Silent Movie (1976)

A film director and his strange friends struggle to produce the first major silent feature film in forty years.

Director:

Mel Brooks

Writers:

Mel Brooks (screenplay), Ron Clark (screenplay),

Stars:

Mel Brooks, Marty Feldman, Dom DeLuise

Nominated for 4 Golden Globes. Another 1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mel Brooks	...	Mel Funn
Marty Feldman	...	Marty Eggs
Dom DeLuise	...	Dom Bell
Sid Caesar	...	Studio Chief
Harold Gould	...	Engulf
Ron Carey	...	Devour
Bernadette Peters	...	Vilma Kaplan
Carol Arthur	...	Pregnant Lady
Liam Dunn	...	Newsvendor
Fritz Feld	...	Maitre d'
Chuck McCann	...	Studio Gate Guard
Valerie Curtin	...	Intensive Care Nurse
Yvonne Wilder	...	Studio Chief's Secretary
Harry Ritz	...	Man in Tailor Shop
Charlie Callas	...	Blindman

Storyline

Aspiring filmmakers Mel Funn, Marty Eggs and Dom Bell go to a financially troubled studio with an idea for a silent movie. In an effort to make the movie more marketable, they attempt to recruit a number of big name stars to appear, while the studio's creditors attempt to thwart them. The film contains only one word of dialogue, spoken by an unlikely source.

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Plot Keywords:

breaking character | self referential | new york city | actor playing himself | chase | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Release Date:

16 June 1976 (USA)

Also Known As:

La última locura de Mel Brooks

Filming Locations:

Stage 15, 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$4,400,000 (estimated)

Gross:

SEK 7,052,046 (Sweden)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Crossbow Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Brooks and his writers concoct a sight gag they loved, in which the customers at a seafood restaurant would be human-sized lobsters, who pick terrified humans out of an aquarium to be cooked for dinner. However, the gag bombed at sneak previews and was deleted.

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Goofs

When Mel Funn walks into Big Picture Studios to sell his idea of a silent movie to the CEO, his fingers are supposed to be stuck crossed together. For a few seconds after entering the office his fingers return to normal before shaking the CEO's hand.

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Quotes

Mel Funn: [seen as an insert title] Mr. Marceau, how would you like to appear in the first silent movie made in nearly fifty years?
Marcel Marceau: [in French, the only spoken line in the film] Non!
Dom Bell: [seen as an insert title after Mel hangs up the phone] What did he say?
Mel Funn: [seen as an insert title] I don't know. I don't speak French!

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Crazy Credits

When the movie starts, the word ''HELLO'' can be seen. Then the camera zooms on the O and Hollywood can be seen.

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Connections

References Blazing Saddles (1974)

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Soundtracks

"Mel Brooks' Silent Movie March"
Composed by John Morris

User Reviews

Comment on Brandt Sponseller's review

You apparently weren't alive in 1976 or at least of an age that this movie would have meant much to you. I was 17 when this movie came out and it was a MUCH ANTICIPATED event! I have just watched this movie again on Cinemax and loved again the entire movie. In 1976, Marcel Marceau was on TV frequently and I loved him then as I was very fascinated by him. Additionally, Mel Brooks movies were coming out frequently and each were very hot commodities. I can understand with all of the technology that has evolved since 1976 why you would not appreciate this movie but in my opinion, it is a Mel Brooks classic although certainly not as much as Young Frankenstein was and is.