Young Frankenstein: A Mel Brooks Book
The Story of the Making of the Film
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Young Frankenstein: A Mel Brooks Book
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Narrated by:
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Mel Brooks
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Michael Gruskoff
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Robert Petkoff
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Ellen Archer
About this listen
Mel Brooks' own words telling all about the players, the filming, and studio antics during the production of this great comedy classic. The audiobook is alive and teeming with hundreds of photos, original interviews, and hilarious commentary. Young Frankenstein was made with deep respect for the craft and history of cinema-and for the power of a good schwanzstucker joke. This picture-driven audiobook, written by one of the greatest comedy geniuses of all time, takes listeners inside the classic film's marvelous creation story via never-before-seen black and white and color photography from the set and contemporary interviews with the cast and crew, most notably, legendary writer-director Mel Brooks. With access to more than 225 behind-the-scenes photos and production stills, and with captions written by Brooks, this audiobook will also rely on interviews with gifted director of photography Gerald Hirschfeld, Academy Award-winning actress Cloris Leachman, and veteran producer Michael Gruskoff.
Mel Brooks is an American film director, screenwriter, comedian, actor, producer, composer, and songwriter. Brooks is best known as a creator of broad film farces and comic parodies including The Producers, The Twelve Chairs, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Silent Movie, High Anxiety, History of the World, Part I, Spaceballs and Robin Hood: Men in Tights. More recently, he had a smash hit on Broadway with the musical adaptation of his first film, The Producers. An EGOT winner, he received a Kennedy Center Honor in 2009, the 41st AFI Life Achievement Award in June 2013, and a British Film Institute Fellowship in March 2015. Three of Brooks' classics have appeared on AFI's 100 Years...100 Laughs list. Blazing Saddles at number 6, The Producers at number 11, and Young Frankenstein at number 13.
Judd Apatow is one of the most important comic minds of his generation. He wrote and directed the films The 40-Year-Old Virgin (co-written with Steve Carell), Knocked Up, Funny People, and This Is 40, and his producing credits include Superbad, Bridesmaids, and Anchorman. Apatow is the executive producer of HBO's Girls.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
©2016 Mel Brooks (P)2016 Hachette AudioPeople who viewed this also viewed...
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What listeners say about Young Frankenstein: A Mel Brooks Book
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- S. Horvath
- 10-15-18
Short with some real highlights
The best part about this was anything that Mel Brooks was narrating. There were some real highlights in the book. However I did feel like it was sort of disjointed where it broke in with people's favorite lines. It didn't work well with the Audible version. I was hoping for more behind the scenes and more stuff. I wished it were longer. But the parts that were good were really outstanding.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mel
- 11-03-16
Wish I Could Have Been There
We smiled, laughed, giggled, and even guffawed. This little gem is short, but it contains some great insights and behind the scenes info that lets you feel like you're in on the jokes -- "Werewolf!" "Where wolf?" "There, wolf." "Werewolf." I remember sitting in the theater when this movie was released and laughing until my drink spurted out my nose. The jokes weren't elaborate, or particularly clever, but the delivery? Dead on. Brooks and Wilder stayed true to the original concept and gave us a movie that dares you not to laugh.
A few people and cast members tell their favorite lines from the movie and I agreed with each one, until the next one told their favorite line. (Not all of the voices are the actual person since many of those involved have died.) I loved hearing Brooks voice narrate. Just his voice cracks me up. The camaraderie between the cast, as shared by a few of the people involved with the filming, shined through on the screen. Brooks tells how behind the scenes, the respect each actor, writer, etc, had for each other infused the entire cast and added that rare esprit de corps you feel when watching this movie -- which we immediately did. I swear I thought I saw the camera jiggle a few times...and thought of the stage hands shoving the handkerchiefs Brooks bought them in their mouths so the laughter wouldn't come through onto the soundtrack.
It's not EXTREMELY insightful -- it's only a little under 2 hrs. It's like sitting at lunch with Brooks and having him share the experience of working with these gifted comedians. It's dessert. Madeline Kahn is straight-faced and hilarious (I miss her and laugh every time I think of her singing, "Yes, no no no no no no; Yes no no no no no no" in History of the World Part I). There's some funny bits on Marty Feldman's Igor with that hump and Cloris Leachman's Frau Blücher (*horse whinny*), one of her scenes with gene Wilder had to be shot 14 times because he kept busting up. It's a great fun blooper reel of a listen.
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12 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Murray
- 11-22-16
Missed the pdf scenes!
I really would have liked to see the scenes on the
'Enclosed" pdf. Is technology available to include such things with audiobooks?
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Juan Carrillo
- 11-01-16
Fun family time
Mel Brooks is in many ways a genius when it comes to his visions and his talents when it comes to his movie making. In this case the making of young Frankenstein and the creative way an old tale was done to bring humor and light during a time when in many ways the innocence of movie making and it,s stars can't be reproduced. This was a time when u could take a chance and shoot the dice to see if u could land a home run. One of the best parts of this book is the fact that Mel himself Makes it special
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 05-18-21
The Movie, the Myth, the Legend
If you loved this movie over the years, you want to know the backstory. Here it is!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Laurel Perkins
- 01-21-23
A Story About A Masterpiece
I always thought Mel Brooks was a gift. He presents us with what we need to make life bearable - a little love and a lot of laughter. In this book we learn what makes Young Frankenstein special. This time Mr. Brooks gave us a lot of love and even more laughter. What a film! What a cast! What a story!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- A. Beckstrom
- 06-06-18
By Far Mel Brooks' Best Young Frankenstein Book
Let me first state that Young Frankenstein is, in my humble opinion, the funniest movie ever made.
Growing up, I watched this movie every chance I could get whenever it appeared on TV. Later, we wore out the VHS cassette we have recorded it onto after countless viewings.
This is one of only a handful of movies that never gets old for me. It’s that good. Even though I can recite every line, I still laugh at every joke.
Mel, himself, reads the audio version and is a delight.
This book is very similar to Cary Elwes loving tale of the making of the Princess Bride—another perfect movie. If you’re already a fan of YF, you’ll love the history and behind the scenes look at the making of a classic.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Christina B.
- 03-16-18
Enjoyable, but a little thin on details
Enjoyed hearing some interesting trivia bits, but the book is padded with movie execs praising the film.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Janet Parslow
- 12-12-20
What a fantastic book
It was able to capture the entire movie. I adore Mel Brooks along with every star of the movie Young Frankenstein!!!!! It was so phenomenal to hear all the wonderful details. Thanks to all who created this book. I recommend it HIGHLY
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 03-27-22
Every word was like gold!
I was afraid that this would just be stories that are basic, and have very little significance.
Wrong!! Hearing everything Mel Brooks, and the others, said made me think deeply about every iota of, “Young Frankenstein”. So much value was expressed about so much! The actors, the humor, mistakes, miraculous work, the writing, directing, editing, previews, and on, and on!! Practically every sentence made me giggle with the happiness of learning so much whilst already understanding / knowing exactly what was being said; reliving the experience of the movie from the perspective of behind the scenes. It’s listening to a masterpiece that has the value of gold.
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