History of the World: Part I (1981)

Mel Brooks brings his one-of-a-kind comic touch to the history of mankind covering events from the Old Testament to the French Revolution in a series of episodic comedy vignettes.

Director:

Mel Brooks

Writer:

Mel Brooks

Stars:

Mel Brooks, Dom DeLuise, Madeline Kahn

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mel Brooks	...	Moses / Comicus / Torquemada / Jacques / King Louis XVI
Dom DeLuise	...	Emperor Nero
Madeline Kahn	...	Empress Nympho
Harvey Korman	...	Count de Monet
Cloris Leachman	...	Madame Defarge
Ron Carey	...	Swiftus
Gregory Hines	...	Josephus
Pamela Stephenson	...	Mademoiselle Rimbaud
Shecky Greene	...	Marcus Vindictus
Sid Caesar	...	Chief Caveman
Mary-Margaret Humes	...	Miriam
Orson Welles	...	Narrator (voice)
Rudy De Luca	...	Prehistoric Man / Captain Mucus - The Roman Empire (as Rudy DeLuca)
Leigh French	...	Prehistoric Woman
Richard Karron	...	Prehistoric Man

Storyline

From the dawn of man to the distant future, mankind's evolution (or lack thereof) is traced. Often ridiculous but never serious, we learn the truth behind the Roman Emperor, we learn what REALLY happened at the Last Supper, the circumstances that surrounded the French Revolution, how to test eunuchs, and what kind of shoes the Spanish Inquisitor wore.

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Plot Keywords:

french revolution | roman emperor | old testament | cleavage | spanish inquisition | 

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Taglines:

a little something to offend everyone...

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Genres:

Comedy | History | Musical

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Latin French

Release Date:

12 June 1981 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mel Brooks' History of the World: Part 1

Filming Locations:

Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$11,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

SEK 8,592,518 (Sweden)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Brooksfilms

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Mary-Margaret Humes receives an "introducing" credit.

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Goofs

When Comicus, Miriam, Swiftus and Josephus reach the 'river', the tops of the water remover are obviously visible just below the surface. Later, it is obvious that the water is being dumped into a pool-like area in the middle of the river to create their path.

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Quotes

Auctioneer: What country are you from?
Josephus: Ethiopia.
Auctioneer: What part?
Josephus: 125th Street!

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Crazy Credits

Last shot of the film shows a wagon riding off into the horizon with a mountain carved into the words "THE END" in the background.

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Connections

Spoofs The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964)

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Soundtracks

"Jews In Space"
Music and Lyrics by Mel Brooks
Original Music & Lyrics © 1981 Brooksfilms Music Limited

User Reviews

Mel Brook's best film, yet.

Classical comedy satire..Mel Brook's best film. Once you've seen this film, you will not forgot it. The punchlines keep rolling from the beginning of the film, and even past "the big ending". There is not much of a plot, but that is to be expected in a movie that contains a bunch of skits. If you like Monty Python, then you should love this movie. This movie is not for everyone, especially if you are easily offended. However the opening scene should tell you if you would have a problem watching the rest of the movie. This movie does currently rank in my top 10 comedies of all time.