Biography of Mel Brooks
The art of parody
June 28, 1926Mel Brooks, Director, actor, screenwriter, television and theatrical producer but also the innate talent and comedic composer, was born in Brooklyn, New York, on June 28, 1926. Born to Russian Jewish immigrant parents-coincidentemente as friend and more times co-worker Gene Wilder scene-his real name is Melvin Kaminsky. During World War II, Brooks uses his innate comic character entertaining army buddies creating hilarious skits, imitations and parodies.
successes encountered among fellow soldiers after the war, they will continue on that road. Then return to civilian life and try the career of comic actor. Begins as a standup comedian in nightclubs in his hometown, living the first years of hard bottom. Gradually his fame increases: from TV comes the opportunity to make the jump. He began writing lyrics for some major television shows, including "Your Show of Shows," by Sid Caesar, where Mel makes the bones writing jokes and jokes for guests of prestige of the program: one of them is even Woody Allen. The lyrics of Brooks are appreciated to such an extent, that the author won a Grammy Award. Afterwards, will continue to work with the tv writing comedies and participating in the birth of many tv formats.
On August 5, 1964 married the actress Anne Bancroft, future Oscar winner for "miracle worker" (1962) by Arthur Penn and star of "the graduate" (1967, with Dustin Hoffman): will the wife to push him to the magical world of cinema. In 1968 Mel Brooks made his debut on the big screen with "Please don't touch the old ladies," which also marks the beginning of the artistic association with the aforementioned Gene Wilder. The film never gets big box office takings, however this first fruits to Mel Brooks the Oscar for best original screenplay. Two years after "the twelve chairs" (1970) turns out another box office flop. Despite the failures keeps firm grip on course towards the genre of parody. The 1974 is perhaps his best year, "Blazing Saddles" gets a huge success with audiences and critics. Even with Wilder, the Director brings to life one of the best American comedies of the postwar period, a film that hints to the stereotypes of western movies in vogue during the period.
Almost simultaneously manages to pull off a coup even more resounding: in 1974 with Gene Wilder (starring excellent and co-writer) comes out in theaters, "Young Frankenstein". It is the first and also the only film in which Mel Brooks remains fully behind the camera. In 1977 "high voltage" that pokes fun at the cinema of Alfred Hitchcock (specifically her "the woman who lived twice"). "Spaceballs", in 1987 takes aim at the Star Wars (George Lucas) but also all the science fiction film. "Robin Hood: men in tights" (1993), hints at "Robin Hood: Prince of thieves" by Kevin Costner, released during those years. "Dracula: dead and loving it" (1995, with Leslie Nielsen), a parody of all the numerous films devoted to the legend of the Vampire, is the latest film by Mel Brooks as a Director. There are also other articles a bit more details: one example is "the last folly of Mel Brooks" (1976), a silent film (the original title is "Silent Movie") starring Brooks and Marty Feldman, a close friend of the filmmaker, already present with him in "Young Frankenstein."
Friend of the Italian Ezio Greggio, Mel Brooks has starred with him in two of his films: "the silence of the hams (1994) and" Nutso "(1999). Among the films produced where Mel Brooks took part in the production deserve to be mentioned "The Elephant Man" (1980) and "the fly" (1986), respectively of the masters David Lynch and David Cronenberg. Among his theatrical successes the last in order of time is "The Producers" theatrical transposition (and title) of his first film, "Please don't touch the old ladies", Broadway, directed by Susan Stroman, with Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick in the roles that were respectively by Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder. The show was a huge success, winning a record 12 Tony Awards in 2001. Mel Brooks has brought to Broadway, his most famous film "Young Frankenstein": the musical premiered in 2007. A curiosity: there are very few artists that in their careers they have won at least one Oscar, an Emmy award, a Grammy award and a Tony award. Mel Brooks is among them.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.