Fronkonsteen or Frankenstein?
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Young Frankenstein
daniz96 — 10 years ago(July 24, 2015 06:21 PM)
So, after Gene Wilder's character said that his name was pronounced "Fronkonsteen" (the (English) subtitles wrote it like that), I got a bit be
wilder
ed.
Is this actually how Frankenstein is pronounced, or is it just a joke? I haven't actually seen any other Frankenstein movies, with the exception of the Frankenstein short film from 1910. -
MitchConnor24 — 10 years ago(July 26, 2015 01:40 PM)
It's surprising that you have only seen the Frankenstein movie from 1910 (I've not see this), before any other version.
Anyway, as regards to your question, I think the pronounciation may be a joke on 'Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde'. Traditionally the original London play (and 1931 Fredric March movie) they pronounced it Dr. Jee-kall, but everyone else and every movie since pronounce it Jeck-all.
Perhaps I'm looking into this too much though -
mikeyg24 — 10 years ago(August 08, 2015 09:27 PM)
I just figured he was so ashamed at the legacy of the name he changed the pronunciation so that the scientific community wouldn't associate him with his whacky Grandfather. Either that or he was merely pretentious.
I've had a lot of sobering thoughts in my time Del Boy, it's them that started me drinking! -
costumrs — 10 years ago(August 10, 2015 07:59 PM)
I would say your first statement is correct. I've never heard anyone else think anything else.
He even says it himself:
"I'd rather be remembered for my own small contributions to science rather than my accidental relationship to a famous kook."
I may not have the exact words correct since its been awhile since I watched the film; but that was the gist of it. -
mad_roke — 10 years ago(October 17, 2015 01:20 PM)
The proper way would be Frankenstein. He wants to be called Fronkensteen because he doesn't want to be associated with his ancestors (hence his sudden change of names during the "Monster loves me" scene)
If you'd want to pronounce it as German as possible you'd have to pronounce it Frunkenstein. Our German "A" is pronounced like you'd say the "a" in "hahaha". -
snelling — 10 years ago(November 21, 2015 08:54 AM)
The bigger question is why Igor pronounced the master's first name as "Froderick" since there is no 'O' in the name at all. Maybe "Freederick" but it's too late now.
"Well, they were wrong then, weren't they?" - Eye-gor -
stevekaczynski — 10 years ago(November 28, 2015 05:59 AM)
I wondered if "Fronkonsteen" was meant to be a Jewish or Yiddish pronunciation of it, whereas "Frankenstein" is more German. There is a lot of Jewish humour in this film, not surprising with Mel Brooks, Marty Feldman, Gene Wilder and Madeleine Kahn involved.