In the quirky comedy “Transylvania 6-5000,” we follow the misadventures of Jack Harrison (Jeff Goldblum) and Gil Turner (Ed Begley Jr.), two writers for a supermarket-grade tabloid known as The Sensation. Jack, a serious journalist, views this job as a stepping stone to a prestigious career at Time magazine, while Gil is a gangling yes-man eager to win his father’s approval.
The story kicks off when Mac Turner (Norman Fell), Gil’s father and the tabloid’s owner, receives a homemade videotape featuring two terrified men fleeing from what they believe to be Frankenstein’s monster. With a waist-down shot of the alleged creature, Mac sends Jack and Gil on a mission to Transylvania to uncover the truth. He warns them that if they return empty-handed again, they will both be fired. Their task? To bring back a sensational story that will headline “Frankenstein Lives!”
After a series of travel mishaps involving planes, trains, and buses, Jack and Gil finally arrive in Transylvania. As they step off the bus, Jack’s attention is immediately drawn to Elizabeth Ellison (Teresa Ganzel), a charming tourist from New York City, whom he attempts to flirt with. Meanwhile, Gil dives headfirst into their assignment, only to be met with ridicule when he questions a hotel clerk about Frankenstein, leading to laughter from the staff and patrons, including the local mayor, Lepescu (Jeffrey Jones).
Jack quickly rescues Gil from further embarrassment, and they head to their hotel, which resembles a 17th-century castle but is ironically adorned with an “Opening Soon!” banner. Upon arrival, they are greeted by Fejos (Michael Richards), a butler with a peculiar sense of humor. During brunch with Mayor Lepescu, they also meet Radu (John Byner), the mayor’s hunchbacked manservant, and his wife Lupi (Carol Kane).
As they settle in, both Jack and Gil sense that something is amiss in Transylvania, despite the locals’ laughter and dismissive attitudes, including that of Inspector Percek (Božidar Smiljanić), the head of local police. Their investigation leads them to Madame Morovia (Inge Appelt), a gypsy woman who insists they must continue their pursuit of the truth.
Throughout their journey, they encounter a series of real-life horror creatures, including the Wolfman, Larry (Donald Gibb), a nymphomaniac vampire named Odette (Geena Davis), and a swamp monster named Twisto, who comically grabs Gil in a panic. These encounters add a layer of absurdity to their mission, making it clear that Transylvania is not what it seems.
As the plot thickens, Jack and Gil learn about a Sicilian doctor, Victorio Malavaqua (Joseph Bologna), who has lost his medical license. They discover that Malavaqua has been conducting experiments in a sanatorium. Gil attempts to make an appointment but is initially rebuffed by a guard. Undeterred, he sneaks in and overhears a conversation between Percek and Malavaqua about the latter’s “experiments,” which include a patient named Kurt Hunyadi, who fits the description of Frankenstein’s monster.
As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Malavaqua has faked Hunyadi’s death and is, in fact, his creator, along with that of Odette, Larry, and Twisto. This revelation adds a layer of complexity to their investigation, as Malavaqua’s madness seems to surface only within the confines of his laboratory.
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The climax of “Transylvania 6-5000” occurs when Jack is attacked by the Wolfman. In a frantic attempt to save him, Gil inadvertently gets captured by the creature. When the police arrive, they refuse to believe Jack’s wild story and lock him up. However, Elizabeth manages to rescue him, only to discover that the entire police force is at a wine festival instead of searching for her missing daughter, Laura.
As the chaos unfolds, the townspeople are horrified when the monster appears, carrying Laura in his arms. Initially thought to be dead, it is later revealed that she was merely sleeping. Jack and Gil confront Malavaqua, explaining his actions to the townspeople, who learn that he was genuinely trying to create normal lives for those considered outcasts.