Great Scene: “Young Frankenstein”
One of the most inspired comedic moments in a truly inspired film: The “Puttin’ on the Ritz” bit.
Ah, the old song-and-dance routine. A Hollywood staple. Images of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron swooping across the silver screen. And of course, that incomparable duo Gene Wilder and Peter Boyle from the fantastic comedy Young Frankenstein (1974). Adapted by Gene Wilder and Mel Brooks from Mary Shelly’s famous novel, the movie provides one send-up of horror movies after another including this great dance scene, where Wilder, playing Dr. Frankenstein, introduces his creation The Monster, played by Boyle, to a live theater audience:
ANOTHER ANGLE as A SPOTLIGHT hits the darkness next to him. And there -- IN TOP HAT AND TAILS -- stands the Monster.
he is heavily made up. FREDDY
(playing the piano
and singing)
If you're blue and you
don't know where to
go to, why don't you... The Monster accompanies the music with short, simple
"Soft Shoe" steps. FREDDY
...go where fashion
sits......................... MONSTER
Poo -- tmmm anngh ma Ritz! FREDDY
Diff'rent types who wear
a day coat, pants
with stripes and cutaway
coat, perfect
fits......................... MONSTER
Poo -- tmmm anngh ma Ritz! FREDDY
Dressed up like a
million dollar
trouper
Trying hard to
look like Gary
Cooper. MONSTER
Soo -- pah doo -- per. The Audience's faces are absolutely blank. Inga and
Igor are thrilled. FREDDY
Come let's mix where Rock-
e -- fellers walk
with sticks or 'um-ber-
el-las' in their
mitts......................... MONSTER
Poo -- tmmm anngh ma Ritz! The Monster gets a tomato right in the face. He stops cold. FREDDY
Dressed up like a
million dollar
trouper
Trying hard to
look like Gary
Coo -- per. An EMBARRASSING PAUSE. FREDDY
(to the Monster)
That's your cue. Go on! MONSTER
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMmmmmm. FREDDY
(trying to cover)
...Su-per du-per.
Come let's mix where Rock-
e-fellers walk
with sticks or 'um-ber-
el-las' in their
mitts......................... The Monster knows it's his cue: he just looks at Freddy. MONSTER
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmm! FREDDY
For God's sake -- go on! Are you
trying to make me look like a fool.
Sing, you amateur! Sing!! The Monster gets a raw egg in his face. AUDIENCE
Booooo!
Get him off!
Fake!
What else can your toy do? FREDDY
Fake?? You stupid idiots...you call
my creation a fake??? What do you
know about truth? You're the fakes!
All of you! I wouldn't come to you
with a hang-nail. The monster gets another tomato in his face. MONSTER
MMMMMMMMMM!
MMMMMMMMMMMM! FREDDY
(running to him)
Wait! Stop! Don't give them the
satisfaction. I know it's tough,
but look at how far we've come!
Are you going to throw it all
away now?? The Monster thinks, as the tomato drips down his face.
He is touched by Freddy's reasoning, but still burning
with resentment. MONSTER
MMMmmmmmm. FREDDY
Don't you think I know that? But
what are you judging by? Bucharest???
This was always a hick town. They
can't get a 'Bus and Truck' company
to come in here. Are you going to
let these idiots get the best of you?
...Or are you going to stand up like
a man and show them that you've got
more dignity in your little finger
than they've got in all their beer-
bloated bodies put together? The Monster considers this plea for a moment. Then gives
Freddy a colossal W H A C K and jumps into the Audience. THE AUDIENCE screams and scatters for the exits. PANDEMONIUM. FREDDY
(as he picks himself up
off the stage floor)
I chose the wrong song.
Here’s the scene as it plays in the movie:
I happened to catch the last half of Young Frankenstein a few months ago. It still holds up. Definitely add it to your to-see list.
For more posts in the Great Scene series, go here.
