Mel Brooks!
- Aberforth Wall
- Jul 30
- 7 min read
Mel Brooks, an American actor, director, producer, comedian, and songwriter. Born June 28th 2026, and famously Jewish.
His production company is Brooksfilms.
He married Anne Bancroft: m 1964 - until he death in 2005 (that's 40 years).
He was close friends with Carl Rainer.
He has had famous collaborations with: Dom DeLuise. Harvey Korman. Madeline Kahn. Cloris Leachman. Marty Feldman. and of course Gene Wilder!
He was a writer on:
Your Show of Shows (1950-1954).
Ceasar's Hour (1958)
Get Smart (1965-1970)
Film adaptation (2008)
He and Carl Rainer made a number of comedy albums:
2000 Years I (1960)
2000 Years II (1961)
2000 Years III (1962)
2000 Years IV (1973)
2000 Year Old Man (1975)
2000 Years V (1997)
He directed 11 features films listed below.
The Producers (1967)
Turned into a musical in 2001
Remade as a musical film in 2005
The Twelve Chairs (1970)
Blazing Saddles (1974)
Young Frankenstein (1974)
Musical version (2007)
Getting a TV show - it's in production as of my writing
Silent Movie (1976)
High Anxiety (1977)
History of the World pt I (1981)
History of the World pt II series (2023)
Spaceballs (1987)
Spaceballs II, the New One (2027)
Life Stinks (1991)
Robin Hood Men in Tights (1993)
Dracula Dead and Loving It (1995)
He acted in a number of films he did not direct:
The Muppet Movie as Dr. Krassman (1979)
To Be or Not to Be as Dr. Bronski (1983)
Hotel Transylvania II (2015) and III (2018) as Vlad
Toy Story 4 as Melephant (2019)
He produced a few movies:
Fatso (1980)
Loose Shoes (1980)
The Elephant man (1980), from David Lynch!
The Doctor and the Devils (1985)
The Fly (1986), from David Cronenberg!
Fly II (1989)
Solarbabies (1986)
Some of his movies are musicals!
The Producers (2001)
Young Frankenstein (2007)
The Producers (1967)
Mel was 41 years old
Tag: HOLLYWOOD NEVER FACED A ZANIER ZERO HOUR!
It tells the story of a Play (broadway) producer in New York who isn’t financially well off and is just a nice guy doing his best… and maybe his best is grifting, and conning. Who are any of us to judge? Zero Mostel is so perfect in the role Bialystack - especially against Gene Wilder’s Leo Bloom who is playing a sort of uptight, naive, accountant who realizes an ingenious way to make money: make a flop! Thus Springtime for Hitler is born! Sadly, the audience loves it because Hilter is played by a… well in a comedic way. From there things get crazier, or should I say… Wilder!
It got a musical adaptation in 2001, which Brooks was heavily involved and won a Tony for… actually a lot of Tony’s.
“At the 2001 Tony Awards, The Producers won 12 out of its 15 nominations, breaking the record of 10 wins set by Hello, Dolly! in 1964. It was one of the few musicals to win in every category for which it was nominated (...). Its record for most nominations was tied in 2009 by Billy Elliot the Musical and broken in 2016 when Hamilton received 16 nominations, but its record number of wins still stands, as of 2025; Hamilton is second, with 11 wins.” - Wikipedia.
The Twelve Chairs (1970)
Tag: A WILD AND HILARIOUS CHASE FOR A FORTUNE IN JEWELS.
One of many adaptations of the Russian novel of the same name.
This is an incredibly Russian story and unlike any other movie by Brooks. I loved it. It’s basically about class, poverty, resources, and once again… some nice con men. I think Mel Brooks could have made a great Aladdin.
It’s staring Ron Moody and a very young Frank Langella. Mel Brooks is also in it, marking his first big film role. As is Dom DeLouise who will be in many of his films… 6 is Wiki is to be believed.
Blazing Saddles (1974)
Tag: …OR NEVER GIVE A SAGA AN EVEN BREAK!
… need I say more!?! This might actually be a perfect film.
Richard Pryor was one of a few writers - because he couldn't play Sheriff Bart.
Gene Wilder came onto the shoot late, taking over for another actor.
This movie marks the first film he teams up with Harvey Korman and Madeline Kahn - who he will work with frequently. According to credits Dom DeLuise is in there too…
OH man! This movie has one liners, gags, references, it’s meta, it’s smart but simple - simple enough everyone can understand it’s message. Bigots are morons and need to change and we are only pawns in the game of life…
Young Frankenstein (1974)
Tag: THE SCARIEST COMEDY OF ALL TIME!
Letterboxd: Most Popular + Highest Rated
Gene Wilder had the idea for this film and asked Brooks to direct. They wrote it together - but based on interviews in the Wilder and Brooks docs, it seems like Wilder wrote most of it with Brooks oversight.
This movie might be a perfect Frankenstein parody - specifically of the James Whale films. And they got away with making it in glorious black and white! Amazing.
Cloris Leachman is so underrated. Madeline Khan is back for this movie.
Gene wrote it specifically - according to his doc - because his agent was also Peter Boyle and Marty Feldman’s agent and thought they’d work well together. And you know what, they did! Feldman would go on to work with Brooks again.
Young Frankenstein and Blazing Saddles might be the movies I quote the most and both my go-to comedies.
This also got a musical adaptation in… 2007?
Silent Movie (1976)
Tag: MADE IN HOLLYWOOD. U.S.A.
Mel Brooks, Marty Feldman and Dom DeLouise star in a silent movie (in color) about making a movie…
“Aspiring filmmakers Mel Funn, Marty Eggs and Dom Bell go to a financially troubled studio with an idea for a silent movie. In an effort to make the movie more marketable, they attempt to recruit a number of big name stars to appear, while the studio’s creditors attempt to thwart them.” - Letterboxd.
It’s pretty fun - if you’re a fan of silent film comedies I fully recommend this.
My favorite part is the famous mime (never thought I’d say that) Marcel Marceau has the only spoken like of dialogue. Hilarious joke.
High Anxiety (1977)
Tag: DANGER, INTRIGUE, ROMANCE…AND A TOUCH OF KINKINESS!
High Anxiety is a parody of Hitchcock films done perfectly. They really took the time to shoot and score it like a Hitchcock film… but it’s staring Brooks, Harvey Korman, Cloris Leachman, and Madeline Khan.
I will say even if you aren’t familiar enough with Hitchcock’s work - I think this movie still totally works on its own - similar to Young Frankenstein.
History of the World pt I (1981)
Tag: TEN MILLION YEARS IN THE MAKING. THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND EVERYTHING, BUT THE TRUTH!
“An uproarious version of history that proves nothing is sacred – not even the Roman Empire, the French Revolution and the Spanish Inquisition.” Letterboxd.
Like Blazing Saddles this is SO filled with endlessly quotable one liners, and gags.
Staring: Gregory Heines, Dom DeLouise, Madeline Khan, Harvey Korman
Note - Bea Arthur makes an appearance.
My favorite part is the musical Spanish Inquisition number about Torquimada… imagining just saying that to someone who has never seen this!
There is a TV show sequel that Hulu released in 2023.
Spaceballs (1987)
Tag: MAY THE SCHWARTZ BE WITH YOU.
A Star Wars parody made with George Lucas’ permission… it’s SO funny.
Dude Bill Pullman and John Candy as Han and Chewie - flying in a space Winnebago. Perfect. Rick Moranis only had hits - but Dark Helmet is high up there amongst the greatness.
Again… I really think you can watch without parody without having seen Star Wars and still find it so funny.
I’m excited for the sequel that’s coming out this year. I don’t know the director but I know Josh Gad is a writer and producer on it.
Life Stinks (1991)
Tag: FROM FORTUNE 500 … TO FORTUNE’S FOOL.
“Affluent and arrogant businessman Goddard Bolt [Brooks], feuding with rival Vance Crasswell [Jeffrey Tambor] over a land deal, makes a bet with Crasswell that he has the wits and street smarts to live penniless and anonymous on the rough streets of Los Angeles for thirty days. But Bolt has a rude awakening when the reality of homelessness hits him. Still, he finds a silver lining in a burgeoning romance with Molly, a former Broadway dancer who has fallen on hard times.” - Letterboxd.
Letterboxd: Least Popular
Miss Scarlett from Clue is in this… I still don’t understand how she can look SO much like Susan Sarandon in that movie - she doesn’t even look like herself. I fully did not recognize her as the same person. It’s baffling. She has a meltdown in the movie that’s absolutely legendary - and makes me hate the ending. Give this woman $$ and leave her alone.
I think this movie humanized homeless people in an era that simply, and cruelly did not. But, of all his films, this is my least favorite.
There is a scene where Jefferey Tambor seemed honestly concerned about Brooks’ character and I thought that would be interesting - if he legitimately was just trying to teach him a lesson but nope he’s just rich and evil… it’s a bit one dimensional. Honestly… Brooks’ character should have been the bad guy who learns a lesson.
While I think Brooks was ahead of his time in a lot of ways and willing to be experimental and edgy… he also often played it safe in terms of not blurring the lines of good guy vs bad guy. While there are ethical conversations, they’re really surface level. Bad guy is bad guy and good guy is good guy. And bad guys are bad because they’re greedy.
Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993)
Tag: THE LEGEND HAD IT COMING…
A parody of Robin Hood, that you know what, it’s did have coming.
Carey Elwes as Robin Hood might be Brooks’ best casting.
I honestly don’t think anyone has done parody as well as Mel Brooks. Full stop. At this point there are also a lot of self-referential jokes - like gags from Young Frankenstein and references to Blazing Saddles.
I like this way more than Prince of Thieves, aka the movie it’s satirizing.
Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995)
Mel made this movie at 69 years old.
Tag: YOU’LL LAUGH UNTIL YOU DIE…THEN YOU’LL RISE FROM THE DEAD AND LAUGH AGAIN!
Letterboxd: Lowest Rated
Leslie Nelson as Dracula in the parody… need I say more?
Well, I will, Peter MacNicol is SO SO SO good as Renfield, he’s totally channeling Dwight Frye from the ‘31 version.
Harvey Korman and Steven Webber are so funny.
And Brooks himself as Van Helsing, perfect.
I quote this movie just as much as Young Frankenstein.
Amy Yasbeck - who was Maid Marion in Robin Hood is Mina in this and does well in both. But Lysette Anthony as Lucy though!?!
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