MEL BROOKS: THE 99 YEAR OLD MAN (2026, doc)

January 20, 2026

Greetings again from the darkness. “Laughter is the best medicine.” Proof comes in the form of filmmaker Mel Brooks and this two-part HBO Documentary from two Emmy award winning directors: Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio. The title is a take-off on Brooks’ age and his decades-long-running gag, “The 2000 Year-Old Man”. This is a film for anyone who is a fan of any of Mel Brooks’ eleven feature film comedies, his long track record of comedy writing (TV, film, Broadway), or a general history of the comedy forum. Two parts cover the familiar pieces of his career, while also putting his work into historical perspective, and offering insight into his personal life, his inspirations, and his romance and friendships.

A modern-day (quite candid) interview with Brooks provides the structure, and it’s fascinating to see a man who will hit the century mark very soon be so engaging as he recalls life moments – and even specific jokes that he wrote decades prior. The two-part presentation is generally in chronological order; however, a generous inclusion of archival clips and TV interviews and talk shows with Brooks provide not just valuable insight, but also extreme entertainment. We learn he and his brothers were raised by an optimistic mother who provided hope, despite their poverty in Brooklyn. When he was of age, he enlisted in the Army and fought in WWII. It’s no surprise that his comedy sense was influenced by Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and the Marx Brothers, yet Brooks is sure to include the Ritz Brothers as well. Much of his comedy work touched on his being Jewish … topics not always easy to laugh about in a post-war world. One of his great quotes: “If you don’t get killed in the Army, you learn a lot.”

The big break came when Sid Caeser hired him ‘off the books’ as a writer for “Your Show of Shows”. It was here where he worked with Neil Simon, Larry Gelbert, and Carl Reiner, the latter who would become a lifelong friend (and the straight man on “The 2000 Year Old Man” gag). By the mid-1960’s Brooks and Buck Henry would collaborate to create the TV hit “Get Smart”, a James Bond parody. The show’s success allowed Brooks to write his first screenplay for THE PRODUCERS (1967), which featured the now iconic comedy musical satire, “Springtime for Hitler” – and won him an Oscar. Brooks discusses his feeling of pride as a Jewish man being able to make fun of Hitler. It’s these moments that really hit hard in this documentary. Brooks felt a responsibility to poke fun at life’s inequities. It was with BLAZING SADDLES (1974) where he lampooned racism. It’s in this segment where Brooks discusses his professional teaming with Gene Wilder, and how (shockingly) Gig Young was originally cast as The Waco Kid.

Part Two of the documentary kicks off with Brooks’ classic (and my personal favorite) YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (1974), which he co-wrote with the film’s star, Gene Wilder. His beautiful answer to the question of why he filmed in black and white: it is “a valentine to James Whale”, the director of many classic horror films, including FRANKENSTEIN (1931). The film goes through Brooks’ next films SILENT MOVIE (1976) and HIGH ANXIETY (1977), and what I found to be the most touching moment occurred as Mel Brooks watched a clip of his beloved wife, Anne Bancroft, in a scene from SILENT MOVIE. Love, admiration, and sadness are all visible on his face as the clip plays and he takes in this intimate memory. Although his HISTORY OF THE WORLD: PART 1 (1981) was not a hit, another clip reminds us of the immense talent of another actress, the late great Madeline Kahn (one of my all-time favorites). Brooks discusses what he viewed as the importance of bonding art with the power of comedy. We also learn of Brooks’ production company backing such prestige projects as THE ELEPHANT MAN (1980) and THE FLY (1986). Although he directed and acted in more films, the next great Mel Brooks achievement was taking “The Producers” to Broadway in 2005. The production won a record 12 Tony’s (second place is “Hamilton” with 11).

The career is truly unparalleled, and Mel Brooks laid the foundation for contemporary film comedy, yet what sets this documentary apart is the personal aspect. It’s clear Apatow (a very successful filmmaker himself) reveres Brooks and provides the forum for Mel to relay any bits he’d like to pass along. Sure, we hear the important role Brooks played for other Jewish entertainers like Adam Sandler, Sarah Silverman, Jerry Seinfeld, Nick Kroll, Ben Stiller, and Barry Levinson, yet beyond that, it’s the friendships with Norman Lear, Sid Caeser, and especially Carl Reiner that accentuate the life of the man. Having seen the “60 Minutes” segment, many of us know that elderly Reiner and Brooks would spend most evenings watching “Jeopardy”, yet it’s so touching to learn (from Rob Reiner) what happened after Carl passed away. We hear from Brooks’ sons and his granddaughter, and we hope they recognize the wisdom and life lessons presented here. One of Brooks’ best quotes and a driving force of his work: “I think I can say anything serious if it’s funny.” Brooks’ best advice: “Be kind”; and possibly his best joke: when asked, boxers or briefs? … Brooks answers “Depends”.

Part 1, January 22, 2026 HBO

Part 2, January 23, 2026 HBO

WATCH THE TRAILER

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Posted by David Ferguson

THE LAST LAUGH (2017, doc)

March 5, 2017

last-laugh Greetings again from the darkness. The best comedy often touches a nerve. Jokes can make us feel uncomfortable and even a bit embarrassed for laughing. Although the best comedians are traditionally those who attack the politically correct world we live in, there are certain topics that remain taboo even to the bravest comedians: child molesting, rape, AIDS, 9/11, and the Holocaust. Director Ferne Pearlstein examines the issue of taboo comedy through numerous interviews with some well known and successful comedians, authors, and even Holocaust survivors.

Much of the focus here is on the Holocaust, and some of the familiar faces providing insight include Mel Brooks, Sarah Silverman, Gilbert Gottfried, and Rob and Carl Reiner. We learn the most important rule is … never tell a crappy joke about a dark subject – it better be really funny! We also learn that while the Holocaust is mostly off-limits, the Nazi’s are fair game. Bugs Bunny, Charlie Chaplin, The Three Stooges, and The Marx Brothers have all mined the Nazi world for the sake of comedy and satire, though maybe none have done so as frequently or successfully as Mel Brooks (“Springtime for Hitler”)

One of the most interesting recurring threads of the film involves Auschwitz survivor Renee Firehouse. North of 90 years old, this remarkable lady is extremely sharp and understands the importance of laughter … while also never being shy about what she thinks is NOT funny. Ms. Firestone even meets up with the effervescent Robert Clary, a fellow Holocaust survivor, and known to many as LeBeau on the TV show “Hogan’s Heroes”.

A trip to the Holocaust Survivor Convention on the Las Vegas strip offers up more thoughts on the role comedy played in keeping these folks alive. We see rare footage of carefully staged Cabaret acts from within the concentration camps … who even knew this went on? The recently re-discovered footage of Jerry Lewis’ “The Day the Clown Cried” is also shown, and the commentary from Harry Shearer makes it clear that the rest should never find an audience.

Authors Etgar Keret, Shalom Auslander and Abraham Foxman each provide their thoughts on forbidden comedic topics, and clips are shown from “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and Brooks’ The Producers, as well as scandalous moments from Louis CK, Joan Rivers, Chris Rock, and the most censured comic of all, Lenny Bruce. Laughter may be the best medicine, but sometimes it’s interesting to take a step back and determine exactly what is off-limits. When has a joke gone too far? It appears from Ms. Pearlstein’s project that the line in the sand is determined by personal taste, preference and judgment.

watch the trailer:

 

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Posted by David Ferguson

NORMAN LEAR: JUST ANOTHER VERSION OF YOU (doc, 2016)

May 4, 2016

Dallas International Film Festival 2016

norman lear Greetings again from the darkness. Very few people have achieved the level of career success of Norman Lear. Very few people have had the impact on culture as Norman Lear. Very few people have led a life as interesting as Norman Lear. And if all of that somehow doesn’t impress you … Norman Lear is 93 years old and still working!  It’s no wonder that co-directors Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady decided to tell his stories.

This is a man who served in WWII and flew 52 combat missions. He also purchased a copy of the U.S. Constitution so that it could tour the country and citizens could see it up close. He is regarded as the most influential TV producer ever. His roster of hit shows includes: “All in the Family”; “Maude”; “Good Times”; “The Jeffersons”; and “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman”. These weren’t just popular or funny shows. They were ground-breaking and controversial … they changed TV and they changed society.

At one point, Mr. Lear was producer on 6 of the Top 10 shows on television. His “Good Times” series was the first to put an African-American family front and center. “Maude” was the first TV show to seriously discuss abortion, while “All in the Family” brought Archie Bunker (the great Carroll O’Connor) and the generation gap with changing societal mores right into our living rooms.

The film features a great deal of interview time with Mr. Lear, but also with others who worked with him and/or were influenced by him. The Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner segment is especially poignant, as it’s three comedy trailblazers who made such a difference in how we are entertained. At one point, Lear states “I never lost my childlike view of the world”, and he says that contributed to always having a fresh approach.

Frances Lear, the feminist activist, is the perfect life partner for Norman, and the film captures their magic. They make such an impressive team committed to their causes, yet still maintaining a solid marriage. In fact, a documentary focusing on Frances would also be quite interesting.

In the world of television programming, there is BN (Before Norman) and AN (After Norman), and the timeline is not only obvious, but also important. Norman says he worked to deliver “serious people comedy … we had something on our mind”. The proof of his influence is that he was able to inspire TV viewers to further discuss and consider the issues he found important.

 

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Posted by David Ferguson

TMI (2-17-12)

February 17, 2012

TMI (Today’s Movie Info)

February: Director’s Month

 MEL BROOKS has directed only eleven feature films.  Both of his acknowledged classics were released in 1974: Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein.  Brooks got his start as a TV writer on such shows as “Your Show of Shows” and “Caesar’s Hour”. His career took off in 1965 as he created, produced, wrote and directed the hit TV series “Get Smart”.  He then transitioned into films with The Producers (1968) … his satire of Broadway, involving the scam to produce a sure fire flop called “Hitler in Springtime”. It won him an Oscar for Best Screenplay. Brooks later took the film to Broadway where it became a smash hit.  He once said “I’m the only Jew who ever made a buck offa Hitler.” His knack for parody and sense of humor is certainly not for everyone, but Brooks put together a very successful career to go with his 41 year marriage to actress Anne Bancroft. (Bancroft passed away in 2005, but will always be remembered as Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate).

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Posted by David Ferguson