Young Frankenstein
Published 7:00 am Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Okay, the Broadway showwhich workshopped here in Seattleadapted from this 1974 Frankenstein spoof wasnt quite the same smash as The Producers. But Young Frankenstein is still, joke for joke, the funniest movie Mel Brooks ever made. Gene Wilder plays the idealistic young physician who puts the wrong brain in his corpse (the late Peter Boyle); Teri Garr is the well-endowed fräulein who catches the doctors eye. Several of the stars have also sadly passed away (Marty Feldman, Madeline Kahn, etc.), and Gene Hackman just announced that hes retiring from the screen. Yet here is a film that, in the best sense, laughs at the horror of death. It helps that Bride of Frankensteinjust as much an influence as Frankensteinwas really a comedy in the first place. (In fact, Brooks was able to reuse some of the original sets from those Universal horror classics of the 30s.) I doubt any comedies made today will hold up as well in 2042. (Runs Wed. April 30-Sun. May 4 with same showtimes.) (PG) Central Cinema, 1411 21st Ave., 686-6684, www.central-cinema.com. 7 and 9:45 p.m. $5. BRIAN MILLER
Fri., May 2, 7 & 9:45 p.m., 2008
