Review #1120: History of the World, Part I.
Cast:
Mel Brooks (Moses / Comicus / Torquemada / Jacques / King Louis XVI), Dom DeLuise (Emperor Nero), Madeline Kahn (Empress Nympho), Harvey Korman (Count de Monet), Cloris Leachman (Madame Defarge), Ron Carey (Swiftus), Gregory Hines (Josephus), Pamela Stephenson (Mademoiselle Rimbaud), Shecky Greene (Marcus Vindictus), Sid Caesar (Chief Caveman), Mary-Margaret Humes (Miriam), Rudy De Luca (Prehistoric Man / Captain Mucus - The Roman Empire), with Orson Welles (Narrator) Directed by Mel Brooks (#061 - Blazing Saddles, #198 - Spaceballs, #248 - Robin Hood: Men in Tights, #361 - The Producers, #364 - High Anxiety, #623 - Silent Movie, and #655 - Young Frankenstein)
Review:
History of the World, Part I was the seventh film directed and written by Brooks, with this being an anthology film based around numerous moments in history such as the Stone Age or Rome, making fun of the epics and dramas involving sword and sandals and period costumes. It's easy to say that this is one of his weaker films, particularly when compared to his other parodies such as Blazing Saddles for Westerns or High Anxiety for suspense films. However, this film does have its moments that work despite a disjointed feel in part because of the jokes that get thrown out through its 92 minute run-time. In a sense, it is like a greasy burger (or if you're a vegetarian, a salad I suppose) at a fast-food joint: it's probably not great for you, but it will serve its purpose handy enough and it has some flavor. The film revels in its crude nature and its puns while messing around with the historical situations that it presents, with Welles providing a narration that proves effective each time he is heard on screen. Brooks does a fine job handling himself in playing multiple roles, making each one have their moments of amusement without becoming too much of a caricature. DeLuise has brief time on screen, but he certainly plays off things fine enough. Kahn proves amusing with her expressions and eccentric nature in her third and final collaboration with Brooks. Korman and Leachman also do fine in their brief time on screen. Hines, a dancer-singer in his film debut, does fairly well with his role, eliciting a fine bit of charm. The other actors do fine with what they need to do, with a few cameo appearances from actors such as Bea Arthur and Jackie Mason among others that work out fine. Of the numerous segments of the film, "The Spanish Inquisition" one, involving a song-and-dance number along with stylings of torture devices and aquatic ballet that certainly feels absurd enough for its intent, shines fairly enough. The meat of the movie comes through the segments involving Rome and France, although the former lasts a bit better with its jokes throughout its time. The other segments and bits covered do okay, although the consistency does vary. It is safe to say that this is a movie that can be hit and miss, but it will serve well for anyone in the mindset for something with shades of amusement that won't dull all the senses by the time it is finished.
Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.
