“There Wolf, There Castle.”

Seldom in the history of Hollywood has the perfect ensemble cast been built in the way Mel Brooks did with the inimitable 1974 classic, Young Frankenstein. It wasn't a flashy production, and it didn't use any of the special effects that were the hallmark of the theater during the 1970's and beyond, but it remains one of the most endearing and well-crafted cinematic masterpieces this writer has ever had the joy to watch over and over again.

The deadpan delivery that was presented on the theater screen was, based on the outtakes and b-roll bloopers, a very small percentage of what was filmed, and must have been almost as much fun to edit and produce as it was for them to perform. The chemistry between the actors was magic, the direction was inspired, and the writing was a level unto itself.

Sadly, most of this brilliant cast is either no longer with us, but such is the fate of all great movies as they approach their 50th birthday. Thankfully, the movie itself will live on indefinitely, and generations to come will get to experience the sheer joy that this movie embodies.

Gene Wilder and Marty Feldman were an incredible backbone for the movie, and brilliant supporting roles by Teri Garr, Peter Boyle, Madeline Kahn, and the legendary Cloris Leachman, were bolstered by cameos from Leon Askin, Kenneth Mars, and no less than Gene Hackman himself. Together, they helped to create a movie that was not only witty and hilarious, but beautifully vibrant even while being presented in black and white.

The one-liners in this movie are still some of the best remembered utterances ever filmed. In many ways, this movie was the pinnacle of Mel Brooks's creative endeavors, and deserves to be enshrined in the Cinematic Hall of Fame.