History of the World -- Part I

Starring:J.J. Barry, Sid Caesar, Ron Carey, Susette Carroll, Rudy De Luca, Dom DeLuise, Earl Finn, Leigh French, Shecky Greene, Gregory Hines, Mary-Margaret Humes, Madeline Kahn, Richard Karron, Suzanne Kent, Harvey Korman, Cloris Leachman, Sammy Shore, Pamela Stephenson, Orson Welles
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com essential video

Mel Brooks's 1981, three-part comedy--set in the Stone Age, the Roman Empire, and the French Revolution--is pure guilty pleasure. Narrated by Orson Welles and featuring a lot of famous faces in guest appearances (beyond the official cast), the film opens well with Sid Caesar playing a caveman, then moves along to the unlikely but somehow hilarious juxtaposition of Caesar's soldiers (the other Caesar, not Sid) with pot humor, and ends on a dumb-funny note in the French bloodbath. This is a take-it-or-leave-it movie, and it works best if you're in a take-it-or-leave-it mood. --Tom Keogh

Description

Mel Brooks' uproarious version of history proves nothing is sacred as he takes us on a laugh-filled look at what really happened throughout time. His delirious romp features everything from a wild send-up of "2001" to the real stories behind the Roman Empire (Brooks portrays a stand-up philosopher at Caesar's Palace), the French Revolution (Brooks reigns as King Louis XVI) and the Spanish Inquisition (a splashy song-and-dance number with monks and swimming nuns.) It's Mel and company at their hilarious best.

Customer Reviews:

Not one of Mel Brook's best but still funny and entertaining........2007-06-08

An anthology of three generations through time from the dawn of man, to the time of Moses (Mel Brooks) to the Roman empire with the story of Julia Caesar (Dom DeLuise) and Christ (John Hurt) to the Spanish Inquisition and finally the French Revolution with King Louis XVI (Mel Brooks).

Highly entertaining and funny parody of history and the bible that has some of the charm of Mel Brooks but it's not as good as his "Young Frankenstein", "Blazing Saddles", "Spaceballs", "The Producers" or even "Robin Hood: Men In Tights". There is a good supporting cast such as Madeline Khan, Sid Caesar, Jackie Mason, Gregory Hines, Cloris Leachman, Harvey Korman and narrated by Orson Welles with Mel Brooks playing multiple roles, the real showstopper of the movie is the funny musical number called "The Spanish Inquisition".

The DVD has excellent picture and sound with one extra that is a trailer, still it's a must have if you like Mel Brooks.

Una de las Peliculas Mas Comicas de Todos los Tiempos.......2007-05-29

Esta pelicula la ví desde que tenía aproximadamente 13 años de edad y desde ese entonces marcó para mi el conocer y enteder el humor desde otro punto de vista diferente al latino. Mel Brooks, gran genio, nos ha hecho reir de muchas formas y lo único que hay que reclamarle, es que nos haya dejado solo con la primera parte, quedando pendiente una segunda, tercera y así hasta que la historia lo permita.

Mel Brooks at his best!.......2007-05-27

I recently bought this film remembering the funny moments such as "run with mucus" and "ping pong" also "the Inquisition" and especally the "roman red" scene oh this was hilarious in its day. but alas, as we get older this just doesn't seem as funny as it used to. however, if you haven't seen this then you might want to have a needle and thread near you while watching it in case you split your sides because this is comedy at its old days best! from the dawn of man, through the roman empire, and even into space! this fantasy/comedy will delight all those age 17+ perhaps even a little younger as this might seem quite a bit more tame by todays standards. there are a few comments/scenes in this I really wouldn't want kids to hear/see other then that its a really funny film.
lost a star because some of the jokes may seem a bit dated. 4 stars
mel brooks should have made a sequel.

Still as funny as it was 20-something years ago.......2007-05-14

Mel Brooks has been one of the greats in comedy for decades--if you're looking for pure comic entertainment, don't miss this film! I only wish he had actually made [might make?] a "History of the World, Part II."

Funny, but I probably wouldn't watch it twice.......2007-05-10

I bought this not long ago. I thought it would be one of those comical movies I could watch over and over when nothing good was on TV. It was amusing, but, I couldn't sit down and watch it again. It's one of those "Napoleon Dynamite" movies, you either love it or hate it.

Average customer rating:

Not one of Mel Brook's best but still funny and entertaining.
Una de las Peliculas Mas Comicas de Todos los Tiempos
Mel Brooks at his best!
Still as funny as it was 20-something years ago
Funny, but I probably wouldn't watch it twice

History of the World -- Part I
Starring: J.J. Barry , Sid Caesar , Ron Carey , Susette Carroll , and Rudy De Luca
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Satire | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Slapstick | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video