For more than half a century, Mel Brooks has written, directed and starred in some of the greatest comedies of all time. With films that pushed boundaries, demolished stereotypes and poked fun at everyone under the sun, the EGOT winner was a constant source of entertainment as well great stories that seem too good to be true.
The Elder Statesman of American comedy is back in the spotlight with the release of his star-studded film Hulu Original Series, History of the World, Part II, now seems like a good time to revisit not just some of Brooks best films but all of them and also where to see them. There’s a lot to unpack here, so let’s start with that…
The Producers (1968)
When struggling Broadway producer Max Bialystock (Zero Mostel) and his new accountant Leo Bloom (Gene Wilder) discover a loophole that allows them to keep all the money raised for their new show in case it flops. The pair put together what might be the most outrageous production of all time: Springtime for Hitler.
Since its release in 1967, Mel Brooks’ The producers has developed into one of the funniest and most momentous musicals of all time and has even been adapted several times, including a 2005 remake also directed by the comedy legend.
Hire the Producers (1967) at Amazon. (opens in new tab)
Also try: The Producers (2005) on Amazon. (opens in new tab)
The Twelve Chairs (1970)
Released 1970, Mel Brooks’ adaptation of The twelve chairs follows Ippolit Matveyevich Vorobyaninov (Ron Moody), a former aristocrat whose fortune went out the window during the Bolshevik Revolution when he teams up with local con artist Ostap Bender (Frank Langella) to find his mother-in-law’s missing jewels in one of 12 chairs sewn in. But the unlikely pair is not alone in their quest, as a corruptible priest named Father Fyodor (Dom DeLuise) is also after the hidden treasure.
Buy The Twelve Chairs on DVD from Amazon. (opens in new tab)
Flaming Saddles (1974)
Mel Brooks’ All time great parody film, flaming saddles, poke fun at everything and everyone under the sun with his story about a railroad magnate (Harvey Korman) who hires a black man (Cleavon Little) as sheriff of a small frontier town to wreak havoc and more easily destroy the community for his new line. But as the wild, wild story unfolds, getting the Johnsons of Rock Ridge to leave their homes, the new sheriff, and his drunken gunman (Gene Wilder) is no easy task.
Almost 50 years later, Flaming Saddles is just as controversial than the day it was published.
Rent/buy Blazing Saddles on Amazon. (opens in new tab)
Young Frankenstein (1974)
One of The best films from 20th Century FoxBrooks’ 1974 horror comedy, young frankenstein, follows dr Frederick Frankenstein (Gene Wilder) who discovers he is the heir to his grandfather’s estate and all that goes with it. Just like Mary Shelly’s classic horror novel, this black-and-white romp brings the aspiring scientist back to life from the dead, but this monster (Peter Boyle) is just keen to “get on the Ritz.”
Stream Young Frankenstein on HBO Max. (opens in new tab)
Silent Movie (1976)
In 1976 Brooks went old school with his slapstick comedy, silent movie, which, as the name suggests, contained no dialogue. Don’t be put off by the lack of command of the spoken word, however, as all of his physical humor and incredibly crafted scenes are all here and better than ever in the story of a once-successful Hollywood director attempting to make a silent film in the 1970s Hollywood.
Buy silent film on DVD from Amazon. (opens in new tab)
High Fear (1977)
psychoanalysis and Alfred Hitchcock films becoming the target of his unique brand of satirical comedy in the 1977 parody film, High Fear. Brooks plays Dr. Richard Thorndyke, an overly neurotic psychiatrist who, after a recent promotion, begins to experience a series of increasingly troublesome occurrences. Diagnosed with “high anxiety,” the hapless doctor finds himself in all sorts of danger as he tries to figure out what’s actually happening to him.
Rent/buy High Anxiety on Amazon. (opens in new tab)
History of the World, Part I (1981)
From the Dawn of Mankind to the French Revolution, his 1981 comedy classic, History of the World Part I, narrates some of civilization’s greatest, brightest, and most ridiculous moments, including what came out of the other five commandments, a song and dance number for the Spanish Inquisition, and more.
Stream History of the World Part I on Hulu. (opens in new tab)
Borrow/Buy History of the World, Part I on Amazon. (opens in new tab)
Space Balls (1987)
What could very well be one of the best films for any member of its cast, 1987 space balls seen Brooks do it war of stars what he did with this iconic space opera comedy blending westerns, horror movies and human history. The film follows space pilot Lone Star (Bill Pullman) and his hybrid human-canine companion Barf (John Candy) as they attempt to rescue Princess Vespa (Daphne Zuniga) from the clutches of Dark Helmet (Rick Moranis). And seriously we can finally get it Spaceballs 2: The Quest for More Money?
Stream Spaceballs on AMC+.
Rent/buy spaceballs on Amazon. (opens in new tab)
Life Stinks (1991)
Successful businessman Goddard Bolt (Brooks) takes his feud with rival Vance Crasswell (Jeffrey Tambor) to the next level when he makes a bet that he will spend a month on the streets of Los Angeles with nothing but the clothes on his back could survive. In Life stinksthe arrogant and ungracious Bolt quickly finds that he is not as well equipped for life as a poor man as he once thought.
Stream Life Stinks on Tubi.
Rent/buy Life Stinks on Amazon. (opens in new tab)
Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993)
Although it received bad reviews when it was first publishedhis 1993 adventure parody comedy, Robin Hood: men in tights, has since become a cult classic with its tale of Robin of Loxley (Cary Elwes) and his crusade to reclaim his family home from the clutches of Prince John (Richard Lewis). However, that might not be the biggest obstacle the returning noble will face on his epic and hilarious journey.
Stream Robin Hood: Men in Tights on HBO Max. (opens in new tab)
Robin Hood: Rent/Buy Men in Tights at Amazon. (opens in new tab)
Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995)
More than 20 years after he poked fun at Frankenstein, Mel Brooks turned to another horror icon Dracula: Dead and Loving It. The film follows Count Dracula (Leslie Nielsen) as he moves out of his desolate castle and finds a new life in Victorian London, where he also finds a new source of blood in the city’s bouncy social scene. However, when the fiancé of one of his victims shows up, Dracula’s longtime nemesis Van Helsing (Brooks) comes into the picture to settle things once and for all.
Stream Dracula: Dead and Loving It on Tubi.
Rent/Buy Dracula: Dead and Loving It on Amazon. (opens in new tab)
Well, that’s all the movies either written or directed by Mel Brooks and how to watch them. And while many of his acting roles have been dropped from the list, we may return to some of those again The little rascals, toy story 4, The Hotel Transylvania moviesand countless others in the future.
