Young Frankenstein who, as Elizabeth did when abducted by the monster, sings the refrain "Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life". After several box office failures (which included now-cult classics "The Producers" and "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory"), Gene Wilder finally hit box office success with a pivotal role in the 1972 Woody Allen film "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask)". It was around that time that Wilder began toying around with an idea for an original story involving the grandson of Victor Frankenstein inheriting his grandfather's mansion and his research. Wilder had played around with
Irène Bordoni pictures including "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask)" (1972), "Pennies from Heaven" (1981) and "Bullets Over Broadway" (1994). Porter later included Bordoni's name in the lyrics of his song "You're the Top" ("you're the eyes of Irène Bordoni") from the musical "Anything Goes" (1934). Throughout her Broadway career, Bordoni was renowned for wearing only the most stylish of clothes, including costumes by Erté. During this time, Bordoni appeared in Lucky Strike cigarette advertisements with the quip, "I smoke a Lucky to keep petite," which was said to have contributed to the tremendous increase