Daily Staff Writer

“Young Frankenstein”

Mel Brooks’ skill in accurately imitating the style of certain genres is most apparent in his homage to golden-age sci-fi B-movies in “Young Frankenstein.”

The film stars the incomparable and indefatigable Gene Wilder as Frederick Frankenstein, grandson of mad scientist Victor von Frankenstein.

Young Frederick Frankenstein is a man of science embarrassed by his family history.

He even goes so far as to pronounce his name “Fronckensteen” in a vain attempt to disguise his heritage. No one is fooled, of course, nor can they say “Fronckensteen.”

After a spirited debate on the nervous system which results in Frankenstein stabbing himself with a scalpel, a strange, foreign visitor hands Dr. Frankenstein a box containing his legacy.

Next it’s off to Transylvania where Frederick meets his assistant, Inga, played by a vivacious, young Teri Garr and Igor (pronounced Eye-gore), the hunchback grandson of Frederick’s grandfather’s assistant played by the late, great Marty Feldman.

Upon reaching the castle, they meet the frightening Frau Bluecher played by Cloris Leachman. Frau Bluecher’s very name spreads fear and loathing.

After happening upon a hidden passage, Frederick, Inga and Igor discover the secret laboratory of Victor von Frankenstein. When he read his grandfather’s journal, Frederick has an epiphany and begins in earnest to recreate the hideous experiments involving the reanimation of dead matter.

Peter Boyle plays the monster to perfection as he hulks around the screen with only the occasional grunt for dialogue.

After his scientific debut of “Puttin’ on the Ritz” goes horribly awry, the monster escapes only to become hunted by the local villagers.The story line is fairly predictable, but that is almost the point of such an amazing homage. The execution is so perfect that most people would be hard-pressed to tell that this film was made in 1974. It has the look and feel of a film made in the ’30s or ’40s.

Comedically, Brooks, Feldman and Wilder were at the top of their games for this film. Each scene is wall-to-wall hilarity and it would take an icy heart indeed to find this film to be less than a masterwork of comedy.

-Greg Jerrett

“Blazing Saddles”

Another classic Mel Brooks’s parody is “Blazing Saddles.” This satirical look at western films and wild west clich‚s works on several levels when examined.

Primarily it is a slapstick comedy loaded with sight gags, puns and stereotypes. But it is also a subtle commentary on the western genre’s simple morality, as well as its place in American iconography.

Harvey Corman plays a corrupt politician, Hedley Lamarr, who attempts to destroy the small frontier town of Rock Ridge by building a railroad through it.

To carry out his plans, he hires a black sheriff named Bart (Cleavon Little) to alienate the white people of Rock Ridge all of whom are named Johnson.

After teaming up with Jim the Waco Kid played by Gene Wilder, Bart soon becomes Hedley’s greatest threat. Time after time, Lamarr throws danger in Bart’s path and Bart thwarts in the true fashion of the western hero — but much funnier.

When Lamarr sends Lili Von Shtupp (Madeline Kahn) to seduce Bart, his skills turn her to his side.

When Lamarr sends Mongo (Alex Karras) to kill Bart, Bart invents the exploding candygram and saves the day.

When Lamarr begins hiring the scum of the west to stomp Rock Ridge into submission, Bart and Jim pose as Klansmen to infiltrate the proceedings. Eventually the people of Rock Ridge band together with the railroad workers to save the town by building a complete replica of every building and person in Rock Ridge on another site.

“Blazing Saddles” is a comedic tour de force from start to finish. Many of the actors, such as Slim Pickens and Burton Gilliam, are staples in western films. They lend the movie an air of authenticity while making fun of their past performances in straight western films.

Even the film’s conclusion is a humorous take-off on western clich‚s as Bart and Jim drive off into the sunset in their limo.

-Greg Jerrett