History of the World -- Part I (1981)
-
62% of critics liked it
(26 reviews) -
79% of users liked it
(59,566 ratings)
Mel Brooks produced, directed, wrote, and starred in this episodic comedy in the spirit of Monty Python and the 1957 studio travesty The Story of Mankind. The film is divided into five sequences that play like blue-toned Eddie Cantor vaudeville sketches -- "The Dawn of Man," "The… More Mel Brooks produced, directed, wrote, and starred in this episodic comedy in the spirit of Monty Python and the 1957 studio travesty The Story of Mankind. The film is divided into five sequences that play like blue-toned Eddie Cantor vaudeville sketches -- "The Dawn of Man," "The Stone Age," The Spanish Inquisition," "The Bible," and "The Future." Also included is a Brooksian depiction of The Last Supper and a long-winded sequence about the French Revolution. The film starts with a 2001: A Space Odyssey parody, narrated by Orson Welles, in which a collection of ape-men learn to stand erect (in more ways than one). The Stone Age reveals the origins of both the first homo sapien and homosexual marriages. Brooks then appears in an Old Testament sequence as Moses, descending from Mount Sinai with three heavy stone tablets bearing the 15 Commandments; after he drops one of these tablets, the laws of God become 10 Commandments. The Roman period picks up with Brooks as Comicus, attempting to get a gig as a "stand-up philosopher" at Caesar's Palace. The Spanish Inquisition is a musical production number with monks torturing Jews to lively Broadway musical strains. The final French revolution section is a broad parody of The Man in the Iron Mask story. The film closes with coming attractions of "History of the World, Part II" that features a rousing Star Wars parody (anticipating Space Balls) called "Jews in Space" that includes a jaunty theme song. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Directed By
- Mel Brooks
- Written By
- Mel Brooks
- Genres
- Comedy
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 1981 Wide
- On DVD
- Oct 5, 1999
Critic Reviews
-
Charles Cassady, Common Sense Media
Dirty jokes, some sparkle in uneven Mel Brooks classic.
-
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Hearing some of those old, beloved one-liners again made me smile, but they did not have the power to make me laugh anew.
-
Christian Toto, What Would Toto Watch?
Brooks' fractured History is salvaged by the tuneful 'Inquisition.'
-
Chuck O'Leary, FulvueDrive-in.com
Brooks proved that increasing the vulgarity level doesn't necessarily translate into more laughs. Gag after gag falls flat in this potty-mouthed dud.
-
Widgett Walls, Needcoffee.com
The fact that there has been no Part 2 is ample proof that God hates us all.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Currently unavailable on Flixster
Also available on
Other Retailers
Subscription Services
Cast
-
Mel Brooks
as Comicus, Jacques, King Lou, Moses, Torqu...
-
Dom DeLuise
as Nero
-
Madeline Kahn
as Empress Nympho
-
Harvey Korman
as Count de Monet
-
Cloris Leachman
as Madame de Farge
-
Ron Carey
as Swiftus
-
Gregory Hines
as Josephus
-
Andreas Voutsinas
as Bearnaise
-
Shecky Green
as Marcus Vindictus
-
Sid Caesar
as Chief Caveman
-
Howard Morris
as Court Spokesman
-
Rudy De Luca
as Capt. Mucus
-
Orson Welles
as Narrator
-
Charlie Callas
as Soothsayer
-
Paul Mazursky
as Roman Officer
-
Art Metrano
as Leonardo Da Vinci
-
Diane Day
as Caladonia
-
Henny Youngman
as Chemist
-
Fritz Feld
as Maitre d'
-
Hugh Hefner
as Entrepreneur
-
Pat McCormick
as Plumbing Salesman
-
John Hurt
as Jesus Christ
-
Jackie Mason
as Jew
-
Phil Leeds
as Chief Monk
-
Jack Carter
as Rat Vendor
-
Jan Murray
as Nothing Vendor
-
Spike Milligan
as Monsieur Rimbaud
-
John Hillerman
as Rich Man
-
Sidney Lassick
as Applecore Vendor
-
Jonathan Cecil
as Poppinjay
-
Andrew Sachs
as Gerard
-
John Gavin
as Marche
-
Royce D. Applegate
as Coming Attraction
-
Beatrice Arthur
as Clerk
-
J.J. Barry
as Prehistoric Man
-
Michael Champion
as Prehistoric Man
-
Lee Delano
as Wagon Driver
-
Dena Dietrich
as Competence
-
Earl Finn
as Disciple
-
Leigh French
as Prehistoric Man
-
Nigel Hawthorne
as Official
-
Sandy Helberg
as Disciple
-
Henry Kaiser
as Disciple
-
Suzanne Kent
as Prehistoric Man
-
Zale Kessler
as Disciple
-
Howard Mann
as Disciple
-
Anthony Messina
as Disciple
-
Fiona Richmond
as Queen
-
Jack Riley
as Stoned Soldier
-
Alan U. Schwartz
as Senator #2
-
Sammy Shore
as Prehistoric Man
-
Johnny Silver
as Small Liar
-
Heidi Sorenson
as Vestal Virgin
-
Pamela Stephenson
as Mademoiselle Rimbaud
- Lori Sutton
-
Jeana Tomasina
as Vestal Virgin
-
Ron Clark
as Stoned Soldier
- Spencer Henderson
-
Barry Levinson
as Column Salesman
- Richard Lewis
-
Ira Miller
as Roman Citizen
-
John Myhers
as Senate Leader
- Dennon Rawles
-
Sid Gould
as Barber
-
Mitchell Bock
as Disciple
-
Geoffrey Larder
as Footman
- Stan Mazin
-
Charles Thomas Murphy
as Auctioneer
- Molly Basler
- Mike Cottrell
- Richard Karron
- Royce Mills
- Cleo Rocos
-
Eileen Saki
as Slave
-
Jim Steck
as Gladiator
-
Lisa Welch
as Vestal Virgin
-
RONNY GRAHAM
as Oedipus
-
Hunter von Leer
as Lt. Bob
-
Michael Miller
as Coming Attraction
-
Mary-Margaret Humes
as Miriam
-
Sean Barry-Weske
as Insolent Flunkey
- John King


