Rating Your Three/Four/etc. Favorite Mel Brooks Films

[MikoTython]

Since Mel Brooks is on our minds, and while Mel Brooks remains among us, we should let him know how much we think of him, to the extent he peruses this wonderful (and wonderfully moderated, let me hasten to add) STL forum. And so, I'll start it out with my likely odd-ball picks n prefs, in order of hilarity :

High Anxiety
Young Frankenstein
History Of The World, Part I
Sherlock Holmes Smarter Brother

[Pink Freud]

1. "Young Frankenstein". During the TCM Classic Films Festival over a decade ago I had an impossible choice, with both screening at the exact same time: See my alltime favorite movie "Chinatown" at the TCL (formerly Grauman's) Chinese Theater with TCM host Robert Osborne, "Chinatown" producer Robert Evans and the scripter Robert Towne on stage for a half-hour live chat before the movie........or go six blocks to the Egyptian Theater to see "Young Frankenstein" with Mel Brooks on stage introducing it and taking audience questions. 12 years ago I finally, for the very first time, saw the original 1931 "Frankenstein" in a theater during a Fathom Events retrospective. I couldn't help but giggle at so many moments that inspired terror in audiences back before Brooks' brilliant satire.

2. "High Anxiety"; I wonder how many non-Hitchcock fans missed the many affectionate homages.

3. "The Producers": I loved the Busby Berkeley tribute near the end as a crazed Harvey Korman ("HEDLEY!") went from Grauman's Chinese Theater to the studio set to wreak havoc.

4. "Blazing Saddles": Brooks wrote the Jewish jokes; Richard Pryor wrote the edgy racial punchlines.

5. "Spaceballs". Even though I surely missed a bunch of "Star Wars" references.

[MikoTython]

What a dead zone this place is - Mel turned 97 today. Happy BD, you old clown.

[edwin drood]

You've got to remember that these are simple farmers.
People of the earth. The common clay of the new west. You know..... Morons.

[Pink Freud]

What a dead zone this place is - Mel turned 97 today. Happy BD, you old clown.

And Clint Eastwood, 94, just released what might be his best film: "Juror No. 2".