Top 10 Hilarious Mel Brooks Movie Moments

Top 10 Hilarious Mel Brooks Moments

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today were counting down our picks for the funniest and most memorable scenes, moments and instances in Mel Brooks creations, and including those where he was behind the camera, in front of it, or even doing both!

Intro -

Ludicrous Speed

Spaceballs (1987)

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

http://youtu.be/ygE01sOhzz0

#10: A Bloody MessDracula: Dead and Loving It (1995)We all know that desperate measures must be taken to stop the undead wherever they appear.  But this mid-90s satirical comedy horror, which stars Steven Weber as Jonathan Harker and Mel Brooks himself as vampire hunter Van Helsing, proves that its not always a clean process. The resulting scene is one of the standout moments of the film because the filmmakers didnt tell Weber how much blood he would be covered in during the shoot, which makes his reaction appear all the more natural and convincing.

#9: Fight with Little JohnRobin Hood: Men in Tights (1993)This scene from Men in Tights, where a man ironically named Little John takes on Robin Hood in a staff match, spoofs a similar scene in the many Robin Hood tales that have come before it. As per usual for a Brooks movie, however, this version plays it for laughs. To be sure, this isnt the most dignified way to start a friendship, but Robin doesnt dwell on it after and allows the event to pass like water under the bridge.

#8: Alien: One Froggy EveningSpaceballs (1987)While the characters in this late 80s Mel Brooks-directed parody take a brief break from the events of the film, they find out that space can be both weird and dangerous in a crossover between Alien and the cartoon One Froggy Evening. In a neat shout-out, they even get John Hurt to make a cameo as the original victim of the chestburster. Naturally, this proves too much for our actors, leading them to make a quick exit with a time-honored punchline. 

#7: Prince Johns FaceRobin Hood: Men in Tights (1993)Heres another Men in Tights entry on our list. In this scene, Prince John, played by Richard Lewis as a chat show host, is having an intimate conference with his second in command. When the Sheriff of Rottingham asks him about the side-switching mole on his face, his oblivious response is priceless. More so when you consider that they actually had mirrors in ye olden days!

#6: Springtime for HitlerThe Producers (1968; 2005)There are many fantastic moments in both versions of The Producers, but the high point of both movies is easily the big musical number that forms the climax of the god-awful play. The title of the song was initially going to be the title of the movie, but sadly that didnt come to pass. However, this doesnt prevent the scene from having the effect that it does and being the highlight of each version, both of which Brooks produced. Really, its something that has to be seen to be believed.

#5: Combing the DesertSpaceballs (1987)Mel Brooks has always been a filmmaker who plays around with words and twists dialogue. Bearing that in mind, it's not surprising that when Dark Helmet tells his army to comb the desert, they take his orders literally. This moment raises a whole bunch of questions though, like why they have those massive combs in the first place, but Spaceballs is not the kind of movie where not knowing that little fact will bug you. 

#4: Hostage TakingBlazing Saddles (1974)Anyone with the slightest grasp of American history will realize that the 19th century was not a good time to be a black person, and Mel Brooks uses this fact to great advantage to create the hilarious character of Sheriff Bart in this satirical western comedy. His arrival into the town of Rock Ridge doesn't go entirely as planned and forces Bart to use an unusual method of making his escape. The fact that the townspeople fall for this just helps to make clear exactly how stupid they are. 

#3: Puttin On the RitzYoung Frankenstein (1974)This scene, from Brooks take on the Frankenstein story, lands on our list because of just how out of place it is in the movie. If you tell your friends you're showing them a film about Frankenstein, they won't expect the big man to be poorly strutting his stuff upon a stage. The sequence even manages to pay tribute to both the classic musical number and King Kong in Wilder's comments to the audience as the monster is performing. All of this makes for an unforgettable scene.

#2: The Fifteen CommandmentsHistory of the World, Part I (1981)Film fans waited for years to see Brooks take on the Bible. When he did so in History of the World, he nailed it. What looks like a typical parody of Moses' descent from Mount Sinai goes to the next level when he comes down with three stone tablets and fifteen commandments written on them. This scene shows what happens to history when human clumsiness gets in the way... and its unforgettably hilarious.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions

Doctor Commits a Faux Pas

Young Frankenstein (1974)

Dark Helmet Is Surrounded By Assholes

Spaceballs (1987)

Jews in Space 

History Of The World, Part I (1981)

Dark Helmet Plays with His Dolls (Again)

Spaceballs (1987)

Paying the Toll 

Blazing Saddles (1974)