The movies that everyone secretly loves and won't admit it...Part 2...Mel Brooks' films
It's been a while since I've done a list, so I figured to hell with it. This time around for "Movie's We Secretly Love", I've chosen to chronicle a few of the films that the beloved comedian/writer/director (I officially stand on the conclusion that it should be a "Mel of all trades" instead of Jack from now on, because Mr. Brooks does so much more) Mel Brooks. His name guarantees the highest-class of low-brow comedy. He has had so many films over the years that people still quote and refer to all the time, even today. Here are is a list of his work as a director...
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- DirectorMel BrooksStarsZero MostelGene WilderDick ShawnA stage-play producer devises a plan to make money by producing a sure-fire flop.In the beginning there was "The Producers", still snappy and quick witted, considering it's age. Great performances all around, and wonderful story about two producers who realise that they would make more money if they produced a flop and the show got shut down, than if they had an actual success. A classic film, not just for Brooks, a must-see for any film fan!
- DirectorMel BrooksStarsCleavon LittleGene WilderSlim PickensIn order to ruin a western town, a corrupt politician appoints a black Sheriff, who promptly becomes his most formidable adversary.Brooks' 3rd directorial outing is probably his most famous. Mel Brooks' timing with this western farce was perfect in so many ways, westerns were on their way out, and becoming a bit of a joke in and of themselves, the racial situation in the nation at the time, and perfect blend of parody and strait comedy ever captured on film. Richard Pryor is the only thing missing from this movie, he was set to play the lead, but the studio was afraid his brash humor would scare-away regular old white-folk, but he does still get a writing credit.
- DirectorMel BrooksStarsGene WilderMadeline KahnMarty FeldmanAn American grandson of the infamous scientist, struggling to prove that his grandfather was not as insane as people believe, is invited to Transylvania, where he discovers the process that reanimates a dead body.Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder teamed up again, in Brooks' take on classic horror movies. Another classic with just as many classic moments as "Blazing Saddles", though maybe not as tight of a script, still a classic by any means.
- DirectorMel BrooksStarsMel BrooksMarty FeldmanDom DeLuiseA film director and his strange friends struggle to produce the first major silent feature film in forty years.More charming than funny, but still a decent watch even if at least once, Brooks' love letter to the silent films of ol'.
- DirectorMel BrooksStarsMel BrooksMadeline KahnCloris LeachmanA psychiatrist with intense acrophobia (fear of heights) goes to work for a mental institution run by doctors who appear to be crazier than their patients, and have secrets that they are willing to commit murder to keep.This time Mr. Brooks does his spin on Hitchcock! Again, classic.
- DirectorMel BrooksStarsMel BrooksGregory HinesDom DeLuiseMel Brooks brings his one-of-a-kind comic touch to the history of mankind covering events from the Old Testament to the French Revolution in a series of episodic comedy vignettes.A hilarious romp through time, starting with the beginning, as little skit-like vignettes take us from one important moment of human history to another. The 10 Commandments bit still makes me crack up just thinking about it!!!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE7tTT8khf0
- DirectorMel BrooksStarsMel BrooksJohn CandyRick MoranisA star-pilot for hire and his trusty sidekick must come to the rescue of a princess and save Planet Druidia from the clutches of the evil Spaceballs.Brooks waited a few years between Directing gigs, but when he did return, he came back with a bang, and decided to take on the sci-fi genre head on! Still a cult classic, and damn near a classic, but doesn't get the respect that "The Producers", "Blazing Saddles", and "Young Frankenstein" get. Obviously his most under-appreciated work. May da' scwartz be wit youuuuu!!!!!
- DirectorMel BrooksStarsMel BrooksLesley Ann WarrenJeffrey TamborA filthy rich businessman bets a corporate rival that he can live on the streets of L.A. without the comforts of home or money, which proves to be tougher than he thought.This is that movie in Brooks' life that most Director's have where they put so much into them, and get so little out, and they change as a director from that moment on. Every director seems to have that movie, I could list them for days, but in this case, it was Brooks' first attempt at directing a strait forward comedy. Not a parody or send up. Just a strait forward story. The movie has it's moments but doesn't stand up to his previous work, and unfortunately Brooks' movies after this follow the same pattern as many other Directors.
- DirectorMel BrooksStarsCary ElwesRichard LewisRoger ReesA spoof of Robin Hood in general, and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) in particular.Mr. Brooks went back to what he was known for, following his somewhat of a mis-step with "Life Stinks". Brooks was fresh on the booties of another Robin Hood movie, starring Kevin Costner, and basically just did a by the numbers parody of that movie. Yeah it has it's moments, but here is where you can see that Mr. Brooks is just going through the motions and doing what is expected of him, even more so in his last feature...
- DirectorMel BrooksStarsLeslie NielsenMel BrooksPeter MacNicolMel Brooks' parody of the classic vampire story and its famous film adaptations.Mr. Brooks had stated in interviews at the time, from my memory, that this was supposed to be a counter-part to "Young Frankenstein", but it seems more like someone TRYING to make a Mel Brooks' movie, than an actual Mel Brooks' movie. Only a few scattered laughs in a movie that is even low-brow for Mel.
Mr. Brooks hasn't directed since. He has been working on musical versions of his other movies, and producing, acting and some voice over work. Unfortunately for us he hasn't been making movies since. Maybe someday the bug will bite him again, and we'll get maybe one more good one! We can all hope!!!!