A Movie Five Million Years in the Making...
Times were changing for Mel. His techniques were getting old in the eyes of the eighties movie watcher. A new fad was surfacing, Potty Humor. Mel takes a crude, yet hilarious look at the History of the world. From the Old Testament, to the Spanish Inquisition, to the Cavemen, to the Roman Empire, and finally, to the French Revolution. A madcap and wonderfully delightful trip that puts any history class to shame. The scary thing, most of the things that happen really did happen...uh... except for the sycrinized swimming nuns....
If any one of mel's movies was wronged by the movie going public, this hilarious film is the one. Dismissed as crude, witless, and altogether offensive by the fickle comedy-lover, History of the World: Part I is an undiscovered Gem. True, it is vulgar, and the whole movie revolves around sex, but although it gives the appearance of potty humor, it's really historically correct and very full of wit.
Some love Mel Brooks for his serious ideas hidden deeply beneath the lunacy and I've heard many of these people say that there is none of that in this movie. I beg to differ. The movie, in a way, charts the history of sex. Starting with the evolution of man, to the caveman, to the old testament, then lingering on the Roman Empire, on then to the Spanish Inquisition, and then ending on the French Revolution. Along the way, Sex is an underlying theme. After the Ape stands and becomes man, he suddenly discovers sex. In the Roman Empire, one of the most corrupt civilizations ever, orgies and a nymphomaniac emporess add to the theme. In the French Revolution the King is sex-fanatic, constantly being ghastly in his flirtations with his voluptious court ladies. Perhaps the theme is "Sexual Corruption causes the downfall of empires". Who knows? I belive there is a theme there, it's just harder to find.
This film is also more grounded in historical fact that most think. Don't get me wrong, this isn't edutainment or anything, but The movie includes Roman historical facts such as unichs, vestal virgins, prisoners battling to the death, not to mention a number of puns dealing with the roman's use of "V" instead of "U" in their writing. Also, During the Roman Section, Oeidipus makes a suprise appearance, blind and begging. He's appropiately called a "motherf***er". There was research behind this film, and although some of the humor may be shallow at least Mel took the time to get his facts straight and play most of his jokes off these facts. Perhaps the critics aren't aware of these facts, that make the movie so much more witty.
Count De Monet: Sire, the People are Revolting!
The King: You said it, they stink on ice!