Mel Brooks credited a talented cast, strong writing and a great story as the reasons behind the success of "Young Frankenstein," the classic odd-ball comedy which was honored Tuesday night (September 09).<br/> <br />The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presented the 88-year-old filmmaker with a special 40th anniversary screening of the 1974 film which paid homage to the Golden Age of monster movies.<br/> <br />Brooks told Reuters that he knew early on that the movie, shot in black-and-white against the protest of studio executives and almost never made because of it, would be a hit.<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE Mel Brooks saying (English):<br/> <br />"The crew was screwing us up, they were laughing with every scene. We couldn't get anything done. So, I went out and bought a thousand handkerchiefs. I gave everyone one, 'I said that if you feel like laughing shove this in your mouth.' So they would stick this in their mouth and I would do a scene and I would turn around and I would see a sea of white ha
