Frau Blucher

Cloris Leachman died last week, at the age of 94. She was a wonderful actress with a long career of not being type cast. She, like Johnny Depp, took on all kinds of roles playing lots of interesting characters. My favorite role of hers was Frau Blucher in Young Frankenstein. If you are looking for more on Cloris Leachman, you won’t find it here. I’m writing about my favorite comedy movie of all time, Young Frankenstein, and the unique pleasure of watching it with my daughter who had never seen it.

If you haven’t ever seen this movie, today would be a good time to check it out. You know you are only wasting time waiting for the Chiefs to win their second straight Super Bowl anyway. You may not like it if you are a sophisticated, mature, and serious adult. You will definitely like it if you are like me, unsophisticated, immature, and always ready for a good laugh.

Its humor is sophmoric and a little bit ribald. Early in the film, Gene Wilder (Emma remembered him from Willie Wonka), Teri Garr , and Marty Feldman arrive at the castle in a horse drawn cart. Marty (Igor) pounds on the castle door with its enormous iron ring door knockers, just as Gene (Frederick Frankenstein) is lifting Teri (Inga) out of the cart. He exclaims “What Knockers!”. She of course, replies “Why thank you, Doctor” The humor goes downhill from there.

There are so many wonderful moments from this film, it’s difficult to give a good sampling for those who haven’t seen it. My favorites, without trying to be a ruiner, are the monster’s encounter with a blind hermit played by Gene Hackman, Puttin’ on the Ritz performed by Frankenstein and his creation, Igor’s movable hump, the horses’ reactions to Frau Blucher, and the scene with the rotating library wall.

Just listing those few, make me realize how many funny moments I have not listed. I may watch it again today. I know that Emma liked it, because she was not staring at her phone the whole time. That’s the usual case if I recommend a movie. In fact, she hardly looked at her phone at all!

I am not turning my blog into a movie review blog. But I just love this movie. I have recommended it to couples who I counsel. If they have been in a weeks long funk of bickering and sadness, I recommend they keep an open mind and just enjoy Young Frankenstein together. Guaranteed to improve a mood!

That’s it for today. Go Chiefs! My favorite team since the 1960’s.