I’ve loved the movie Young Frankenstein for as long as I’ve been a film fan. It’s a masterpiece by two of my all-time favorite creators, Gene Wilder and Mel Brooks – truly the best in the business. I’m such a big fan that I’ve even read Brooks’ book about making the film, and his autobiography, which includes a whole chapter dedicated to its production. Because of that, I didn’t think anyone could appreciate this hilarious horror spoof more than I did. But then I watched the original movies that inspired it, and it made me realize Young Frankenstein is even funnier and more brilliant than I originally thought.
It was clear even without watching the original Universal Horror films that Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein was a tribute to them. I knew he insisted on shooting in black and white and even used props from the 1931 Frankenstein movie with Boris Karloff. He and Gene Wilder deliberately modeled scenes and characters after that film, its follow-ups, and other horror movies of the time. I also knew Brooks worked hard to recreate the look and atmosphere of those classic films through his set design, costumes, and lighting, aiming for a similar visual style.
Even without knowing his work or the story behind Young Frankenstein, I felt prepared. Those classic Universal Monster movies have been everywhere my whole life, so I was already familiar with the style and themes. I was confident I’d understand how his film drew inspiration from them, even if I hadn’t seen the originals.
I realized I was wrong. Even though I understood the difference between simply knowing something and truly understanding it, I hadn’t fully grasped how much the movie Young Frankenstein relied on its inspirations. I assumed my general knowledge of classic Universal Monster Movies was enough. I thought I already appreciated what director Mel Brooks had done. Because I enjoyed the movie so much, I naturally believed I did – or so I thought.
I hadn’t truly understood it before. Not until I watched The Bride of Frankenstein and realized how delightfully silly and low-budget it was. How could I get the joke of a monster sharing a meal with a kind, but visually impaired, old man? I didn’t fully appreciate Cloris Leachman’s Frau Blücher until I saw the amazing work Una O’Connor did in those classic Universal films. And I didn’t grasp the technical skill involved in Mel Brooks’ work until I saw Renfield’s encounter with Dracula in the castle. I used to think Brooks simply updated the look of those old movies with better technology, but now I see it was much more than that.
Looking back, it’s clear he perfectly captured the spirit of that time, finding fresh humor within it. He brought back something that had been missing for years. By 1954, even the studio itself couldn’t match the quality of its classic horror films – but he did, while still creating something completely original and memorable.
I didn’t realize how brilliantly Young Frankenstein spoofed a scene until I recently learned what actor Brooks was referencing. Seeing Dwight Frye perform the original scene in 1931 finally made me understand just how clever and hilarious the parody really is.
Even without being a big fan of classic monster movies, Young Frankenstein is hilarious. But recently, I’ve come to appreciate it even more after actually watching those original films. It’s amazing how accurately Mel Brooks captured the style and feel of those classics. I was enjoying a tribute without fully understanding what it was paying tribute to.
I really enjoyed watching Universal Monster Movies for the first time – it was surprisingly satisfying. I loved them in a way I hadn’t anticipated, and they did something extra: they made me realize I hadn’t fully appreciated Young Frankenstein. It was a bit of a surprise to discover that!
Mikey Walsh writes for TopMob and is prepared to receive your complaints about any movies he hasn’t seen. You can find him on Bluesky at @burgermike, and he’s also likely participating in discussions about the best Targaryen kings.
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2025-10-31 19:33