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person1967–present

Mel Brooks

Disciplines:
film
usa
comedy
comedy/parody

Summary

American comedian, writer, and director who made The Producers, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Spaceballs, and Robin Hood: Men in Tights — one of the great American comedy filmmakers — who has EGOT status and is famous for Jewish comedy, genre parody, and transgressive humor.

Core Contribution

Created the definitive American genre parody comedy — Blazing Saddles (Western), Young Frankenstein (horror), Spaceballs (science fiction), and Robin Hood: Men in Tights (adventure) constitute the most consistent body of genre parody in American film history, and The Producers' joke about making a deliberately terrible show about Hitler remains the most transgressive American comedy premise.

Notable Works & Achievements

The Producers

Blazing Saddles

Young Frankenstein

Silent Movie

Spaceballs

Robin Hood: Men in Tights

Historical Influences

Sid Caesar Jewish comedy tradition

Intellectual Lineage

Brooklyn New York Television Film

Contemporaries & Peers

Carl ReinerGene WilderWoody Allen

Minds Influenced

American film comedy Genre parodyHistory 102

Intellectual Posterity

The Producers Blazing Saddles Young Frankenstein Spaceballs EGOTMel Brooks as comedy

Discussing

Mel Brooks

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