Mel Brooks brings his one-of-a-kind comic touch to the history of mankind covering events from the Old Testament to the French Revolution in a series of episodic comedy vignettes.Mel Brooks brings his one-of-a-kind comic touch to the history of mankind covering events from the Old Testament to the French Revolution in a series of episodic comedy vignettes.Mel Brooks brings his one-of-a-kind comic touch to the history of mankind covering events from the Old Testament to the French Revolution in a series of episodic comedy vignettes.
- Awards
- 1 win & 1 nomination total
Orson Welles
- Narrator
- (voice)
Rudy De Luca
- Prehistoric Man
- (as Rudy DeLuca)
- …
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaBeforehand, it was agreed that Orson Welles would receive $5,000 per day in exchange for his services. Figuring that he'd have to spend five eight-hour days recording and re-recording these lines with Welles, Mel Brooks paid him $25,000 up front. But by noon on the first day, Welles had recorded his lines to perfection. "Oh, my god, I could've paid you $5,000", Brooks lamented. After kicking himself for a few minutes, the funnyman asked Welles how he planned to spend the bounty. "Cuban cigars and Sevruga caviar", Welles replied.
- GoofsIn the beginning of the Roman Empire Segment, one of the running jokes was the use of a V in place of a U. It seems that great care was taken to do this on every sign. Except the Annual Orgy sign which has two Us on it that were not changed to Vs. Us are also visible on the "Equal Opportunity Employer" sign at the Unemployment Office.
The U/V joke wasn't meant to go on forever. They used it for the first part part of the segment, then once the joke had run its course they dropped it for the remainder.
- Crazy creditsVESTAL VIRGINS Portrayed by Playboy Playmates and Models
- Alternate versionsThe German TV version is missing the "Hitler on Ice" segment during the finale. Also, there is a small bit missing in the stone age segment, showing the invention of art (wall painting), and the first critic taking a leak on the masterpiece.
- ConnectionsEdited from The Vikings (1958)
- SoundtracksThe Inquisition
Music and Lyrics by Mel Brooks and Ronny Graham
Performed by Mel Brooks, Jackie Mason, and Ronny Graham
Original Music and Lyrics © 1981 Brooksfilms Music Limited
Featured review
Marred only by overlength, this is one hilarious bit of cinema as Mel Brooks satirizes the stone age, the 10 Commandments, Rome, the Last Supper, the Inquisition, and Louie the 16th (sorry I couldn't get the name right). Of course, the stone age also happens to make fun of "2001 A Space Odyssey". Also funny is at the end with the whole "Jews In Space" bit. I love that stuff.
Personally I thought the best bits were set in Rome, what with the gags about Vestal Virgins, innuendo between the queen and the late Gregory Hines, the "Stand Up Philosopher", Ethiopia, getting the Roman guards high, and of course, the Last Supper. This is not to say the Inquisition Musical number is not worth a look.
"Jesus!" - Mel Brooks
"What?" - Jesus Christ
Personally I thought the best bits were set in Rome, what with the gags about Vestal Virgins, innuendo between the queen and the late Gregory Hines, the "Stand Up Philosopher", Ethiopia, getting the Roman guards high, and of course, the Last Supper. This is not to say the Inquisition Musical number is not worth a look.
"Jesus!" - Mel Brooks
"What?" - Jesus Christ
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- La loca historia del mundo
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $11,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $31,672,907
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $4,792,731
- Jun 14, 1981
- Gross worldwide
- $31,672,907
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