Brooks one of the funniest and most talented people on earth has given us so many hours of laughter and fun. Uplifting. Helps immensely to overcome the depression of the daily “news”
The man is a genius, a legend.
Could he Make It TODAY..?
Not a chance in hell.
How many new Mel Brooks are being crushed now..?
We’ll never know.
I was at the racetrack one day eating lunch and I turned and Mel Brooks was at the table right next to me. He is one of the few celebrities that I would get up and walk over to and shake his hand. I didn’t. I just let him finish his lunch in peace. But I had to acknowledge that on that day I was in the presence of greatness.
Stuff you can’t do in film now:
1. Punch a horse
2. Use the N word
3. Hint about black men being gifted in a certain place
4. Joke about the Holocaust
5. Joke about slaves singing
6. Mince around like a total homo
7. Joke about a king shooting a peasant in the head w/shotgun
Those are just a few examples I thought of in 30 seconds
ALL OF IT WAS INNOCENT and hilarious.
Whatever else I think of him he did make some funny stuff.
Also served in the Army in WWII.
Apparently telling the truth is somehow "mean" in McGilligan's world.
Was going to watch Blazing Saddles last Weekend and i can’t remember why i didn’t..try again this weekend. :)
Blazing Saddles...funniest movie ever made!
Not the most attractive description of Mel Brooks.
Although I never met the man, my sister DID have a run-in with Mel and his wife, Anne Bancroft.
My sister is very gregarious and will strike up a conversation with anyone, and quickly become “best friends” with them. It’s made her an excellent bar tender, and for many years now, and extremely successful realtor. but back then, she was in her early 20s, and working at Bloomingdales in Manhattan at their snack bar.
Her boss hated her, and was constantly on her for the smallest thing. One day, her manager’s abuse had her break down and start crying. When she took a break, and was riding the elevator down, an older woman started talking to her, since she was obviously upset, so Jill pretty much told the lady her life story, and her current situation, and why she was crying. It was Anne Bancroft, but my sister didn’t know who she was.
About an hour later, my sister was back at work, and out of nowhere, Anne and Mel come running up to her, making a huge scene, and making it sound like they had known my sister all her life! They told my sister’s boss a story of how they’d been friends with our parents since high school, and how Mel was her God-father! Besides making Jill feel really good, her manager never abused her again.
They were really nice people to do all that.
Mark
For the best interview EVER, here’s Playboy’s interview of Mel: https://www.thedailybeast.com/mel-brooks-is-always-funny-and-often-wise-in-this-1975-playboy-interview
I recently bought his boxed DVD movie collection to add to my collection of movies that will probably be banned at some point. I have them hardcopy now. Blazing Saddles is one of my all time favorites, although I enjoyed Robin Hood Men in Tights more now than I did when I was young. Same for Young Frankenstein.
Serkit, you need to be here.