Rated PG

Determined to live down his family's reputation, Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (Gene Wilder) insists on pronouncing his name "Fronckensteen" and denies interest in replicating his grandfather's experiments. But when he is lured by Frau Blucher (Cloris Leachman) to discover the tantalizingly titled journal "How I Did It" in his grandfather's castle, he cannot resist. With the help of Inga (Teri Garr), wall-eyed assistant Igor (Marty Feldman), and a purloined brain, Frankenstein creates his monster (Peter Boyle).

This film was inspired by Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

The novel, Frankenstein, is about the scientist, Victor Frankenstein, who learns how to create life and creates a being in the likeness of man, but larger than average and more powerful. Frankenstein is a novel infused with some elements of the Gothic novel and the Romantic movement. This story has had an influence across literature and popular culture and spawned a complete genre of horror stories and films. It is arguably considered the first fully realized science fiction novel.

If you like a good scare like Frankenstein, you should check out:

  • Dracula by Bram Stoker

  • Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

  • The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux

  • The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells

Want to see the classic horror movies that Mel Brooks parodies in Young Frankenstein?  Brave some of these films:

  • Frankenstein (1931)
    See where it all began with this original film adaptation of the novel.  It has all the characters that Brooks parodies – the eager scientist driven mad, the gentle monster, and the hunchbacked assistant!  Pay close attention to the sets – you can see the same pieces in Dr. Frankenstein’s lab in Brooks’ film!

  • Dracula (1931)
    Let this classic horror film transport you to Transylvania, where the ancient vampire Count Dracula preys on the beautiful and young.  Brooks will use the same settings and dramatic effects for his comic masterpiece.

  • Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931)
    The story of a doctor driven mad by his own experiments with human life and soul.  Sound familiar?  This is another of Universal Studio’s classic horror films that Brooks used as inspiration.

  • Rebecca (1940)
    Look no further than Alfred Hitchcock’s literary adaptation to find Frau Blaucher’s inspiration – the obsessive, sinister housekeeper Mrs. Danvers.

MISSION STATEMENT
The RiverFlick Film Series is dedicated to the presentation of innovative, classical and popular films for children, adults and families in
Central Virginia. This program is committed to exploring and expanding alternative venues in which cinema arts can impact positively on
the education and enrichment of our community while attracting visitors to the downtown and riverfront area.

The RiverFlick Film Series   (434) 845-1888   riverflick@aol.com
© 2004-2008 RiverFlick Film Series, Lynchburg, VA  Last updated on March 17, 2008