40 Secrets From Young Frankenstein That Comedy Fans Will Simply Love

Even in a catalog full of classics, Young Frankenstein stands out as one of Mel Brooks’ most beloved flicks. And it’s easy to understand why – the horror parody is hilarious! But while the comedy classic has built up a sizable following since its release in 1974, there are some juicy details that fans might not know about. Some of these behind-the-scenes stories are so funny that it's scary.

1. A disastrous first test screening

To say that Young Frankenstein’s initial test screening was a horror show would be underselling it. The film clocked in at more than two hours at that stage, with the New York Post revealing what Brooks said to the audience. He stated, “You’ve just seen a two-hour-and-22-minute failure. In less than three weeks, I want you back here to see a 95-minute smash-hit movie.” The rest is history!

2. The ad-libbed cat

Remember the sequence where Gene Wilder’s Dr. Frederick Frankenstein is playing darts with Inspector Kemp? As one of the projectiles flies out of shot, a cat yelps in shock. Well, that sound came courtesy of Mel Brooks, who was positioned just off-screen, and it wasn’t even planned! He improvised it while the cameras were still rolling.

3. Gene Wilder hired Mel Brooks

Actors can sometimes recruit a director for a project, and that’s exactly what happened with Young Frankenstein. The New York Post reported that Brooks spotted Wilder’s outline for the film as they were making Blazing Saddles together. The star then said, “My dream is for you to write it with me and direct it.”

3. A repeated conversation

How about this for a funny detail? When Wilder’s Frankenstein is traveling via train to reach New York near the start of the movie, we overhear a man and woman quarreling. But then, as we transition to a shot of him on a train carriage heading to Transylvania, the exact same conversation is picked up again. Except it’s in German this time.