Young Frankenstein is one of Mel Brook’s truly great films. And yes, that says film, not comedy. That’s what makes this one so hard to judge, as it has copious amount of laughs, yet such a deep-rooted respect for the material it’s spoofing, it almost fits in as a sequel.

Everything about Young Frankenstein comes from the ‘30s and ‘40s during the heyday of Universal monster horror. The direction could have very well come from James Whale himself, director of both Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein. Young Frankenstein isn’t a film that pays homage to those classics; it is one of those classics.

In fact, if it weren’t for certain scenes of direct parody, it could fit in the timeline. Gene Wilder plays yet another in a long line of insane scientists in the Frankenstein line, determined to reanimate another corpse. Unlike other routine parodies, or even comedies in general, Wilder’s take on Frankenstein is a fully fleshed out character. He treats the monster (played by Peter Boyle) as a son, albeit with comedic wit.

The problem with the film is that the atmosphere, lighting, direction, pacing, and even the credits overshadow the laughs. In terms of comedy, especially when compared to something like Blazing Saddles or The Producers, it doesn’t have the sheer number of laughs. You will come away from it loaded with quotes (“I was going to make expresso!”), but the quotes-per-minute ratio isn’t that high in comparison.

Also, knowing your Frankenstein movies is an absolute must for full enjoyment. Kenneth Mars turn as Inspector Kemp is a direct riff on Lionel Atwill’s Krogh in Son of Frankenstein. The interaction between Mars and Wilder is priceless, but the true greatness of the scene comes through when you know the origin. A few nods to other Universal horror movies can be discovered too if you’re paying attention.

Young Frankentein is a classic, but how great it is depends on your own film history. It’s a wonderful return to a style lost, and Mel Brooks absolutely nails it. Again, the comedy seems to take a backseat to accuracy, yet there’s little question you’ll laugh out loud multiple times, although not as much when compared to Brook’s track record.

Movie  

Intentionally grainy for atmosphere, some will be turned off by this Blu-ray effort. There is some debate if the film was this grainy during its initial run, as it appears thicker than any prior release. It is hard to image a studio adding additional grain as opposed to wiping it clean.

However, removing the grain would nearly be sacrilegious. It’s a character by itself, and the codec handles it nicely. Underneath the thick layer of film grain are fine details, enough to bring out flaws in the costumes (Boyle’s make-up, Madeline Kahn’s wig). The contrast is wonderful, and never wavers. There’s a solid sense of depth to the image thanks to the black levels.

Video  

Presented in DTS-HD, there’s little point in doing so. Aside from minor separation in the front channels, this might as well come from the center exclusively. There is no bass to speak of, and fidelity is low, which does keep it in line with something from the ‘40s and that is the intended effect.

Audio  

This is a packed disc, although finding all of the extras through a somewhat confusing menu may take some time. A commentary from Mel Brooks is first up as he goes solo, discussing the origins and making of the film. Inside the Lab is a collection of 12 featurettes that total around a half hour. These can be viewed during picture-in-picture playback, or separately from the menu. Likewise, a trivia track can also be played during the movie.

Deleted scenes are available in SD, and some are in HD. It’s Alive and Making Frankensense of Young Frankenstein are both in-depth making-of pieces, coming in at 30 and 40 minutes respectively. There’s repeat information here (toss in the commentary and there’s even more), but they each have material worth seeing.

Transylvanian Lullaby is a piece on composer John Morris, who worked with Brooks on multiple films. Some outtakes, an interview with what is apparently a Mexican television network, trailers, and photos finish things off.

Extras