31 Days of Halloween: Day 16

Day 16

Young Frankenstein (1974)



If you have never seen this classic from Mel Brooks, you are seriously missing out. Its a great parody of and a great tribute to the classic Frankenstein movies.

Gene Wilder is perfect as the eccentric Dr. Frankenstein (pronounced Franc-on-steen). Oh yes, the name is a huge bit in the movie, same with Igor (pronounced eye-gore). Madeline Kahn is a comic genius (check her out in Clue as Mrs. White...brilliant) and Terri Garr made her leading role debut in this movie. Her 'roll in the hay' scene is great.

Mel Brooks' was a smarty when he wrote this script. Naming Frau Blucher the way he did was great, especially when the horses 'nay' every time her name is spoken. For those who don't know, blucher means 'glue'...a sly joke indeed. Cloris Leechman was perfection here.

I have seen the original Frankenstein (1931) as well as Kenneth Branagh's version of the classic story, which released in 1994. Both are great films and I feel that Brooks' interpretation, while funny and farcical, is right up there with them and should never be overlooked when thinking of the story. Even as an ode to the original, it was presented in black and white.

Some of my favorite lines in this movie (please imagine some of these with Eastern European accents...I tried to add them in with spell):

Dr. F: "What knockers!"
Inga: "Oh, sank you Doctor."

Inga: "Put zee candle back!"

Inga: "He must have an enormous van schtucker."
Dr. F: "Well, that goes without saying."
Inga: "Woof."

Frau Blucher: "He vas my boyfriend!"


See it for yourself!! Its a movie I watch year-round as much as I can because its just that fun.


Similar Movies:

Frankenstein (1931)
Frankenstein (1994)
Van Helsing (2004)
Frankenweenie (1984) - they are remaking this, set to release in 2012


Up Next

Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

PS...off to Salem, MA today and to a haunted house (yet to be picked)...I'll tell you about it later with pictures and stories a plenty!!

31 Days of Halloween: Day 15

Day 15

Dracula (1992)



There is nothing wrong with vampires (says the girl who's been into vampires since before she can remember....long before Twilight). Vampires can be good and evil. Vampires can be soulless and can care for those around them. Vampires can walk amongst the living during the day and creepy along at night.

Bram Stoker's Dracula, which was directed by Francis Ford Coppola, is a lovely mix between the light and the dark side of vampires and it is done in such a beautiful way, its hard to think of it as a horror film. It is and it isn't all at the same time.

Its a marvelous cast, apart from Keanu Reeves as Jonathan Harker. Its in his younger days and I don't feel he had outgrown his Bill and Ted ways very much yet. Gary Oldman, who like Johnny Depp, is an acting master. He too has yet to receive an Oscar for his phenomenal skills, but I hope one day he might.

Anthony Hopkins is also a genius and I feel his carefree take of Van Helsing is refreshing (especially after re-watching Van Helsing with Hugh Jackman). And the creepy and insane Renfield (watch the bug scene) is played by Tom Waits. Side note: check out that man's career. I have always been drawn to his musical side, but check out his acting. Quite good in my opinion.

And a quick shout out to Billy Cambell and Cary Elwes who are each in here, much younger, as Lucy's suitors. Those are fairly interesting scenes. Another side note: Richard Grant, who plays Lucy's other suitor, Dr. Seward, is the voice of Lord Barkis Bittern in Tim Burton's The Corpse Bride. I love that character!

Anyway, the overall movie has so much to over: a period setting, great costumes, interesting back story, interwoven story lines, sensuality and a lot of blood. I do enjoy the letters, journal entries and other time keeping dialogue that they employ in the movie. I like it specifically because it is very true to Stoker's original novel (I read it back when I was in high school). If you haven't read it...please do. It can be long, but if you enjoy vampire stories like I do...it's the original! ;-)


Similar Movies:

Interview With A Vampire (1994)
Dracula (1931)
Twilight (2008) - had to put that in ;-)


Up Next

Young Frankenstein (1974)