Thirty-five years after “Young Frankenstein” was unleashed on movie goers, the comedy-horror classic that starred an Iowan is returning to the big screen next month. The Joslyn Museum in Omaha will show the black-and-white production, featuring a personal introduction from actress Cloris Leachman. Organizer Bruce Crawford says getting Leachman, a Des Moines native, to introduce the film will be a real treat.
Leachman played the role of Frau Blucher in the film and Crawford calls her, “one of the biggest film and TV stars alive.” Mel Brooks produced the 1974 film, which also starred Gene Wilder, Terri Garr, Marty Feldman and Peter Boyle. The event on the evening of October 16th will be a benefit for the Omaha Hearing School for Children. Crawford says it only took a few calls to get the 83-year-old Leachman to agree to appear at the event.
He says, “Cloris will come out and she’ll regale the audience for a good five or ten minutes at least of stories, reminiscences, anecdotes and funny stuff about making the movie.” Crawford says it will be a night of fun for charity — and it’s very affordable. Tickets are on sale for $20 each at all 11 Omaha-area Hy-Vee stores.
Leachman will also be one of the judges at a dance contest that same weekend at the University of Nebraska/Omaha. Leachman was a contestant on TV’s “Dancing with the Stars” two seasons ago.