Young Frankenstein (1974): 20 Weird Facts You Didn't Know!

Shot in black and white, packed with inside jokes, double entendres, and visual callbacks to 1930s Universal monster movies, it managed to look and feel like a forgotten original. But the production was far from smooth. The studio tried to kill the title, fought the format, and nearly lost a scene that became one of the most iconic in comedy history.

Here are 20 facts about how Young Frankenstein was made—and why it still holds up as one of the smartest, strangest comedies of its time.

1. The Studio Tried to Stop It from Being Black and White

Mel Brooks insisted the film be shot in black and white to match the look of the original Universal horror films. The studio pushed back hard, offering more money and bigger promotion if he'd shoot in color. Brooks refused. Eventually they gave in—on one condition: the film's marketing couldn't advertise that it was black and white.

2. "Puttin' on the Ritz" Almost Got Cut

Brooks originally wanted to remove the musical number, thinking it broke the tone and slowed the film down. Gene Wilder fought to keep it. They shot it reluctantly. When Brooks saw the finished scene, he changed his mind and called it the best part of the movie.

3. Feldman and Wilder Constantly Rewrote Jokes On Set

Marty Feldman and Gene Wilder frequently ignored the script. They improvised, restructured scenes, and adjusted punchlines without warning. Feldman once changed his accent during an entrance mid-shoot, causing the entire crew to break. Brooks let it happen once he saw the playback—it worked.

4. Peter Boyle's Makeup Nearly Melted

Boyle endured hours of prosthetics and latex that trapped heat under studio lights. At one point, his forehead sagged and the scars began sliding off his face. The crew had to stop filming and rebuild the entire application. Boyle never complained.

5. Igor's Hump Gag Was Never in the Script

The shifting hump on Igor's back was Marty Feldman's own idea. He started moving it between scenes without telling anyone. When Brooks noticed, he laughed and told the editors to leave it untouched.

6. Cloris Leachman Refused to Play for Laughs

Leachman approached the role of Frau Blücher with a serious tone, giving the character a dry, intimidating presence. The result: the cast couldn't keep it together. Scenes had to be cut around everyone breaking. Brooks didn't ask her to adjust—he built the scenes around her take.

7. Teri Garr Was Cast at the Last Minute

The studio initially had another actress lined up. After disagreements over tone, the role of Inga opened up again just before shooting. Gene Wilder recommended Garr, who came in unrehearsed and nailed the tone immediately. Brooks watched her first read, smiled, and cast her on the spot.

8. Gene Hackman Asked to Be in the Movie

Hackman was an Oscar-winning dramatic actor with no background in comedy. But after chatting with Wilder on a tennis court, he said he wanted to try something funny. Wilder wrote him in as the blind hermit. Hackman shot his scene in one day and walked away with one of the most memorable cameos in the film.

9. Brooks Was Banned from Appearing Onscreen

Gene Wilder insisted that Brooks not take a role in the film, worried it would break the illusion. Brooks agreed to stay off camera—but still voiced several background sounds, including a wolf, a cat, and a train whistle.

10. The Lab Equipment Came from the Original Frankenstein

Kenneth Strickfaden, who built the original lab equipment for the 1931 Frankenstein, still had the machines stored in his garage. Brooks contacted him and shipped the working props to the Young Frankenstein set. No replicas were used—those are the real coils, switches, and arcs from the classic.

11. The Rainstorm Scene Flooded the Set

Without digital effects, the crew used practical rigs to simulate thunderstorms. One downpour broke containment, flooded the stage, and shorted out lights. The crew worked through the night to dry everything. Filming resumed the next morning as planned.

12. The Horse Scream Was Based on a Real Person

Every time someone says "Frau Blücher," horses scream in terror. Brooks later revealed the gag was based on a woman he knew growing up—cold, humorless, and terrifying. The name, he said, still made him shiver.

13. The Title Was Almost Changed by the Studio

Executives didn't like Young Frankenstein. They wanted to rename it Frankenstein Returns or Son of Frankenstein: The Comedy. Wilder threatened to quit if the title changed. Brooks backed him. The studio relented.

14. "Walk This Way" Might Have Inspired Aerosmith

The scene where Igor hands Frankenstein a cane and says "Walk this way" before limping off became an audience favorite. Years later, Aerosmith released "Walk This Way." The band never confirmed a connection—but the timing matched.

15. One Line Almost Got the Film an R Rating

During the final act, the monster's love scene includes the line, "Ah! The sweet mystery of life at last I've found you!" The MPAA called it "sexually suggestive in an unnatural context." Brooks fought the decision and eventually kept the PG rating—but barely.

16. The Studio Expected It to Fail

With no major push and no color visuals to sell, the film was released quietly. But word-of-mouth turned it into a hit. On a $3 million budget, it earned over $80 million—outgrossing many blockbusters that year with zero studio confidence behind it.

17. Older Viewers Thought It Was a Real Sequel

Shot to replicate 1930s horror with near-perfect accuracy, the film confused some older moviegoers. They believed it was an unearthed follow-up to the original Frankenstein. Brooks never corrected them.

18. The Film Earned Two Oscar Nominations

Despite being a black-and-white parody filled with slapstick and puns, the Academy nominated Young Frankenstein for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Sound. It lost both to The Towering Inferno, but the recognition helped shift how comedy was viewed in awards circles.

19. It Was Selected for the National Film Registry

In 2003, Young Frankenstein was added to the Library of Congress National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." It remains one of the few comedies ever given the honor.

20. The Cast Held a Mock Funeral on the Final Day

After wrap, the cast staged a fake funeral for the film. They brought candles, gave eulogies, and said goodbye to their characters. It wasn't just a joke. After months of chaos, improvisation, and perfect timing, no one wanted it to end.