Young Frankenstein

“It’s Pronounced Fronkensteen”; A Look Inside the Making of Mel Brooks’ Hilarious Satire Young Frankenstein

By Heather Hoffman, Walt Disney Archives

With Halloween just around the corner, it is the perfect time to grab a cozy blanket, a big bowl of popcorn, and settle in to watch some classic spooky movies. If you’re a fan of suspenseful melodrama mixed with comedic satire, one classic film that should definitely be on your watchlist this season is Young Frankenstein.

The 1974 film stars Gene Wilder as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, the grandson of the late mad-scientist Victor Frankenstein. Frederick wishes greatly to be disassociated from his grandfather’s work and even refers to him as a “lunatic.” However, upon hearing that he has inherited his family’s estate, Fredrick travels to Transylvania and quickly discovers his grandfather’s private journals and secret laboratory. He soon decides to resume his grandfather’s scientific pursuits, excitedly proclaiming, “It… could… work!”

The Walt Disney Archives maintains many artifacts that went into the creation and marketing of this film, including behind-the-scenes photography, construction drawings, concept art, and posters. Please enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at this special collection: