by James Knapke
Melvin James Kaminsky was born Jun 28th, 1926 in Brooklyn, New York to Jewish parents. Melvin is the youngest of four boys and lost his father when he was just two years of age to a kidney disease. This was just the beginning of Melvin’s turbulent young life. From being bullied in high school to getting drafted into the military during World War II, he has lived an interesting life that many people of today’s generations could not imagine. After the war, Kaminsky became a pianist and played at random nightclubs and resorts earning money form their patrons, he then decided to change his name to Mel Brooks, the name we all famously know him by. Brooks then went on to do everything form standup comedy to radio broadcasts before settling on writing television comedy scripts. As Brooks talked about in an interview though, he could not just stand by and not direct.
“Q: What compelled you to make the move from writer to director?
A: I just couldn't sit by as a writer saying, 'Don't you think he should have been louder?' Or, 'Don't you think that scene is playing a little longer than it should?' That's why I was on my feet as a director. I would just know. What was working, what was entertaining, what was interesting, what was boring. I would simply know. My skin would tell me.” (Weide)
One of Brooks’ most notorious movies was Blazing Saddles, released in 1974. This movie pushed the envelope in a number of categories from using the “N” word to having a black man be the sheriff of the town. Mel Brooks’ films were notorious for pushing the envelope and challenging stereotypes and gender norms. Being from Jewish heritage the majority of Brooks’ movies have Nazi jokes and aim to make them look foolish. I admired this courage to continue to remember his heritage and bringing it to audiences everywhere. Blazing Saddles was wildly successful as it won the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen and in 2006 was selected by the Library of Congress to be put in the National Film Registry.
Mel Brooks recently talked about Blazing Saddles and why audiences everywhere enjoy this movie despite its non-politically correct vocabulary and views. “I told him that it gave me faith that modern audiences appreciate being spoken to in a direct and unflinching manner, and that the industry doesn't give audiences enough credit. We're shy. We're too courteous about hurting people's feelings. You know? We're politically correct. All of these things that I'm saying? We're shy; we're polite, we're politically correct? It's the death of comedy. I concurred with him, as he elaborated. Comedy has to be outrageous. It has to be the jester whispering the most salacious things about that dancing girl into the king's ear. You know? That's what it is. It's all about the truth. What's going on in life? What you want to have go on. We did that. When we were writing it, I said 'write everything that's deep and dark in you, that you've always wanted to say.' This was the other writers I was talking to. I said, 'It's never going to get made. It's not gonna get made. Warner Bros is not gonna make this movie, you know? So I said, 'Let's say everything” (McWeeny).
Mel Brooks may be one of the most decorated film writers/directors the industry has seen. He was won everything from the AFI Life Achievement award in 2013 to the Saturn Award for Best Director in 1976. Brooks has left his mark on the film industry by crushing stereotypes, breaking gender norms and continually pushing the limits of what Hollywood will allow in films. Brooks will forever be remembered for his creativity and fearless approach to comedy.
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