Celebrating in 2026: the 105th anniversary of the lost film Il Mostro di Frankenstein (1921); the 95th anniversary of Universal Studios’ Frankenstein (1931); the 60th anniversary of Dell Comics’ superhero version of Frankenstein (1966), Hanna Barbera’s television hero Frankenstein Jr, co-star of the series Frankenstein Jr. and The Impossibles (1966), and the films Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter (1966) and The War of the Gargantuas (1966); the 55th anniversary of General Mills’ cereal mascot Franken Berry (1971); the 50th anniversary of the Saturday-morning television series Monster Squad (1976); the 45th anniversary of the anime film Kyofu Densetsu: Kaiki! Furankenshutain (1981); the 40th anniversary of Ken Russell’s film Gothic (1986) and Fred Saberhagen’s novel The Frankenstein Papers (1986); the 25th anniversary of Curtis Jobling’s picture book Frankenstein's Cat (2001); the 20th anniversary of Grant Morrision’s comic book series Seven Soldiers: Frankenstein (2006); the 15th anniversary of Nick Dear’s play Frankenstein (2011); the 10th anniversary of the Royal Ballet's production of Frankenstein (2016); and the release of Maggie Gyllenhaal’s film Bride! (2026).

Wednesday, March 4, 2026

Recent from Applause - Blazing Saddles Meets Young Frankenstein

Blazing Saddles Meets Young Frankenstein: The 50th Anniversary of the Year of Mel Brooks

Bruce G. Hallenbeck (Author)

Full details and ordering information at https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/blazing-saddles-meets-young-frankenstein-9781493078004/


Description

An in-depth look at the 1974 releases of Mel Brooks's Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein that will leave cinephiles enthralled.

1974 was a busy year for Mel Brooks. Although still recovering after a series of failed projects threatened his career, he pulled off a one-two punch that saw the release of two of the most beloved American comedies ever made: Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein. Although both films are well-known, the stories beyond the making of each movie are less so. How did they come to be, and how did the era’s culture and politics not only permit them to be made, but help them to become enduring comedy classics?

With their riotous parodies of Westerns and classic horror movies, Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein were not only hilarious. They played with charged social and cultural themes in an inimitable way, raising the bar for modern comedies even as they reshaped the two genres they were sending up. Blazing Saddles Meets Young Frankenstein: The 50th Anniversary of the Year of Mel Brooks explores in depth the zeitgeist and cinematic alchemy that led to 1974 becoming “the year of Mel Brooks.”


Product details

Published Nov 12 2024

Format Paperback

Edition 1st

Extent 272

ISBN 9781493078004

Imprint Applause

Illustrations 25 Color Photos

Dimensions 0 x 0 inches

Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing


About the Author

Bruce G. Hallenbeck is an author, actor, and screenwriter whose films include Vampyre, Fangs, and The Drowned. His many books on film history include The Hammer Frankenstein, Rock’n’Roll Monsters: The American International Story, and Poe Pictures. Hallenbeck has also acted in such features as Shadow Tracker, Edge of Reality, and Project D: Classified. He lives in upstate New York with his wife Rosa, two cats, and several ghosts.

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