What Are Mel Brooks’ Favorite Movies? To Celebrate His 100th Birthday, the Comedy Legend Picks 20 Films to Screen Across Los Angeles
The eclectic program spans decades and genres, offering glimpses into Brooks’ comedic influences, personal history and enduring love of film
Mel Brooks, the renowned comedy legend, has selected 20 of his favorite films to celebrate his 100th birthday, to be screened across Los Angeles this fall. The American Cinematheque, the nonprofit presenting the showcase, had initially offered no set number of movies for the event. Brooks finalized the list over a few days, adding to it gradually.
The varied selections offer a glimpse into his own biography, reflecting the changes in cinema over the past century. Brooks, who began his career as a comedian at New York's Catskills resorts, drew connections between his love for physical comedy and slapstick in films like Charlie Chaplin's City Lights and the Marx Brothers' A Night at the Opera.
Some of the films on the list, such as Jojo Rabbit and Top Hat, share a level of irreverence with Brooks' famed song "Springtime for Hitler." His choice of Top Hat follows a biographical thread, as he started his career as a stage performer in clubs before venturing into television and movies. Brooks' personal history also connects with The Miracle Worker, for which his late wife Anne Bancroft won the Academy Award for Best Actress.
Other selections highlight his affection for genres, including horror and parody. The program of screenings will run from early September through mid-November, rotating between three classic movie palaces in Los Angeles and Santa Monica.
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