Written by:Mel Brooks (Screenplay), Ron Clark (Screenplay), Rudy De Luca (Screenplay), Barry Levinson (Screenplay), Ron Clark (Story)
Script Synopsis:Aspiring filmmakers Mel Funn, Marty Eggs and Dom Bell go to a financially troubled studio with an idea for a silent movie. In an effort to make the movie more marketable, they attempt to recruit a number of big name stars to appear, while the studio's creditors attempt to thwart them. The film contains only one word of dialogue, spoken by an unlikely source.
Silent Movie Script Resources:
Silent Movie Script PDF - 12/11/75 REVISED at Script City ($)
Note: Multiple links are listed since (a) different versions exist and (b) many scripts posted become unavailable over time. Please notify me if you encounter a stale link.
Dracula, Star Wars, Robin Hood, Alfred Hitchcock, Frankenstein… is there any movie that Mel Brooks hasn’t made fun of?
Since his directing career started in 1968, Brooks has consistently come out with hilarious films poking fun at some of the classic films of his lifetime. With his first spoof film, Blazing Saddles (1974), Brooks perfected a genre that had only been dabbled in by other directors. In the film, he pointed fun at racism, sexuality and gender stereotypes in a way that made taboo subjects seem more human. With his next film, Young Frankenstein (1974), Brooks solidified his image of the Spoof King of Comedy and continued fighting for his crown for years to come.
While Brooks continues to have a heavy cult following of people who adore his sense of humor, his popularity with mainstream audiences has been steadily decreasing since he came out with Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993). However, this is not due to a lower quality of work on Brooks’ part, but could be influenced by the fact that Brooks has continued to have his unique sense of humor in a world that is ever-changing. Brooks has not changed his style- he continuously makes films that carry the signature traits of his dynamic comedic style which is seen in copycat filmmakers such as the creators of Scary Movie, Epic Movie and the rest of the franchise.
The timing and easy flow of Brooks’ scripts show the mastery that Brooks had of his subject. He was able to dig beneath the surface and create humor about stories that were heavy with sadness and drama. That talent has made him an icon to many people today and surely will lead to a greater appreciation of spoof films in the future.
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