American Masters

Mel Brooks: Make a Noise

Episode aired May 20, 2013
TV-PGTV-PG
52min

S27.E3

S27
E3

Mel Brooks: Make a Noise (2013)

Documentary Biography

In 60-years in show business, he has earned more awards than any other living entertainer. A comedy giant of our time, Melvin Kaminsky developed his aggressively funny personality on the str... Read allIn 60-years in show business, he has earned more awards than any other living entertainer. A comedy giant of our time, Melvin Kaminsky developed his aggressively funny personality on the streets of Brooklyn, and the Catskill Mountains, before landing a writers job on the legendar... Read allIn 60-years in show business, he has earned more awards than any other living entertainer. A comedy giant of our time, Melvin Kaminsky developed his aggressively funny personality on the streets of Brooklyn, and the Catskill Mountains, before landing a writers job on the legendary "Your Show of Shows". The first "2000 Year Old Man" album, recorded with Carl Reiner in ... Read all

Director
- Robert Trachtenberg
Writer
- Robert Trachtenberg
Stars
- Mel Brooks
- Robert Trachtenberg
- Johnny Carson(archive footage)

See production, box office & company info

See production, box office & company info

See production, box office & company info

Mel Brooks, Susan Lacy, and Robert Trachtenberg at an event for American Masters (1985)

Mel Brooks at an event for American Masters (1985)

Mel Brooks, Susan Lacy, and Robert Trachtenberg at an event for American Masters (1985)

Selfas Self

Robert Trachtenberg

Self - intervieweras Self - interviewer

Selfas Self
(archive footage)

Selfas Self

Selfas Self

Selfas Self

Selfas Self
(archive footage)

Selfas Self
(archive footage)

Selfas Self

Selfas Self
(archive footage)

Selfas Self
(archive footage)

Michael Gruskoff

Selfas Self

Selfas Self
(archive footage)

Selfas Self

Selfas Self

Norman Steinberg

Selfas Self

Cloris Leachman

Selfas Self

Selfas Self
(archive footage)

See production, box office, & company info

In 60-years in show business, he has earned more awards than any other living entertainer. A comedy giant of our time, Melvin Kaminsky developed his aggressively funny personality on the streets of Brooklyn, and the Catskill Mountains, before landing a writers job on the legendary "Your Show of Shows". The first "2000 Year Old Man" album, recorded with Carl Reiner in the early '60s, unleashed his wacky mind on the world. His brazen satirical film "The Producers" won the 1968 Oscar for best screenplay and such cult classics as "Blazing Saddles", "Young Frankenstein", and "High Anxiety" followed. Brooks has never participated in a biography before and requested that his friends not talk about him - until now - making this film a genuine first. —Anonymous

Trivia
The episode won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for Nonfiction Programming.

Quotes
Rob Reiner: Mel is not afraid to go up to the line... and occasionally, he'll cross it.

Connections
Features Your Show of Shows (1950)

Top review

9/10

Much of it is just Brooks talking to the audience....and I'm okay with that.

"Mel Brooks Make a Noise" is different from most "American Masters" episodes in that the subject of the documentary is alive AND he pretty much narrates and talks through much of the show. It looks as if the filmmakers just told Mel to talk and they let him go and go and go. Brooks seemed to have no difficulty talking about himself, his life and his experiences with television, films and Broadway. While this could have come off as boorish, it wasn't mostly because Mel comes off as likable and even a bit self-deprecating...just a bit. The show follows his career post-WWII and follows him from his television years in the 50s and 60s through his films and to today. It's never boring and is a pretty good overview of the man and his craft. Another quality production from "American Masters".

helpful•0

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MartinHafer
Oct 26, 2015

Release date
- May 20, 2013 (United States)
Country of origin
- United States
Official site
- PBS Link
Language
- English
Production companies
See more company credits at IMDbPro

Runtime
- 52min
Color
- Color
- Black and White
Sound mix
- Stereo
Aspect ratio
- 16:9 HD

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