The best Mel Brooks’s documentary movies
We present our ranking of the best Mel Brooks’s movies. Do you love cinema? Or are you looking for a movie of your favorite actor to watch tonight? Surely you have some to see or that you did not know yet about Mel Brooks.
Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic
7.3/10
Mike Epps, Richard Pryor Jr. and others recount the culture-defining influence of Richard Pryor - one of America's most brilliant, iconic comic minds.
Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story
7.4/10
The life and career of the hailed Hollywood movie star and underappreciated genius inventor, Hedy Lamarr.
The Last Laugh
6.9/10
Feature documentary about humor and the Holocaust, examining whether it is ever acceptable to use humor in connection with a tragedy of that scale, and the implications for other seemingly off-limits topics in a society that prizes free speech.
The Automat
7.8/10
The 100-year story of the iconic restaurant chain Horn & Hardart, the inspiration for Starbucks, where generations of Americans ate and drank coffee together at communal tables. From the perspective of former customers, we watch a business climb to its peak success and then grapple with fast food in a forever changed America.
The Great Buster: A Celebration
7.5/10
A celebration of the life and career of one of America's most influential and celebrated filmmakers and comedians—Buster Keaton—whose singular style and fertile output during the silent era created his legacy as a true cinematic visionary.
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise
7.9/10
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise journeys through Brooks’ early years in the creative beginnings of live television — with Sid Caesar on Your Show of Shows — to the film genres he so successfully satirized in Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles, High Anxiety, and Spaceballs — to the groundbreaking Broadway musical version of his first film, The Producers. The documentary also delves into his professional and personal ups and downs — his childhood, his first wife and subsequent 41-year marriage to Anne Bancroft — capturing a never-before-heard sense of reflection and confession.
Laddie: The Man Behind the Movies
7.4/10
Profile of the producer and former studio head of 20th Century Fox in the 1970s, Alan Ladd Jr.
Mickey's 50
7.2/10
"Mickey's 50" is a 90-minute special that aired on The Wonderful World of Disney on November 19, 1978. The special was made to commemorate the 50th birthday of Mickey Mouse and highlights many moments in his career.
Robin Hood: Men In Tights - The Legend Had It Coming
Hosted by Cary Elwes. It's a promotional piece that was intended to get the word out about the film while it was in production, but some of the behind the scenes material that appears here is amusing
Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You
7.3/10
Arguably the most influential creator, writer, and producer in the history of television, Norman Lear brought primetime into step with the times. Using comedy and indelible characters, his legendary 1970s shows such as All In the Family, Maude, Good Times, and The Jeffersons, boldly cracked open dialogue and shifted the national consciousness, injecting enlightened humanism into sociopolitical debates on race, class, creed, and feminism.
Pretty as a Picture: The Art of David Lynch
7.3/10
An in-depth look at artist/filmmaker David Lynch's movies, paintings, drawings, photographs, and various other works of art. Features interview footage and commentary by family members, friends, fans, and people he's worked with, as well as behind-the-scenes antics of some of his most critically praised efforts.
It's Alive: The True Story of Frankenstein
7.2/10
Mary Shelley created a monster in 1818, and writers, actors and filmmakers haven't been able to get enough of it ever since. The history of the creature on and off the screen includes clips from Thomas Edison's 1910 filmization to Kenneth Branagh's 1994 treatment, plus interviews with Robert De Niro, Mel Brooks, Roger Corman and others. Hosted by Roger Moore; narrated by Eli Wallach.
Frank Sinatra: The Voice of a Century
Acknowledged as one of the greatest singers of the twentieth century, Arena explores the rise of the legendary crooner Frank Sinatra from his early family background to overwhelming show business success. Interviews with friends, family and associates reveal a star-studded career in music and film alongside a fascinating private life of four marriages, liaison with the Kennedy family, Las Vegas business interests and an alleged association with the Mafia
Harold and Lillian: A Hollywood Love Story
7.9/10
Working largely uncredited in the Hollywood system, storyboard artist Harold and film researcher Lillian left an indelible mark on classics by Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, Mel Brooks, Stanley Kubrick, Roman Polanski and many more.
If You're Not In The Obit, Eat Breakfast
7.5/10
Irrepressible writer-comedian Carl Reiner, who shows no signs of slowing down at 94, tracks down celebrated nonagenarians, and a few others over 100, to show how the twilight years can truly be the happiest and most rewarding. Among those who share their insights into what it takes to be vital and productive in older age are Mel Brooks, Dick Van Dyke, Kirk Douglas, Norman Lear, Betty White and Tony Bennett.
John Candy: Comic Spirit
7.2/10
A tribute to the late John Candy from the cast of Spaceballs
A Night at the Movies: The Suspenseful World of Thrillers
6.8/10
A look at thrillers from all sides, including different types of thrillers and the stylistic tools filmmakers use to give their audiences a shot of adrenaline.
Life Stinks: Does Life Really Stink?
6/10
A behind-the-scenes short about the making of the 1991 Mel Brooks film "Life Stinks".
Spaceballs: In Conversation - Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan
Features a sit-down with two of the film's writers; the third, Ronny Graham, passed away in 1999.
The Making of 'The Producers'
7.1/10
An hour-long making-of featurette which features interviews and anecdotes from the likes of Mel Brooks, Gene Wilder, Kenneth Mars, Lee "Ulla" Meredith, assistant director Michael Hertzberg, composer John Morris, choreographer Alan Johnson, production designer Charles Rosen, casting director Alfa-Betty Olsen, among others.
