Post by stefancrosscoe on Mar 4, 2017 16:10:09 GMT
"This is Transylvania. Don't you want to ask us about Dracula? How about the Creature from the Black Lagoon? I got Godzilla in the next room. How about The Blob?"
When the "serious" tabloid newspaper only known as The Sensation suddenly grabs a hold of a VHS tape of what seems be rather solid proof of the very evidence that Frankenstein is still alive and well, the arrogant and cocky journalist Jack Harrison (Jeff Goldblum) along with his clumsy partner Gil Turner (Ed Begley Jr) are immediately put on the first plane towards Transylvania, in what just might turn out to be the story of the century!
Transylvania 6-5000 might not be everybodys favorite horror-comedy, and I have no trouble with understanding that, as it seem to have a bit of reputation as a poor mans, Young Frankenstein (1974) but for me it was a "love at first sight" kind of film.
Yeah, it is packed full of silly, goofy and very stupid/situations, that keeps happening throughout the entire movie, but I thought that Rudy De Luca (who came from a solid backround by having worked on several of Mel Brooks films, as both an actor, screenwriter and producer) did a pretty god job here with what he got, and are helped along the way, from a very talentful and solid cast with the names of: Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis, Ed Begley Jr., Michael Richards, Carol Kane, Jeffrey Jones, Donald Gibb and Joseph Bologna.
A lot of the scenes is really lowbrow comedy, but the kind that is delivered in a so over-the-top way that it most of the times work rather well, and I guess most of the involved must had a blast doing this little b-movie horror-comedy as tribute to the classic horror films of the 30s and 40s.
I love how Begley Jr.s character immediately tries to get in touch with the local towns people, and of course in a very subtle kind of approach:
"I was asking about Frank Sinatra!"
You have Geena Davis as an stunning, nymphomaniac vampire, Joseph Bologna as the crazy but caring doctor Malavaqua, (who tries his best to save his family reputation, that more or less got screwed over by the fact that his own dad brought with him the herpes to town), the chemistry between Goldblum and Begley Jr. is great, and Donald Gibb in what might just be one of the worst/hilarious looking werewolf suits ever put on screen, is always top notch and his little argues with Dr. Malavaqua is comedy gold:
Wolfman: "WWRRROAAAAH,WWRRROAAAAH,WROOOOAAAH!"
Dr. Malavaqua: "Oh back off with that growling crap! Why did you bring him here?"
Wolfman: "I couldn't get the dude off my back."
And the whole bizarre love relationship going on between Lupi and Radu, are so silly that it kind of works far better than it might have been planned on:
Dr. Malavaqua: "SHUT UP YOU LOW LIFES!"
Radu: "I am low!"
Lupi: "I am lower!" (with a mousy voice)
Then you have pre-Kramer Michael Richards doing his crazy act, as the castles very own lunatic Fejos: "Smeeeel iiiit, smeeeel everything!" "Iz good yaaah?
Anyway, remember for a good time be sure to call Transylvania 6-5 Oh-oh-oh
