Young Frankenstein 🏰 + The Last Picture Show 🎞
Happy Thursday! I apologize in advance for today’s recommendations because neither are streaming on major platforms. However, after the passing of Oscar winner Cloris Leachman last night, I had to make an exception. Leachman starred in one of my favorite dramas of all time and one of my favorite (if not favorite) comedy of all time. Rest in peace, Cloris. Thanks for the laughs.
🍿 Movie #1: Young Frankenstein is the funniest movie of all time
Today’s first movie is Mel Brooks’ *ahem* masterpiece Young Frankenstein (1974). Brooks himself has called the film his finest work, which I agree with. I love it so much that I saw the Broadway musical adaptation twice. Here’s what it’s about:
Victor Frankenstein (Gene Wilder) —pronounced Fronkensteen — receives notice that he’s inherited the castle of his grandfather, Victor Von Frankenstein (yes, that Frankenstein). Alongside his grandfather’s servant Igor (Marty Feldman), beautiful lab assistant Inga (Teri Garr), and elderly housekeeper Frau Blücher (Cloris Leachman) he tries to complete his grandfather’s experiment to reanimate a corpse. [Trailer]
If there’s a movie I can quote from start to finish it’s Young Frankenstein. It’s iconic scene after iconic scene of my favorite brand of stupidly smart comedy — from “put ze candle back” to “ovaltine” to “he vas my boyfriend” to “ah, sweet mystery of life.” Brooks’ ability to let a scene sit and marinate in its laughs is admirable when nowadays comedy feels like it’s just a race to get as many one-liners in one scene as possible.
It also helps that he has a murderer’s row of incredible comedy performers driving the material. Wilder is a master of delivery as the “straight man” of the group with bursts of comedic genius. Garr uses her ridiculous accent to incredible use — I say “he vould have an enormous schwanzstucker” regularly. Feldman brings the perfect Brooks-ian slapstick energy. And our beloved Leachman’s deadpan delivery of every line takes me out every time.
🍿 Movie #2: The Last Picture Show and the goon of time
Today’s second movie is Peter Bogdanovich’s The Last Picture Show (1971). I often rotate my default answer for my favorite movie of all time and The Last Picture Show is in that rotation. The movie was nominated for eight Oscars, winning Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress for Ben Johnson and Leachman. Here’s what it’s about:
It’s the 1950s. High school seniors and best friends, Sonny (Timothy Bottoms) and Duane (Jeff Bridges), live in a dying Texas town. Sonny is having an affair with Ruth (Leachman), the coach’s wife, while Duane is dating it-girl Jacy (Cybill Shepherd). Over the span of years, the pair contemplate a future outside their small town, just as the only movie theater shuts down. [Trailer]
The Last Picture Show meditates on how quickly time can steal away what precious life you have. Before you know it you’re just left stewing in regrets and what-ifs. What if I left my small town? What if I took a chance on that crush? What if I didn’t marry this person? It sets those questions against the backdrop of the American migration to the suburbs. Something we’re seeing even now.
The long takes of characters just talking about their pasts, their futures, and their feelings add a melancholic tone that is at equal times devastating but comforting. Especially now when so many of us are doing the same. There’s nothing quite as American as talking about possibilities, both lost and still alive. The Last Picture Show is both a glimmer of hope and a warning to those that dare to dream bigger than they are.
I’m attending Sundance virtually this year, you can follow along on Twitter! Have a beautiful weekend.
See you next week —
Karl