10 funniest characters in Mel Brooks movies

Mel Brooks created a lot of unforgettable comedy characters throughout his career, including some of the funniest movie characters of all time. Brooks’ films often make fun of other film genres, such as Spaceballs Max sci-fi tropes and Young Frankenstein Plays with the stereotypes of the horror genre. Brooks is always adept at remixing and reimagining the stock characters that populate these genres.

Although Mel Brooks’s satirical genius created some memorable characters, he was certainly helped by the fact that he often collaborated with some of the weirdest actors in Hollywood. Gene Wilder, John Candy and Rick Moranis all did some of their best work in Mel Brooks movies. The director could also step in front of the camera when he wanted to, creating one or two more classic comedy characters that have stood the test of time.

10

Richard Thorndike

Mel Brooks in High Anxiety (1977)

Mel Brooks has had a lot of juicy roles during his careerincluding King Louis XVI in History of the World, Part I And yogurt in Spaceballs. His best character of all may be Dr. Richard Thorndike the nervous psychiatrist in High anxiety. In his loving bubble of Alfred Hitchcock’s movies, Thorndyke is a crude amalgamation of many different Hitchcock protagonists, such as spellboundS. John Ballantine and north by northwestS. Roger Thornhill.

High anxiety Doesn’t usually rank among Mel Brooks’ best movies, but when it works, it works beautifully. While the scope of his parody is relatively narrow compared to something like Young Frankenstein Or shiny saddles, It’s a must-watch for Hitchcock fans. Brooks plays Richard Thorndike without a hint of subtlety, linking to the melodramatic aspects of Hitchcock’s psychological dramas.

9

Igor

Marty Feldman in Young Frankenstein (1974)

in Young Frankensteins horror movie parody, Igor is the witless assistant, always eager to please but borderline spoiled. Despite his constant mistreatment at the hands of Dr. Frankenstein and Mrs. Blucher, he usually wore a broad smile. This makes him the perfect comedic counterbalance to the two more serious characters, who are often too wrapped up in their own importance to see the absurdity of what they’re doing.

Marty Feldman has always gotten a lot of comedic mileage out of his bulging, misaligned eyes, and his appearance is perfect for the role of Igor. With a sneaky puppy, which he thinks he is unaware of, Igor is the first sign that Dr. Frankenstein is likely to return instead of pursuing his grandfather’s work of reanimating the dead. Feldman always has a perfectly timed goofy look when needed, which makes Igor a sympathetic character.

8

Leo Bloom

Gene Wilder in The Producers (1967)

The producers was the first movie that Mel Brooks directed, and it remains one of his best. The comedy relies on the brilliant dynamic between the two stars, Gene Wilder and Zero Mostel. In their scheme to put on the worst show in the history of Broadway and defraud their investors, Wilder plays Leo Bloom, the neurotic accountant who stumbles upon the loop that inspires them.

The producers was the first collaboration between Gene Wilder and Mel Brooks, and their styles immediately made a perfect match. Some comedic actors play the same kind of character over and over again, but Wilder has a more impressive range. He is manic and anxious in the producers, Clutching in his blue blankie when things get too intense. If Max Bialystok is the devil, Leo Bloom is an angel manipulated into sin.

7

Barf

John Candy in Spaceballs (1987)

John Candy was one of the most popular comedy actors of his generation, and his one collaboration with Mel Brooks brought out the best in both men. Candy plays Barf, a half-man-half-dog meant to parody Chewbacca in Spaceballs. Barf and Lone Starr have some of the bravery of Han Solo and Chewie, but they travel the galaxy in a beat-up old Winnebago full of junk.

John Candy usually played characters that the audience could sympathize with. Even as a charming alien, Barf is somehow the most relatable and charming character in Spaceballs. Candy has a serious sweetness to his performance that makes Barf fun to spend time with. If the upcoming Spaceballs 2 Has no chance of replicating the success of the original, the casting will be a big problem, because Candy is a hard act to follow.

6

Ahhh

Dave Chappelle in Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993)

Although not as popular as some other Mel Brooks movies, Robin Hood: Men in Tights Has a lot of great moments. A large number of these moments come courtesy of Dave Chappelle’s performance as Ahchoo, one of Robin’s living men. Robin Hood: Men in Tights is Chappelle’s first ever movie appearanceA whole decade before he reached a new level of success with Chappelle’s show.

A lot of Mel Brooks’ comedy comes from pointing out the strange hang-ups that modern society has about race and religion. Brooks himself appears as a rabbi Robin Hood: Men in Tights, And the character of Ahchoo highlights how adventure movies are predominantly white fantasies. Ahchoo is completely at odds with his surroundings in Robin Hood: Men in Tights. His snapback and sneakers do not fit in with the rest of the living people.

5

Lily of the valley

Madeline Kahn in Blazing Saddles (1974)

Mel Brooks usually has funnier male characters than female ones, but Lili Von Shtupp is one notable exception to this rule. Madeline Kahn’s lively performance helps make Lily just as funny as the two main characters Blazing saddles. Her number “I’m Tired” shows Brooks’ flair for musical comedy, but it’s just as much about the awkward, off-key way Kahn sings it.

Lili Von Shtupp is the German femme fatale whom Hedley hired to use her charms on Sheriff Bart. Her character is a parody of the way the western genre often treats women, since she is brought in as a plot device to weaken a man. Ultimately, she ends up falling in love with the hero surprisingly quickly, which is another trope of Westerns. Mel Brooks’ writing and Madeline Kahn’s brilliant performance make Lily much more than a stereotype.

4

Dark helmet

Rick Moranis in Spaceballs (1987)

Rick Moranis has since retired from acting, but he still produced many legendary performances for fans to look back on. His role as Lord Dark Helm in Spaceballs Is up there with his best. Dark Helm is a brilliant parody of Darth Vader, subverting the intimidating aura of one of cinema’s most iconic villains. In contrast, Dark Helm is an evil, irrational man-child with a Napoleon complex.

Rick Moranis does comedic rage better than most actorsThanks to his short stature and his expressive face. This helps Dark Helm stand out as the perfect crystallization of Mel Brooks’ satirical style. The character gives clear tribute to Star Wars By understanding what makes it so unique, but it undercuts the grandeur of the sci-fi movie with a pathetic, ineffective villain. Moranis is no James Earl Jones.

3

Sheriff Bart

Cleavon Little in Blazing Saddles (1974)

It was simple to say that Blazing saddles Could never be made today. Some of ​​its jokes could easily be construed as too far, if not for the likable performance of Cleavon Little. He forms a bridge between the audience and the action on screen, rolling his eyes and shaking his head when appropriate to ensure people know it’s okay to laugh. Blazing saddles Is more intelligent than some people give it credit for. Little and Mel Brooks work together to explore the way society talks about race.

Sheriff Bart is much smarter than the average taunts he meets, but their blind prejudice means he still has to work incredibly hard to win them over. The scene when he arrives for the first time, to the stunned silence of everyone in town, is one of Mel Brooks’ funny scenes. Brooks clearly envisions a world where people can come together and laugh at themselves, regardless of race.

2

Dr. Frederick Frankenstein

Gene Wilder in Young Frankenstein (1974)

Young Frankenstein is one of Gene Wilder’s best movies, and probably his most memorable comedic performance of all. Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, who insists on pronouncing it “Frankenstein”, initially wants nothing to do with his famous grandfather’s reputation as a mad scientist. After spending some time undertaking the research, he slowly turns into a mad scientist himself.

Wilder is at his zany, expressive best Young Frankenstein. His transformation from ​​a scientist with a chip on his shoulder into a walking horror trope uses the full range of his acting skills. The transformation is capped by his hilarious “Puttin’ On the Ritz” dance number with the big lurching monster. Frankenstein screams around on the stage next to the monster, desperately trying to put on a show.

1

Max Bialystok

Zero Mostel in The Producers (1967)

Zero Mostel helped Mel Brooks get his career started in the best way possible. His performance as self-centered Broadway producer Max Bialystock is comedic gold from start to finish. Max is an unscrupulous character who manipulates the mild-mannered Leo Bloom into committing fraud with him. He sells Leo the glamorous lifestyle of a Broadway producer, although he cannot hide the misery in which he lives.

Max Bialystock has more than his fair share of Mel Brooks’ funniest quotes. From his first meeting with Leo, his eyes light up when he senses an opportunity for a quick cheek. He’s a typical sleazy huckster, and he always knows what to say to get everyone on board with his ridiculous scheme. He can without a doubt charm a director, an elderly investor or a Nazi playwright.