Gene Hackman was one of the most recognizable Hollywood actors of the 1970s, but while he played a wide range of roles, Young Frankenstein was his only horror movie. Gene Hackman’s best movies often showcased his ability to play serious dramatic parts, like his character Harry Caul in The Conversation. However, he was also interested in deconstructing movie genres, which led to some of his most memorable performances, like Little Bill Daggett in Clint Eastwood’s groundbreaking Unforgiven. While horror was one movie genre that Hackman did not touch, he made an exception for Young Frankenstein.

Mel Brooks’ 1974 movie Young Frankenstein is the kind of classic horror-comedy that was popular in the 70s. Young Frankenstein is a spoof of Mary Shelley’s original science-fiction novel, and is full of slapstick comedy and witty one-liners, making Young Frankenstein still quotable today. While there is a lot of compeтιтion for the funniest characters in Mel Brooks movies, there are several contenders in Young Frankenstein. The movie starred the screen legend Gene Wilder, who also co-wrote it, but Gene Hackman stole the show as one of Young Frankenstein‘s most memorable characters.

Gene Hackman Appeared As The Blind Stranger In Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein

Gene Hackman’s Character Was A Drastic Change In His Career

In Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, the monster meets a blind man, who treats him kindly before his family chases him away. In Young Frankenstein, this character is played by Gene Hackman, and he is drastically different from the book character. Gene Hackman’s version of The Blind Stranger is extremely accident-prone, causing some hilarious slapstick moments. The Blind Stranger sets the monster on fire, pours H๏τ soup into his lap, but tries to invite the fleeing monster back inside by promising him coffee. The role might have been small, but Gene Hackman stole the show in his rare comedic outing.

Credited as one of the best actors of all time, Gene Hackman had played some iconic roles throughout his extensive acting career. That said, most were either extremely serious or thoroughly evil villains, and it was more common to see Hackman starring in an intense drama than a horror-comedy like Young Frankenstein. Hackman won the Academy Award for Best Actor in the neo-noir The French Connection, and Best Supporting Actor for his role in the Western Unforgiven. Still, while he was known for his intensity, Hackman occasionally took on funnier roles, like Royal O’Reilly Tenenbaum in The Royal Tenenbaums.

Hackman Went Uncredited & Did The Role As A Favor To Mel Brooks & Gene Wilder

Gene Hackman’s Young Frankenstein Role Proved That He Should Have Done More Comedy

Gene Hackman and Gene Wilder regularly played tennis together, where Hackman reportedly told Wilder that he was looking to branch out from his more serious roles, hoping to try comedy. Some might have expected him to try a different strategy with his acting, but Hackman played his role in Young Frankenstein as seriously as any somber, dramatic production, and it made the part even funnier. As a favor to Wilder and Brooks, Hackman did not take credit for his role, and while he was only onscreen for around four minutes, he is one of the best parts of the movie.

Gene Hackman’s hilarious line, “I was gonna make espresso!” was one of the funniest in Young Frankenstein, and had been ad-libbed by Hackman himself. According to What Culture, it was such a funny moment that the cast and crew had to stop filming as they were laughing so hard. While horror was likely not Hackman’s favorite genre, Young Frankenstein was decidedly more of a comedy than a real horror. Gene Hackman retired from acting due to his health, but his slapstick skills and comic timing in Young Frankenstein prove that he should have done more comedy in his career.

Source: What Culture