Dear Mr. Brooks,
I wanted to write you a letter (of sorts) just to tell you that I saw your recent documentary and of course, loved it. I didn’t realise that you’d had such a hard life to begin with, but pleased it all turned out reasonably well in the end. Well done.
Yes, I am a fan of yours; despite being British. It’s true to say that your genius hasn’t had quite the same impact in this Green and Pleasant Land than it did all the way over the pond in America (despite your best efforts), but I like it.
I wanted to relate the story of the point at which you entered my life (because this is nothing if it isn’t about me):
It must have been in the mid 1980’s (I can’t quite recall exactly when). Me – always cutting edge tech orientated – had bought a VHS video recorder and had recorded my first film on it. A little bit later on, I recorded Young Frankenstein. I paid no attention to that recording for several days until – finding myself at a loose end – I sat down to watch it. I think I initially recorded it in the first place, as it had Marty Feldman in it and I was a fan of his. Never heard of anyone else though. Gene who?…
My initial thoughts when it started were “what the fuck is this?” and “why is it in black and white”. However that was soon to be replaced by chuckles, then gales of laughter as the film progressed. So much laughing in fact, that I had to rewind in several places, missing bits due to the tears rolling down my face and the pain in my stomach from being literally doubled over with laughter.
The entire film is of course very funny. But these two bits stood out for me: Kenneth Mars performance as Inspector Kemp. They were the initial scenes that triggered the gales of laughter. A magnificent performance. Couldn’t play darts for ages afterwards without trying to stick them in my arm (ow!). “Vootschteps vootschteps” became a phrase that entered my vocabulary from that day and has been used many times over the years.
The second bits were the scenes that (according to your documentary) very nearly didn’t make it into the film: Putting On The Ritz. I just found that incredibly funny. Peter Boyle – like all the other actors and actresses in the film – just magnificent. Truly wonderful performances from all.
Over the course of a few years, I gradually began to discover and enjoy the many nuances of that film that you had built in right from the start. Again: well done.
From that point on, I was aware of Mel Brooks.
Over the course of the next forty years, I’d watch (and enjoy) all of your work, even though it took you a few minutes to get to The History Of The World Part II. And still watching it now, of course.
Well that’s it from me, hope you’re still OK.
Much love and respect,
The Rigor Mortist.
