Saturday, October 30, 2010

Over at the Frankenstein Place


I'm not sure it's really a Halloween movie, but somehow Frankenstein is tied in with the holiday.

I have only seen the original Frankenstein once. It was hilarious!!!!

Unintentionally, but hilarious nonetheless.

I was in 7th grade and my oldest sister, during one of her breaks home, took me to a community college near our house for a double feature: Young Frankenstein and Frankenstein - in that order.

Young Frankenstein still ranks as one of the best comedy movies ever. Almost every line is quotable ("sedagive??"). And of course, a stellar cast. Even at my young and tender age, I realized this.

Since I had never seen the original Boris Karloff version, I had no idea that, while not a shot for shot pre-make, it was eerily close. And it made what was a once probably a 'scary movie' scary, now it was almost as funny as the comedy remake.

But back to Young Frankenstein, I guess. While I love Madeline Kahn ("taffeta sweetheart..."), in the original Frankenstein, there was no bride of. Elsa Lanchester came later. Four years later, to be precise. Clearly it works here with Kahn. She uses every syllable to perfection in what little of a part she actually has in the movie. Ditto with Teri Garr. And Cloris Leachman.

It is a time commitment, but I highly suggest renting/watching both movies in that order. If not, then I always suggest you watch Young Frankenstein.


Song by: Barry Bostwick & Susan Sarandon

6 comments:

Breenlantern said...

I couldn't agree more. One of my all time favorites and always fun to watch. (YF)

cb said...

I pretty much hate Young frankenstein. Never found it funny, not by brand of humor.

EXCEPT-- the puttin' on the ritz sequence. Makes me lose my shit EVERY time.

Cubby said...

Good choices. I put them both in my Netflix queue, as I always do as instructed.

Greg said...

Young Frankenstein has always been one of my favorites. I just started reading the original Frankenstein from Mary Shelley, and it's surprisingly different from the Boris Karloff film.

Ur-spo said...

what hump?

rebecca said...

He vas my BOYFRIEND!