Cloris Leachman is SO humble to here in this interview cast all the honors on Gene Wilder, DESPITE THAT OBVIOUSLY she is and will go down in cinematic history as an equal in making Young Frankenstein the classic it is.
The scene mentioned was executed perfectly on Leachman's part, she responded as if the words were physically hitting her and it really sold that scene perfectly.
Look at Gene's timing and Cloris' eyes during the Ovaltine scene. PRICELESS! When she asks "Ovaltine?" she doesn't make eye contact for a moment, and he just waits for her to do so, THEN, when he snaps with the "No!", here eyes reflexively close, almost as though he has struck her. BRILLIANT on both their parts! PERFECT!
My goodness! I was literally about to comment regarding the exact same thing!! When he nearly yells at her, "NOTHING"! and she immediately closes her eyes almost in exasperation....absolutely kills me whenever I see the scene!
Gene's literally perfect comedic timing and Cloris' matching reactions are seriously incredible. Comedy and acting like this just doesn't exist anymore. There's absolutely nothing to critique about that scene.
I was visiting San Diego- the street was blocked. I realized they were having Gay Pride. And who was being driven in the middle of the street? Cloris Leachman- the Grand Marshall that year! She was dressed in a White Toga. She had a silver viking helmet on with horns. Under it she had a blonde wig with thick braids then went down almost to her feet. She stood stern not breaking character and had a big wooden sword she held up the entire time as she passed by. Like the front of a ship. That visual is burned into my memory. Made that day & the trip special.
RIP Cloris Leachman. One of my favorite actresses in the entire world from her roles in all of her Mel Brooks movies like Young Frankenstein, history of the world, high anxiety. All the way to her TV and movie appearances like raising Hope, or the secretary in The longest Yard with Adam Sandler
Notice how her body pivots away from, then towards him, like a door on a hinge. Towards the end she turns back towards him so slowly, and only then she lifts her eyes back up to him. So funny!
Some actors have the 'X' factor and she certainly does. Whenever _Frau Blucher_ appears -you just cannot take your eyes off her. The almost _'musical rhythm'_ and timing of her gestures and vocal inflection, especially in the Ovaltine scene is just complete perfection. As good as Gene Wilder is - it's her iron-clad conviction, belief and total understanding of her own character which just blows everyone else off the screen - so much so, that in the end, it's really Cloris Leachman who steals this movie. What a great lady.
"Ovaltine?" is my absolute favorite scene in this entire movie. I have seen it so many times but I laugh as if it were my first. Just brilliant. Over 40 years old and it still stands today.
Cloris Leachman is such an amazing actress with a great timing. I remember Raising Hope selling point for me, was she was the Grandmother. MawMaw. Spanglish. She was recently in a great episode of Bobs Burger as Meryl.
She -- without a doubt -- is the BEST thing in this crazy-ass flick. A SECOND BEST is Kenny Mars as the policeman. Cloris outshone herself with her portrayal of Nurse Diesel in High Anxiety; it was just TOO MUCH!!! What a genius.
2019 Cloris Leachman and Mel Brooks on Oscars You Tube site commemorating Young Frankenstein in 2014. They are same age and were 89 or 90 then. They are great story tellers and Cloris was a comedic foil with some well timed zinger punch lines in a curmudgeonly character stance. Check it out through a handful of short clips, although I wish I could find an unedited seamless one.
As a fan of the novel, this film was such gold in its parody and one of my favorite comedies of all time. I always love hearing the behind the scenes perspective.
Thething about Wilder is: the crazy was just around the corner. In every role, that was his schtik. He would hold it together until he couldn't take it anymore. Example: "MY. NAME. IS... FRANKENSTIEN!!".
If this movie were made today, people would be protesting for it to be cancelled because there is no non-white people in the movie... in the country-side in Europe..
Oh, just shut the fuck up with that crap. It is so fucking lame. If this movie were made today snowflakes everywhere would be crying about how you can't remake a classic. But never mind that - I found the jerk who's nervous when he sees minorities! BTW - there's an Asian man in the film.
it weasn't made today so stop with your pseudo offendedness and calm down there Skippy... maybe enjoy the movie for what it was not looking for reasons to get your fake ire up
