"FRANKENWEENIE"

• 1984 - COMEDY SHORT...PG Rating...B&W/27 Minutes

• DIRECTOR: Tim Burton

• CAST: Shelley Duvall, Daniel Stern, Barret Oliver, Paul Bartel, Joseph Maher, Jason Hervey

• A wonderfully inventive adaptation of Universal's original Horror production! The seeds of Burton's genius can be easily espied in this delightful modernization of the Shelley classic! Burton's first contribution to the world of film, while employed at Disney studios; is funny, sad, taut, insightful, silly, and exciting; and all of this in less than a half hour! Modern sit-com producers could learn a lot from this filmmaker!

• The story is essentially the same, with different, though familiar trappings. Whereas, the original film elicited terror and awe in an archaic foreign land; Burton's update, takes us to a modern suburbia. The "Mad Doctor" is now an inventive, young boy; who loves the family dog. (The only pitbull I've ever been able to feel even the slightest sympathy for!)*

• We are introduced, alternatively, to the various neighbors and local "characters" that populate this "Anytown, U.S.A.". The utter "normalcy" of this village is part of the running joke. Much like the Twilight Zone episode..."THE MONSTERS ARE DUE ON MAPLE STREET"; Burton's town is infested with human foible. After the accidental death of the pitbull, the distraught boy decides to bring him back to life. His laboratory "equipment" is hysterical! Watch for fan favorite Paul Bartel as a biology professor! There is even a great paean to that terrible "B" sci-fi flick, "INVASION OF THE SAUCERMEN!". I cannot divulge much more of the plot without spoiling it. However, suffice it to say, "This is a treat for all ages! I haven't laughed so hard since Mel Brooks' classic, "YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN". By the way, as with everything produced by DISNEY, this picture is "Kid-friendly"!

  

• The "FRANKENSTEIN" mythos, has been a standard of Fantasy for decades. The roots of this "life after death" imagery, can be traced to Man's earliest history. Mary Shelley originally titled her book, A MODERN PROMETHEUS; not the more familiar, FRANKENSTEIN. (Incidentally, this classic was written as the result of a wager between Mary, her husband, and a small group of friends, isolated during a week filled with storms and dreary boredom. The only other notable creation from that wager, was VAMPYR, written by family friend Polidari.) The allusion to Greek mythology was not casual. For as long as Man has lived, he has dreamed of conquering death. The idea of returning from the dead, reincarnation, and an after-life; all bring hope to tortured souls unable to resolve, and make peace with their own mortalities.

• Ancient cultures like the Egyptians, and the Aztecs; spent their entire lives preparing for death. There are people who laugh at the folly of those cultures, but people are still obsessed with the fear of death.

• Mummification has been replaced today, by cryogenics. (Most often, the Cryogenics people, only preserve the head of their "client". Future "revivers" would most certainly be required to act as Doctor/Baron Frankenstein, in order to fulfill their contracts!) So modern man has obviously learned very little from the wisdom of the ancients.

* - Kudos to Alicia A. Knapp of Minnesota, USA. She emailed me with a friendly nudge that the dog used in this film is not a "Pit Bull", but a Bull Terrier. I stand corrected, and thank Ms. Knapp for her welcome comments!

SEE ALSO: BATMAN/BATMAN RETURNS