Young Frankenstein is Mel Brooks’ parody of 1930s Universal horror movies. Determined to live down his family’s reputation, Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (co-screenwriter Gene Wilder) insists on pronouncing his name “Fronckensteen” and denies interest in replicating his grandfather’s experiments. But when he is lured by Frau Blucher (Cloris Leachman) to discover the tantalizingly titled journal “How I Did It” in his grandfather’s castle, he cannot resist. With the help of voluptuous Inga (Teri Garr), wall-eyed assistant Igor (Marty Feldman), and a purloined brain, Frankenstein creates his monster (Peter Boyle).

Shot in gleaming black-and-white, with sets and props from the 1930s Brooks’ cheeky attitude towards the Hollywood past attracted a large audience, turning it into one of the most popular 1974 releases after Blazing Saddles.