Search - History of the World -- Part I on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Nudity, Not For Children, Adult Language Movie Release: 1981 DVD Release: 12/28/1999 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 32 mins Studio: 20th Century Fox Members Wishing: 32 Genres: Comedy, Slapstick, Parody/Spoof, Absurd Comedy See Also: History of the World Part I

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, All Movie Guide

Mel Brooks - Comicus
Mel Brooks - Jacques
Mel Brooks - King Lou
Mel Brooks - Moses
Mel Brooks - Torquemada
Dom DeLuise - Nero
Madeline Kahn - Empress Nympho
Harvey Korman - Count de Monet
Cloris Leachman - Madame de Farge

Mel Brooks' hysterical take on ancient history, History of the World Pt. I, comes to DVD with a widescreen transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1. English and French soundtracks are rendered in Dolby Digital Mono. English and Spanish subtitles are accessible. Supplemental materials include the original theatrical trailer. This is a decent enough disc from 20th Century Fox, but having Brooks deliver a commentary track would have made it truly something special. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide