How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from Young Frankenstein.
Quote #7
FREDERICK: From that fateful day, when stinking bits of slime first crawled from the sea and shouted to the cold stars "I am man," our greatest dread has always been the knowledge of our own mortality. But tonight, we shall hurl the gauntlet of science into the frightful face of death itself!
This line, melodramatic as it is, hits on something that's probably pretty accurate—that this kind of research stems from our fear of dying. Plus, Wilder's wild-eyed appearance makes it hilarious.
Quote #8
TOWNSPERSON: He's a Frankenstein! And they're all alike! It's in their blood. They can't help it. All those scientists, they're all alike. They say they're working for us, but what they really want is to rule the world!
What scientists really want is an R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health. Regardless, this guy is echoing what a lot of people think about scientists; that they want fame and glory and will do anything to get it. Is Brooks sending up the anti-science crowd here? In Frankenstein's case, the crowd is dead-on, pun intended.
Quote #9
DEMONSTRATION SIGN: A Startling New Experiment in Reanimation
You'd think science would be exempt from showmanship, but you'd be wrong. In Young Frankenstein, Frederick and the monster literally have to put on a show to prove the experiment was successful. In the real world, scientists have to "perform" similarly in order to earn funding. Is showmanship as important as results in this cynical world?