Mel Brook's is 90 years young today

[leftynyc]

A true comic genius. Happy Birthday Mel.

http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-arts-and-culture/206140/a-conversation-with-mel-brooks


Kaminsky—better known as director, producer, writer, actor, and stand-up comic Mel Brooks—had come to the theater as part of an intermittently year-long U.S. whistle-stop tour on the 42nd anniversary of the release of his 1974 film Blazing Saddles, which late critic Roger Ebert first described as “a crazed grab-bag of a movie that does everything to keep us laughing except hit us over the head with a rubber chicken.”

Since last October Brooks has been on the road and done a dozen personal appearances around the country. They screen his film, and then up pops Mel, who got his start as a teenage tummeler at Borscht Belt resorts in the Catskills and then turned out a series of comedic screen spoofs that have skewered every cinematic genre and topic known to man: Westerns, Horror films (Young Frankenstein, 1974), and sci-fi movies (Spaceballs, 1987). Hitler got the Mel Brooks treatment in The Producers—the 1967 film that was resurrected as a Broadway musical in 2002 and went on to win 12 Tonys. Alfred Hitchcock got the Brooks treatment in the 1977 film High Anxiety. And in 1981 Brooks took on the rest of human history with The History of the World Part 1, in which he played five roles—in addition to writing, producing, and directing.

[tonyt53]

1. Blazing Saddles is my favorite movie of all time!

[leftynyc]

2. Truly one of the comedy greats

Also Young Frankenstein and High Anxiety. I know those three the best and could recite just about every single line. I remember always thinking what an unlikely couple he and Anne Bancroft were and also remember my heart breaking for him when she died. He loved her so much.

[Fritz Walter]

21. First, Mazeltov Mel!

I grew up(!) watching his films, from The Twelve Chairs to The Producers (both versions are excellent) to his more recent productions -- too numerous to mention here.

What stands out in my memory is Christmas night 2009, when I took my Taiwanese exchange student on my annual circuit of visiting family and friends., At one stop, our hosts cued up Young Frankenstein, and everyone in the room lip-synced the dialog.
Talk about your culture shock. I don't think the poor kid has recovered since.

L'Chaim!

[mcar]

11. Mine too

He is a genius!

[xfundy]

3. A genius.

Did a lot to add to the collective consciousness of humanity.

[Botany]

4. The greatest actor, doing the greatest lines, from the best movie in the history of movies

[underpants]

5. Are we awake?

Bart: Are we awake?
Jim: We're not sure. Are we... black?
Bart: Yes, we are.
Jim: Then we're awake... but we're very puzzled.

[Botany]

6. Mongo: Mongo only pawn... in game of life.

[Kelvin Mace]

10. Do you need any help?

Jim: Oh... All I can get.

[iandhr]

20. Ballad of Rock Ridge.

And of course "Where are the white women at"

[annabanana]

7. His nephew is my rep in Albany!

(Got a robo-call from Uncle Mel during his election)

[leftynyc]

25. That's awesome

I would have had a hard time deleting that message - at least before I played it for everyone I know.

[Behind the Aegis]

8. Excuse me, while I whip this out.

Just Say when.
After dinner.



Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees! Ah.

[mcar]

12. ..

[leftynyc]

26. Sitting in my office ROARING with laughter

So many great lines. Even my niece (21 years old) can recite Young Frankenstein. Many of his movies could not be made today - too politically incorrect.

[spanone]

9. K&R...

[bigwillq]

13. HBD, MB (nt)

[Rex]

14. I am 45 and if I live another lifetime, I will still never see anything as funny as this.

This is total movie mastery, nobody can ever repeat what Mel Brooks has done.

[niyad]

15. k and r for a comic genius!

[joeybee12]

16. Happy 90th Mel!

He's given me lots and lots of laughs over the years.

[trof]

17. Can't believe BS was 42 years ago.

Did I do the math right?
I can still watch it today and crack up.

The only movie I ever walked out of was Brook's "High Anxiety".
meh

[iandhr]

18. Awesome

There are so many great Mel Brooks moment out there. And many of my favorites have been shared.


Here are some additional ones.

The last supper

The people are revolting

It's good to be the king

[mucifer]

19. Here is Mel and Carl on "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" with Jerry

http://comediansincarsgettingcoffee.com/carl-reiner-mel-brooks-i-want-sandwiches-i-want-chicken

My people know how to make you laugh. So proud to be Jewish!

[dhill926]

22. was at a screening of Blazing Saddles in H-wood about 6 years ago....

packed audience knew every line....and Mel's Q & A was priceless. "Oy, I used so many bad words!"

[sarge43]

23. Many happy returns, Mr Brooks. n/t

[davidn3600]

24. "Why didn't someone tell me my ass was so big!!"

[merrily]

27. A few years ago, someone told a story about his late wife, Ann Bancroft.

Could have been Baba Wawa on The View, but I am not sure.

Anyway, the story was that people were having a light discussion about heaven and hell. Ann Bancroft said, "I think I wanna go wherever Mel Brooks goes."

[longship]

28. What a fantastic thread!

Happy happy Mel!


R&K