There’s one reference I still don’t get.
When Harvey Korman says, “Ah yes, the Doctor Gillespie Killings.”
No clue.
Don’t ask me. I think Gillespie was the name of Dr. Kildare’s mentor but don’t quote me. :)
Boris the hangman is about to hang a dignified-looking older gentleman in a wheelchair and Hedley Lamarr says: "Yes, the Dr. Gillespie killings."The dignified-looking older gent is supposed to be Lionel Barrymore who played Dr. Gillespie in a series of films in the early to mid forties.
Mr. Barrymore was stricken with a very serious condition of arthritis which had him confined to a wheelchair. He was only supposed to live a year or so but that year lasted long enough to become several years' worth of books and movies that went on and on and on.
He continued acting in his wheelchair playing crotchety Dr. Gillespie, mentor of Dr. Kildare as played by Lew Ayres.
The films are:
Dr. Gillespie's New Assistant
Calling Dr. Gillespie
Dr. Gillespie's Criminal CaseSo "The Dr. Gillespie Killings" is Mel Brooks' twisted take on what he considers should have been the last Dr. Gillepsie film.