Movie Review : History of The World, Part I

This is a Review of the 1981 movie 'History Of The World, Part I', by (in so many ways) Mel Brooks.
If you were expecting something more current TOO BAD! I have to make up for the previous post.

Right. This Mel Brooks feature is a take on all things Historical and Epic, from the Dawn of Man (Homo Erectus, as it were), to Jews in Space. Arguably some of Mel Brooks' better work, the film is a series of sketches highlighting some of the, well, highlights of Human life so far (and then some after the credits roll). Narrated by Orson Welles (at least the first Act) the film also stars Gregory Hines, Spike Milligan, Brooks regulars Madeline Kahn, Dom DeLuise and Cloris Leachman, and cameos by Hugh Hefner, Jackie Mason and Bea Arthur.

The film begins with the Dawn of Man segment, which begins with Orson Welles narrating the ascent of man, which follows into some scenes showing the many innovations by cave-people, like rock music, stand-up comedy, the invention of the cave-art-critic (who pisses all over the cave-art), and the first Homo Sapien marriage (quickly followed by the first Homosexual marriage).
Then a short segment between Acts where Mel (as Moses) comes down Mt. Sinai after recieving the Fif- Whoops, uh, Ten Commandants from God.

The second Act is set in The Roman Empire, and follows stand-up philosopher ("What? Oh, you mean Bullshit artist." "Yeeahh.") Comicus, ethiopian slave Josephus (Gregory Hines' Film Debut, featuring his comic talents (among his many others) and a very smooth soft-shoe number during a slave auction: "Where You From?" "Ethiopia." "Which Part?" "125th Street!" [That's in Harlem]), Comicus' love interest Miriam, a vestal virgin (Eep) and a horse named Miracle. Various scenes of Brooksian anachronism laden comedy follow, going from Comicus's agent getting him a gig at Caesar's Palace (With Dom DeLuise as Caesar, and Madeline Kahn as a very memorable (cult quality) Empress Nympho), to escaping on a horse called Miracle (with a little help from Moses, and a smokescreen of Roman Weed), to finally making it to Judea, where Comicus gets a job waitering a very private supper.

After which we segue to the Musical part of the show, The Spanish Inquisition, with Mel Brooks as the Grand Inquisitor Himself! Tomaaaas Torquemada! Straight out a Golden Age 1940's Busby Berkeley (The Guy who first did the Champagne-pouring-down-mountain-of-Glasses thing) number. Featuring dancing torturers and and singing torture victims, Mel Brooks shows off his song-writing skills, and ends this segment with a bang (and a nun synchronized swimming-menorah lighting-aquatic ballet extravaganza finale!)

Th Third Act, is not WWII. It would be simply too cool to see Mel Brooks do a whole WWII sketch, even after he has handled the subject so many times. The Final Act is The French Revolution, which begins in the squalor of France, where the peasants are so poor they do not even have a language, just a stupid accent ("She's right! We all talk like Maurice Chevalier! Oui Oui! Honh Honh Honh!), and the rich live in decadence, they even have a Garcon de Pisse (sort of a portable chamber-pot) who looks exactly like the king. After the king is replaced by the Piss-bucket boy, the revolutionaries attack and take him to be executed, all hope is lost for the poor piss boy and it seems only a miracle can save him, when, what's this? It's Josephus and, yes it's, Miracle the Horse, who saves Piss-Boy Brooks, and the beautiful Mlle Rimbaud (long story), and escape out of the city, into the sunset, towards a big mountainside with "THE END' etched on it, after sharing a kiss (Mel and Gregory, that is).

The film is classic Brooks (as opposed to new Brooks, follow?) and is definitely worth the time, mainly cause it's a typical gag-a-minute film, and it doesn't have a story to constrain it. Some (a couple) of the gags may seem old, or done, well for those who don't know, this IS where it was done! Whats good is how Mel uses the old gags (the same basic template at least) and uses them in new situations, and keeps it funny! Another thing is how he uses the cult status his films and some of its characters and dialogue to benefit, such as his 'regulars', and references to his older (see if you can find all the references to this one in his later films). All in all, one of Mel Brooks' best tribute/parodies (although I haven't seen much of his older work so can't say for sure, but better than Men in Tights.)


Bonus for reading this Far: They don't show this in the TV version, but you can probably find it on YouTube. After the credits, there is a "Coming Attractions" type trailer for History of The World Part II (which was never made, because the Part I thing itself was a joke) which promised 'Hitler on Ice', 'A Viking Funeral' and 'Jews In Space', which is a musical number.




[P.S. - Sort of Related: Hilarious Song 'The Hitler Rap' originally from, but edited out of and consequently released as Single for promotion of, To Be Or Not To Be, which I haven't seen on TV since the 90's, and have never seen in CD shops, but is worth a watch if you can find it. For Info follow link.]