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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
One of Mel Brooks's weaker vehicles, this 1976 feature finds a movie producer (Brooks) deciding that the public is ready for the silent film form again. Reasonably ambitious and promising, the film ultimately doesn't do for silent cinema what Brooks did for atmospheric horror (by reviving it while parodying it) in Young Frankenstein. Lots of famous faces pass through Silent Movie, to varying effect. Perhaps the best joke in the movie is the one performer who actually has a line of dialogue: mime Marcel Marceau. --Tom Keogh
Product Description
Mel Brooks, Dom Deluise and Marty Feldman pay affectionate, hilarious tribute to Hollywood's Silent Era in this classic parody of the movie business. Attempting to save his studio from the conglomerate "Engulf and Devour," a has-been movie director (Brooks) casts some of the hottest movie stars in town (all of whom spoof themselves) in one huge blockbuster film.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By Joe Libby
Format:VHS Tape
It's not as cohesive or funny as YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN or THE PRODUCERS, but SILENT MOVIE has plenty to offer. A wild romp that parodies the film business and the all but lost art of creating silent films, SILENT MOVIE stars Mel Brooks, Marty Feldman, and Dom Deluise as a trio of film makers who vow to save their studio by making a new silent film with major stars. Many conventions of silent films are spoofed, such as how the right title card can alter the meaning of a scene (the title of this review is from one such card). Several stars (such as Burt Reynolds and Paul Newman) seem to enjoy parodying themselves, and Anne Bancroft's tango with our heroes is a standout. Harold Gould is the epitome of blackhearted villany and Sid Ceaser contributes some of his trademark pantomime as the neurotic studio chief. Best of all is Marty Feldman; with his wirey body, elastic face, and, of course, those eyes, Feldman looks as if he stepped out of 1920's of Mack Sennett into the 1970's of Mel Brooks. He steals many a scene (subtly or otherwise) in SILENT MOVIE.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Silent Movie represents Mel Brooks' successful attempt to lampoon the greed of Hollywood with a comic tribute to the era of silent films when the actors merely had to work on their "faces." Silent Movie runs along at a brisk 87 minutes and the action simply never stops. The plot holds your attention and the color remains quite good after all these years.
Mel Brooks plays Mel Funn, a has-been movie director whose career was ruined by drinking. However, he gets an idea that could breathe new life into his career--he wants to make a silent movie. Mel Funn, together with his buddies Marty Feldman playing Marty Eggs and Dom DeLuise as Dom Bell, must seek out a Hollywood studio that will buy into his idea of a silent movie. The threesome goes to see the chief of Big Picture Studios, played so ably by Sid Caesar. Big Picture Studios is in such trouble that they are a sitting duck for a hostile takeover from the huge conglomerate Engulf and Devour. The studio chief finally decides to let them make the picture at Big Picture Studios after Funn, Eggs and Bell promise him that big name stars will appear in the movie. The studio chief hopes that the star quality of the film will compensate for it being a silent movie; that would make badly needed profits so Big Picture Studios can remain in business as an independent studio and reject hostile takeover bids from Engulf and Devour. Thus the studio chief gives the green light to Funn, Eggs and Bell to cast and direct the silent movie.
This is a Mel Brooks picture, so needless to say there is much slapstick and parodies galore. At one point when Mel Brooks is chasing after Paul Newman as they ride in wheelchairs at a hospital, the wheels clash and the sparks fly just as they did in a racing scene from the movie Ben-Hur. In another spoof about how big all the candy portions are at the movies, there's a scene in the movie theater in which Dom DeLuise eats a Hershey's candy bar as big as he is while a couple purchase popcorn in the "trash can" size as the employee uses a hose to pour gobs and gobs of melted butter onto the popcorn. I'd tell you more but I don't want to ruin it for you. Trust me; it's funny.
Of course, Engulf and Devour are hungry for profits and their greed leads them to want Big Picture Studios at any price, even if it isn't too profitable. Will Funn, Eggs and Bell be able to complete their movie, get their stars into their picture and save Big Picture Studios from ruination or, worse yet, the menacing conglomerate Engulf and Devour? Will Funn be able to handle the stress of it all without turning back to liquor again to ease his pain? And what about the beautiful young lady Engulf and Devour hire to ruin Funn's chances of making his movie so that they can take over Big Picture Studios once and for all? No spoilers here, folks; you'll have to watch the movie to find out!
The cameos by big name stars are delightfully funny and interesting. Funn, Eggs and Bell go after great stars including Liza Minnelli, James Caan, Paul Newman, Anne Bancroft and Burt Reynolds.
People write that this is not Mel Brooks' best movie and maybe they are right. One thing, though--it holds your attention and the gags ARE funny even if many of them do involve slapstick. It's great to see Sid Caesar again and the acting by everyone is very good.
I recommend this film for fans of Mel Brooks; and people who want a light hearted enjoyable comedy will appreciate this movie. The DVD doesn't come with a lot of extras but Silent Movie stands on its own two feet rather well.
Mel Brooks plays Mel Funn, a has-been movie director whose career was ruined by drinking. However, he gets an idea that could breathe new life into his career--he wants to make a silent movie. Mel Funn, together with his buddies Marty Feldman playing Marty Eggs and Dom DeLuise as Dom Bell, must seek out a Hollywood studio that will buy into his idea of a silent movie. The threesome goes to see the chief of Big Picture Studios, played so ably by Sid Caesar. Big Picture Studios is in such trouble that they are a sitting duck for a hostile takeover from the huge conglomerate Engulf and Devour. The studio chief finally decides to let them make the picture at Big Picture Studios after Funn, Eggs and Bell promise him that big name stars will appear in the movie. The studio chief hopes that the star quality of the film will compensate for it being a silent movie; that would make badly needed profits so Big Picture Studios can remain in business as an independent studio and reject hostile takeover bids from Engulf and Devour. Thus the studio chief gives the green light to Funn, Eggs and Bell to cast and direct the silent movie.
This is a Mel Brooks picture, so needless to say there is much slapstick and parodies galore. At one point when Mel Brooks is chasing after Paul Newman as they ride in wheelchairs at a hospital, the wheels clash and the sparks fly just as they did in a racing scene from the movie Ben-Hur. In another spoof about how big all the candy portions are at the movies, there's a scene in the movie theater in which Dom DeLuise eats a Hershey's candy bar as big as he is while a couple purchase popcorn in the "trash can" size as the employee uses a hose to pour gobs and gobs of melted butter onto the popcorn. I'd tell you more but I don't want to ruin it for you. Trust me; it's funny.
Of course, Engulf and Devour are hungry for profits and their greed leads them to want Big Picture Studios at any price, even if it isn't too profitable. Will Funn, Eggs and Bell be able to complete their movie, get their stars into their picture and save Big Picture Studios from ruination or, worse yet, the menacing conglomerate Engulf and Devour? Will Funn be able to handle the stress of it all without turning back to liquor again to ease his pain? And what about the beautiful young lady Engulf and Devour hire to ruin Funn's chances of making his movie so that they can take over Big Picture Studios once and for all? No spoilers here, folks; you'll have to watch the movie to find out!
The cameos by big name stars are delightfully funny and interesting. Funn, Eggs and Bell go after great stars including Liza Minnelli, James Caan, Paul Newman, Anne Bancroft and Burt Reynolds.
People write that this is not Mel Brooks' best movie and maybe they are right. One thing, though--it holds your attention and the gags ARE funny even if many of them do involve slapstick. It's great to see Sid Caesar again and the acting by everyone is very good.
I recommend this film for fans of Mel Brooks; and people who want a light hearted enjoyable comedy will appreciate this movie. The DVD doesn't come with a lot of extras but Silent Movie stands on its own two feet rather well.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By mskrisclark
Format:DVD
I have always LOVED this film. Saw it several times in the theater when I was a kid.
The screen with Paul Newman in the wheelchair chase is as funny today as when the film was first released.
I was so glad when I heard this DVD was coming out & I could finally have the film at home wide screen.
But, but, I am SO DISAPPOINTED.
There are no extras. None, zip, zero. Nothing. What a let down!!
And, I hate when DVD packages come out like this. No page with the DVD chapter search.
It is a shame this was the care given to this package of this film.
So glad to have it wide screen finally, but what a let down of no extras or the chapter page.
The screen with Paul Newman in the wheelchair chase is as funny today as when the film was first released.
I was so glad when I heard this DVD was coming out & I could finally have the film at home wide screen.
But, but, I am SO DISAPPOINTED.
There are no extras. None, zip, zero. Nothing. What a let down!!
And, I hate when DVD packages come out like this. No page with the DVD chapter search.
It is a shame this was the care given to this package of this film.
So glad to have it wide screen finally, but what a let down of no extras or the chapter page.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
classic mel brooks
this is one of mel brooks lesser known movies but it is still a classic. just with brooks, dom deluise & marty feldman how could you go wrong?
Published 1 month ago by mike fourhman
3.0 out of 5 stars
Another By Brooks
It really is a silent movie. An OK Mel Brooks movie from the seventies when he seemed to be churning them out. Not bad, but not as good as the others. Worth seeing.
Published 3 months ago by Charles M. Pydynkowski
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Gag a Minute, but Chock-Full of Memorable Scenes
SILENT MOVIE is Mel Brooks' homage to the silent era, with gags aplenty and references to a whole raft of Hollywood classics - the Keystone Cope, Astaire and Rogers, THIS IS THE... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Dr. Laurence Raw
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Mel Brooks
I ordered this movie because when I lent it to my daughter-in-law in the hospital, it was accidentally lost and I love to watch it at least once a year.
Published 7 months ago by Gloria Traicoff
1.0 out of 5 stars
(yawn) (chuckle) (snicker) (yawn)
Mel Brooks has given us brilliant ("Young Frankenstein", "The Producers") good ("Spaceballs", "Blazing Saddles"), and not so good ("Life Stinks", "Men in Tights") films, but this... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Dr. James Gardner
5.0 out of 5 stars
Yellowbeard
Yellowbeard is a laugh a minute..made some years back with John Cleese, Marty Feldman and Madelyn Kahn as support actors, also Cheech and Chong lend even more laughs to this... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Lyn B
5.0 out of 5 stars
Top-notch classic, but is there lost footage or is it my...
Am I just imagining that there are scenes from this movie
that have been arbitrarily cut out or altered since its original theatrical release???? Read more
that have been arbitrarily cut out or altered since its original theatrical release???? Read more
Published 23 months ago by Laust Cawz
1.0 out of 5 stars
Movie
My husband's dream was to watch this movie. I know it was cheap to buy it but I do regret it. I guess the jokes at that time made us laugh a lot now it just gets us mad. Read more
Published on October 29, 2010 by Jessica Flores
5.0 out of 5 stars
There's a moment very early in "Silent Movie" (before the opening...
...DeLuise are tooling through Los Angeles in a tiny sports car. They pass a pregnant lady at a bus stop. "That's a very pregnant lady! Read more
Published on May 26, 2010
2.0 out of 5 stars
has some funny moments
although i wouldn't call this movie a laugh riot,i did find it
amusing.and i did chuckle a few times.some of the slapstick is fairly
funny. Read more
amusing.and i did chuckle a few times.some of the slapstick is fairly
funny. Read more
Published on March 3, 2010 by falcon
