MY NAME IS FRANKENSTEIN! One of the best and funniest comedies of all time makes its highly anticipated high-definition debut as Mel Brooks' monster hit YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN lives again in a bonus packed Blu-ray edition. Gene Wilder and Brooks co-wrote this affectionate homage to the cycle of classic Universal horror films from the 1930s, turned on its cadaver-stitched ear by the wit and irreverent satire of its creators.  The film alone, its glorious black-and-white photography meticulously transferred into high definition, dazzles more than ever as a cinematic treasure for all time. Fuse this brilliant inspiration with hours of bonus features — including many new documentaries and HD technological treats exclusive to this Blu-ray edition — and the spark of brilliance which first created YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN flashes bright again for a new generation to discover and revere. Have fun reciting the hilarious dialog along with the characters, explore the making-of library with new cast/crew interviews, and enjoy this HD celebration of a true classic.

MAY I PRESENT FOR YOUR INTELLECTUAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL PLEASURE...

Mel Brooks' YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN has stood in the highest regard of filmed comedy for over thirty years, and this new, lavishly produced Blu-ray edition proves it will remain a beloved favorite to longtime fans and new viewers for decades to come.  Co-writers Gene Wilder and Brooks penned an affectionate tribute to Mary Shelley's original novel, the Frankenstein film series and Boris Karloff's indelible portrayal of the creature — a key to the film's success as a semi-legitimate heir to the monster franchise.  At the same time, their spoof is peppered with irreverent jabs of satire and inanity which salute the Universal classics as smartly as it skewers them.  It is this clever, joyous blend of adoration and mockery which first made YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN a box office hit in 1974, and this undying comedic engine still drives the film's power and reputation three decades later.

A cast sent straight from the heavens electrifies the film in a perfect storm of impeccable comic performances from the top stars through a corps of wonderful supporting actors.  Many fans and critics, including director Brooks, consider Gene Wilder's work the best in his distinguished career.  As Frederick Frankenstein, grandson of the famous "cuckoo" in the family who years before challenged God by creating a man in his own image, Wilder is a bundle of smug overconfidence and frantic insecurity.  Since his ancestor's experiment became a monstrous failure, as did its four subsequent attempts, Frederick has turned his back on the family curse to pursue scientific study in America.  Wilder plays this underlying tension like a violin virtuoso, making Frederick a hilarious victim of his inescapable destiny, repeatedly torn between his professional and internal passions.  The harder external forces pull on his frayed nerves, the more laughs his contradictions generate.  Artistically, Wilder's performance is a text book of impeccable comedic timing, as brilliantly written into the script he penned with Brooks.

Engaged in a tug-of-war over Frederick's heart are his fiancée Elizabeth (the irreplaceable Madeline Kahn) and his comely lab assistant Inga (a career-starting debut by ever delightful Teri Garr).  Fresh off of her outrageously funny work in Brooks' BLAZING SADDLES, Kahn reunites with Wilder in a relatively understated performance as the sexually repressed society girl who even ducks from air kisses tossed by Frederick lest they spoil her makeup.  Yet she elicits consistent laughs opposite Wilder and eventually Peter Boyle as Elizabeth evolves from a pent-up debutante to the monster's vivacious mate.  Garr plays the flipside of what would normally be the 'love interest', bringing a dramatic and real-life innocence to Inga in her first major role.  This triangle works perfectly for the film as the chemistry between Wilder and his leading ladies seems effortless and inevitable, with Kahn and Garr providing the heart to tame Frederick's manic mind.

Far less subtle is the sublimely silly pairing of Wilder and Marty Feldman as Igor, Frederick's sometimes hunchbacked henchman.  Feldman's unconventional looks paint the ideal portrait of a stooped-over lab flunky, but his "on the nosy" skills as a comedian elevate his performance to rare heights indeed.  In a less showy but no less crucial role is Boyle's lumbering but lovable portrayal of the Creature.  If Kahn and Garr imbue Frederick's perpetual crankiness with heart, then Boyle gives the film its emotional core as the ultimate outsider who merely longs to love and be loved.  As much as the filmmakers paid homage to Karloff's turn as Universal's undead icon of the 1930s, Boyle makes his Creature a signature performance despite the long shadow cast by James Whale's films — one can't imagine another actor in Boyle's place, an eternal compliment which sadly has now outlived the actor who so richly earned it.

Defining the term supporting actors quite literally, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN would not stand so tall for decades without the invaluable contributions of Cloris Leachman, Kenneth Mars and Gene Hackman.  As the furrow-browed Frau Blücher (cue the horse whinny!), Leachman links the older Frankenstein history to this modern tale while matching Wilder's intensity in every scene they share.  In a hilarious take-off of Lionel Atwill's work in SON OF FRANKENSTEIN, Kenneth Mars' ridiculous and priceless Inspector Kemp exploits the franchise's inherent, unintentional humor with excesses of character and physical comedy, all brilliantly confined to the surreal laws of this film's own universe of logic.  As the blind hermit who befriends the Creature, Hackman plays the middle ground between these two extremes in one of the very best comedic cameos in film history.

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN's appeal and enjoyment lives eternally because Brooks and his laboratory of mad satirists created a familiar yet fresh world which we can visit repeatedly as if coming home to friends.  One of the most quotable comedies ever, we recite the lines by heart not because of their witty construction in the script, but by virtue of the indelible performances which inspired them to leap off the page.   We hear "What hump?" and "Put ze candle beck!" in their voices and imitate them accordingly because the characters live beyond the films they parody, residents of that fog-shrouded Transylvanian neighborhood where Mel Brooks reigns.  Unlike the weak, easily-distracted series of cinematic parodies cranked out today like so many linked sausages, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN triumphs because it shares the lightning-sparked beating heart of James Whale's classic of seventy years before.  The film could fit seamlessly with Universal's serious horror entries were it not filtered through Mel Brooks' delightfully warped sensibility.  Thank your lucky stars he and his cohorts were just mad enough to create this monstrous work of genius for all to enjoy across generations of devoted fans!

GIVE MY CREATION LIFE!

Fox Home Entertainment's new Blu-ray release gives YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN the start treatment it deserves, presenting the beloved horror spoof in full 1080p resolution of the widescreen 1.85:1 aspect ratio, with film and bonus features making full use of the dual layer 50GB disc.  The high-def transfer shows off the monochromatic glory of Gerald Hirschfeld's cinematography which so reverently yet creatively carries on the gothic expressionist look of Whales' original FRANKENSTEIN and the best of German-influenced horror visuals.  Images retain excellent contrast, boasting deep, dark shadows and bright highlights while retaining fine detail across all values — another testament to Hirschfeld's stellar efforts using the black-and-white format to its fullest potential.

The new audio track matches the visual impact with a soundtrack remastered in English 5.1 DTS HD Master lossless quality which expands the sound design in harmony with Dale Hennesy's highly atmospheric production design.  Where wolf?   There wolf!  And there lightning!  For old school fans (or sound systems), three mono soundtracks are also offered in English, Spanish and French, along with subtitles in English, Spanish, French, Cantonese, Mandarin and Korean.  Closed captioning also serves hearing impaired viewers.

In short, these 21st century upgrades ensure that YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN will be happily, successfully viewed on the latest high-definition entertainment systems, while never overpowering the vintage charm and artistry so carefully recreated by the filmmakers.  Just enough grain remains in the print transfer to keep the film's deliberate 1930s aesthetic style, but remastering delivers clarity of detail fans have never seen before.

HOW THEY DID IT

Fox continues by flipping The Works switch in YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN's bonus material, combining some excellent previously released material with all-new features created exclusively for the BD edition.  The result is a robust library of fan-pleasing goodies presented in a handsomely gothic design borrowed from the film's cobwebbed castle.

Starting with the BD-exclusive treats, viewers get unprecedented access to the creative team in making-of featurettes:

• INSIDE THE LAB: SECRET FORMULAS IN THE MAKING OF YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN
  Provided as a BD Bonus View documentary which will play picture-in-picture while watching the film on compatible players, this 11-part volume of interviews addresses entertaining insights and studies of the movie in context of scenes on-screen. Featuring new discussions with Mel Brooks, Teri Garr, Cloris Leachman plus a gathering of crew members and historians, all delight in reminiscing about this most special filmmaking experience in their careers and lives.  For viewers with older Blu-ray players or for those who simply prefer to watch their bonus features full-screen, disc authoring offers this featurette in stand-alone mode as well with a running time of nearly 30 minutes.
  
  
• IT'S ALIVE!  CREATING A MONSTER CLASSIC
  The same interviewees return for a six-part, 31-minute featurette mixing recollections, scene clips and outtakes to layout the creative formula of the film, from Gene Wilder's earliest inspirations while filming BLAZING SADDLES through script development with Brooks and the feature production.  There might be a little too much cross-promotion with Brooks' recent broadway musical adaptation of the film for some fans' tastes, but then again Mel tells a rather touching story about how he visited Marty Feldman's grave to discuss casting a new actor to play Igor on stage.
  
  
• TRANSYLVANIAN LULLABY: THE MUSIC OF JOHN MORRIS
  One of the key elements of YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN's brilliance is the beautiful, haunting and distinctive score by John Morris.  His soulful violin lullaby symbolizes the childlike heart of the Creature and the yearning for love which all creatures feel.  Further tribute to the musical genius of Morris is paid in the ISOLATED SCORE TRACK which allows viewers to listen to his film compositions alone as the movie plays on-screen, demonstrating his crucial contribution to this tale.
  
  
• THE FRANKEN-TRACK: A MONSTROUS CONGLOMERATION OF TRIVIA
  Activate this setting from the Special Features menu and a pop-up box appears at the bottom of the frame during movie play, displaying context-driven factoids about the production, cast and crew to learn while you watch.
  
  
• DELETED SCENES IN HD
  Over 25 minutes of unseen deleted scenes are offered in both high and standard definition, along with another 15 minutes of previously released cut clips, giving viewers an expanded glimpse of the YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN which almost was.  As enjoyable as these insights are, they also reveal the editorial wisdom in clipping them out of the final theatrical cut to preserve the film's impeccable comic timing.
  
  
• BLÜCHER BUTTON
  Listed by Fox as an "interactive feature," it qualifies but only in the most basic definition — in reality, it's a menu option that when selected on your remote, plays back the horse whinny heard when Frau Blücher's name is mentioned.  Press it again, the horses whinny again.  Repeat until the novelty wears off, which doesn't take long.  I'm not exactly sure how this exploits the technological wonders of Blu-ray technology to be a worthy exclusive feature, but there it is.

The remaining bonus features are offered in standard definition where applicable, and have all appeared in a previous DVD edition of YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN — but all are still enjoyable and educational in rounding out the fan experience of Brooks' hit film:

• FEATURE COMMENTARY BY MEL BROOKS
  Tour the entire film with director Brooks and his hilarious, touching and fond memories of creating his monster hit.
  
  
• MAKING FRANENSENSE OF YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN
  Another excellent documentary running 42 minutes and featuring interview contributions with Gene Wilder who speaks at length about his contributions to the story and script development.
  
  
• OUTTAKES
  A five-minute segment of bloopers, blown lines and breakups as the cast fail to keep a straight face in scenes.
  
  
• MEXICAN INTERVIEWS
  A reporter interviews Marty Feldman, Cloris Leachman and Gene Wilder (in costume, no less) during studio production in these black-and-white filmed segments. These are fun, vintage clips which do reveal some trivia tidbits, such as Igor's hump was actually a 'pregnant pad' more often used to simulate expectant mothers in films and television.
  
  
• PRODUCTION GALLERY
  Nineteen separate photo galleries play in slideshow format, illustrating scenes from the film along with glimpses of deleted action though on-set publicity shoots.  Fans will enjoy these still frames of missing scenes such as the Reading of the Will and many others.
  
  
• TV SPOTS
  A collection of 60-second, 30-second and 10-second television ads for YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN which demonstrate Mel Brooks' wacky sense of humor, as well as how far TV marketing of films has come in the last thirty years.
  
  
• TRAILERS
  Five promotional trailers narrated by Brooks, including a rare look at a very goofy Showrama version created for promoters.  Or as Brooks describes his film: "YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN in black-and-white — no offense!"

HE'S GOING TO BE VERY POPULAR

There's nothing novel in pointing out that YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN has not only stood the test of time as a comedy milestone, but fans will welcome the news that this new, expanded Blu-ray release offers hours of additional, entertaining proof why it stands head and neckbolts above all other cinematic parodies.  Mel Brooks' and Gene Wilder's brilliant script is an inspired work of virtuosity by itself, but then put into action by an unparalleled comedic cast, the film's historic legacy flipped the switch to Immortal Treasure permanently.  The wealth of bonus features, many of which are exclusive to this BD edition, only increase the value of its inclusion in any cinema fan's library, and double viewers' appreciation for this frighteningly funny creation.

Perfectly timed for the Halloween and holiday gift season, only the brain dead will miss out on enjoying YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN on Blu-ray in its best and most beautiful presentation ever on home video!