Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
"You bad boy", November 24, 1999
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.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One great big campy YES !!!, April 14, 2007
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.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Please Release a Region 1 DVD for Mel Brooks Silent Movie!, July 30, 2005
I'm a huge fan of Mel Brooks and his hysterically funny comedy movies and Silent Movie is my favorite and while it's nice that it's on DVD why is it only available in the European region 2 PAL format? I need a region 1 DVD format and I don't have a region free DVD player so please someone release a region 1 DVD for Canada and USA.
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