right next to Pee Wee Herman. I can relive all the fond memories of moments when my childhood home wasn’t so toxic. It saved me from a lot of trauma I saw unfold before me. To me, that makes a silly movie iconic.
In The End
Ultimately, I can’t think of anyone who hasn’t seen Young Frankenstein. But you out there, yeah, you… If you haven’t seen this cinematic masterpiece, get off your duff and watch it! Young Frankenstein deserves every bit of respect and love it gets. I can’t tell you how many times I have had to watch this movie to help cope, but I will continue to use it as such. From plot to set design, the film perfectly portrays the time it was based on. I want to thank Mel Brooks for all of the golden moments in my life, parodying the movies I love.
Cheers to 50 years!
