MovieChat Forums > Silent Movie (1976) Discussion > Underrated movie

Underrated movie

posted 10 years ago by MoneyMagnet
4 replies | jump to latest

There are a lot of unfunny Mel Brooks movies, but this is not one of them and after seeing it on TCM last night, it has held up WAY better than I would have thought. I would actually put this one up with Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein as the only Brooks movies that are funny from start to finish.

In fact, in terms of coherence and pacing, this may be the BEST Brooks movie, since it's only 90 minutes long (if that) and he never lingers too long on any joke, except for the suit of armor scene.

Part of the success is due to Sid Caesar and Marty Feldman who are simply funny to LOOK at and who were absolutely perfect for a movie with no dialogue. (Oh, and we didn't actually have to listen to Dom DeLuise this time.)

[–] basketcasebelial 9 years ago

Watching it now. Horrible.

[–] swc11-48-550133 9 years ago

Diddo; im about half way through and have considered turning it off a few times but keep hoping for a funny part. If there isn't one, this will be the first Mel Brooks movie I don't like. I'm not really into slapstick (chases, eye poking, falling down, tripping on something, making faces: things that babies think are hilarious) and the entire movie seems to be based on it with just a couple exceptions.
Edit: Just finish the film, it did not have 1 single moment that I laughed. There was a few that I smiled, but that was it.

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[–] Chiscully 9 years ago

I love all the sight gags. The hospital scene with Sid was hysterical. Marty Feldman was the best.

[–] MrMime2015 9 years ago

Comedy is so subjective. The classic one- and two-reel silent comedies of Chaplin, etc were 12 to 20 minutes long. Silent Movie fails for me because its humor can't be sustained for over an hour and a half. Also the 3 comety stars aren't nearly as good as the silent comedians who honed their craft over dozens of one-reelers. Not a visual comic, Mel Brooks is miscast and unfunny here. Dom Deluise has the bulk of a Fatty or an Oliver Hardy but not the talent. Marty Feldman comes closest, but he's no Ben Turpin.
One example--the three walking lock step in single fire down a hospital corridor. Not funny. Another example--the trio, unseen, soaping Burt Reynolds body ibn a shower was more creepy than anything else.