History of the World, Part I

History of the World, Part I. 1981 Brooksfilm & 20th Century Fox.
Starring: Mel Brooks, Dom DeLuise, Madeline Kahn, Harvey Korman, Cloris Leachman, Gregory Hines, Spike Milligan, etc.
Narration: Orson Welles
Director: Mel Brooks
Buy History of the World, Part I at Amazon.

A satirical look at the so-called historical spectacular film genre, including the sword and sandle epics, and the period costume drama sub-genre. The film's four main segments begins with a skit set during the Dawn of Man, complete with the obligatory 2001: A Space Odyssey jokes, minus the monolith. After that, Moses (Brooks) comes down from Mount Sinai, having received the Laws from God (voiced by an uncredited Carl Reiner). He announces to the people the Fifteen....whoops! Looks like there's just going to be Ten Commandments for all to obey. Oy!

A long segment set in the days of the Roman Empire follows that one, followed up by a shorter, but far more musical one about the Spanish Inquisition, which surprisingly, did not make a single reference to the similar Monty Python routine. The fourth sketch is set during the French Revolution, where we all learn that "it's good to be the king!" This one ends when characters from the Roman Empire segment invade, rescuing some characters in need. Deus ex machina time!

Wait! A teaser trailer for History of the World, Part II follows, featuring Hitler on Ice! A Viking funeral! Jews in Space!!

(Too bad they didn't find any more money...oh wait, that's the non existant sequel to Spaceballs. My bad.)

Recommended!