Young Frankenstein

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On Sky Movies Modern Greats 09/01/10 06:00

Director: Mel Brooks

Stars: Gene Wilder, Marty Feldman, Peter Boyle, Madeline Kahn, Teri Garr

Year: 1974 Running Time: 105 mins Rating:

Mel Brooks' horror spoof stars Gene Wilder as the great-grandson of the infamous Baron Victor Frankenstein who goes to Transylvania to continue his ancestor's monstrous experiments. An affectionate, laugh-out-loud send-up of the Karloff era with much to savour: Marty Feldman getting the hump as wise-cracking assistant Igor (that's "Eye-gor"), Peter Boyle's tux-clad monster lumbering his way through 'Putting On The Ritz' and Gene Hackman creating blind havoc in an unbilled role.

Review

This is an enjoyably silly film from Mel Brooks that's a pastiche on the Frankenstein legend and those horror films of the Thirties. Gene Wilder is on form as the good doctor's descendant, who is destined to continue his namesake's work. Peter Boyle is excellent as the Monster, as is the delightfully off-the-wall Marty Feldman as the hunchback ('Hump? What hump? '). The most successful scene is a masterpiece of comic business between the Monster (Peter Boyle) and the blind hermit (an unbilled Gene Hackman).