Mel Brooks
Mel Brooks
Melvin James Brooksis an American actor, comedian, filmmaker, composer, songwriter and veteran. He is known as a creator of broad film farces and comic parodies. Brooks began his career as a comic and a writer for the early TV variety show Your Show of Shows. He became well known as part of the comedy duo with Carl Reiner in the comedy skit, The 2000 Year Old Man. He also created, with Buck Henry, the hit television comedy series, Get Smart,...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionDirector
Date of Birth28 June 1926
CityNew York City, NY
CountryUnited States of America
The audience. They see the name Mel Brooks, they want something really funny. They don't want to be moved; they don't want to be taught any lessons. But I get more letters for Twelve Chairs and Life Stinks than I get from any other movies, because people actually agree with the philosophy, or were moved, or they love the movie.
The egg cream is psychologically the opposite of circumcision--it pleasurably reaffirms your Jewishness.
Merchandising, merchandising, where the real money from the movie is made.
Feeling different, feeling alienated, feeling persecuted, feeling that the only way to deal with the world is to laugh - because if you don't laugh you're going to cry and never stop crying - that's probably what's responsible for the Jews having developed such a great sense of humor. The people who had the greatest reason to weep, learned more than anyone else how to laugh.
It would be hypocritical of me to take issue with anything in questionable taste, seeing that I invented bad taste in films.
We mock the things we are to be.
Well, you know, 'Spaceballs' is a weird combination, because it's a simple, sweet little fairytale, and it's crazy and out-there and making fun of and taking apart sci-fi, 'Star Wars', and 'Star Trek'.
That's it baby, if you've got it, flaunt it.
I've always loved songwriting, and I vowed to be a songwriter like Cole Porter when I was only 9 years old.
My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives.
All short women have a delayed fuse. Marry a taller woman: My wife was an inch or two taller than me; it's a sign of security.
I know how to make it a great musical. I've got to. It's like I've got to see it on stage.
My brothers went to work at 12 and put themselves through school and brought the family out of ruin into food and clothing.
I don't have a mission. I don't have a torch to burn.