Poking fun at the system
June 28, 2021
It's often easier in retrospect to see how an artist has paved the way for others. Nowadays, making fun of anything and everything is commonplace and even Nazi parodies are a dime a dozen.
But it hasn't always been that way, as a look at the work of director and actor Mel Brooks shows.
Born 95 years ago on June 28, 1926, in Brooklyn, New York, the entertainer was clearly a pioneer of satire.
The taboo-breaker
Though they may have become more common than in the decades following World War II, taking a humorous look at the Nazis may not be everybody's cup of tea, especially not in Germany. Some jokes about Hitler aren't funny at all – that's at least what some people think, and that's also what some of them probably thought when watching Mel Brooks' breakthrough film, The Producers back in 1968.
In spite of some criticism, Brooks' work was crowned with success. The US filmmaker with Jewish roots had thoroughly learned his trade on the stage and in television before he became a filmmaker, setting a tone that was all his own.
Some observers have noted the difference between the humor of Mel Brooks and that of Woody Allen. Brooks' jokes are less intellectual and sophisticated, more ribald and even brute.
A much-acclaimed comedian
In the 1970s and 80s, Mel Brooks conquered a worldwide audience with his very own brand of humor. Furthermore, he was active in several branches of pop culture, theater, cinema and television throughout his life.
In 2001, he also gave proof of his remarkable talent for musicals when a musical version of his debut film, The Producers, hit Broadway, earning him no less than 12 Tonys, making it the most acclaimed Broadway musical ever.
Mel Brooks is one of very few entertainment artists that have received the highest awards in four major cultural spheres: He's won one Oscar and several Tonys, Emmys and Grammys.
Brooks was married to US actress Anne Bancroft, until her death in 2005. She was also an icon of film history, starring as Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate opposite Dustin Hoffman.
Keeping up with the times
Despite getting older, Mel Brooks has continued to be actively involved in showbiz, appearing on television and lending his voice to the protagonists of animated films.
When he recently announced the production of a new movie, observers weren't sure what to make of it. But after all, Mel Brooks has always been good for a surprise.
In keeping with his age, Mel Brooks started taking things a bit easier. But that doesn't mean the comedian is ready to retire: He lent his voice to Dracula's father Vlad in the Hotel Transylvania series.
In 2017, Young Frankenstein made a guest appearance on stage in London's West End and in 2019, the comedy special Mel Brooks: Unwrapped ran on HBO. Last year saw the release of The Mel Brooks Songbook, with 23 songs from films and shows.
The nonagenarian is also active on Twitter, where he voiced his support for Joe Biden ahead of the recent US presidential election. In a reference to Donald Trump's coronavirus pandemic policy, he remarked that "when you're dead, you can't do much."
This article was translated from German.