Directed and starring Mel Brooks and written by Brooks, Barry Levinson, Ron Clark, and Rudy De Luca, High Anxiety is the story of a renowned psychiatrist who deals with mysterious circumstances at the institute he‘s been hired to fun while dealing with his fear of heights. The film is a tribute/parody of sorts to the films of Alfred Hitchcock, who also contributes to the film’s script, as it play into the world of suspense and horror but in a humorous fashion as it relates to the many situations this doctor would encounter. Also starring Harvey Korman, Cloris Leachman, Madeline Kahn, Ron Carey, Howard Morris, and Dick Van Patten. High Anxiety is a witty and exhilarating film from Mel Brooks.
The film revolves around a renowned, Nobel prize-winning psychiatrist who travels to Los Angeles to head a psychiatric institute after its head doctor had been mysteriously murdered where he would encounter a series of strange events. It is a film that follows many storylines made famous by the films of Alfred Hitchcock as well as play into the elements of suspense. Notably as this psychiatrist has a immense fear of heights as it’s an issue he hasn’t resolved as he’s aided by his old mentor who also works at the institute. The film’s screenplay isn’t just filled with many references to Hitchcock to form its own story but also has its own approach to suspense that is leaned towards comedy.
The fact that Dr. Richard H. Thorndyke (Mel Brooks) is dealing with his own issues makes him an easy target for two of the film’s antagonists in Nurse Diesel (Cloris Leachman) and Dr. Charles Montague (Harvey Korman) who want to control the institute for their own selfish reasons. It would lead to a plot where Dr. Thorndyke is put into situations where he meets a patient’s daughter in Victoria Brisbane (Madeline Kahn) who is convinced that her father is in danger. There is a cleverness to the script in not just the way the suspense is plotted but also in the characters as Dr. Thorndyke is often accompanied by chauffer in Brophy (Ron Carey) who often takes photographs for odd reasons. These are the many quirks that the writers would put in as they would also create scenes that would make fun of famous moments from Hitchcock movies.
Brooks’ direction doesn’t just provide a lot of the visual traits and motifs that is common with Hitchcock but also find ways to turn it into gags as well as provide little moments that accidentally breaks down the fourth wall. Shot in various locations around Los Angeles and San Francisco, Brooks definitely takes advantage of the locations which doesn’t just owe a lot to many of Hitchcock films with Vertigo being the most obvious. Still, Brooks finds a way to bring something of his own in not just a few gags but also some hilarious scenes such as a moment where he and Victoria try to get through the airport security through disguises as it is just a riot to watch. There are also moments that is very stylized for the fact that Brooks would take great advantage of low camera angles to play into the suspense and mix it up with humor as well as the way the camera would zoom in some scenes. It all plays into this humorous take of suspense as its climax isn’t just inventive but also very funny. Overall, Brooks creates a very delightful and entertaining film about a psychiatrist dealing with a mystery and his fear of heights.
Cinematographer Paul Lohmann does excellent work with the film‘s colorful cinematography from the usage of lights and moods for some of the scenes at night to the more naturalistic scenes set in the day. Editor John C. Howard does nice work with the editing as it is quite straightforward with some stylish cuts that play into the suspense and humor. Production designer Peter Wooley, with set decorators Richard D. Kent and Anne MacCauley, does brilliant work with the design of the institute and some of its rooms as well as some of the sets created as homage to the films of Hitchcock.
Costume designer Patricia Norris does fantastic work with the costumes from the clothes that Nurse Diesel wears to the clothes of Victoria Brisbane as well as she and Dr. Thorndyke would wear as disguises. The special visual effects work of Albert Whitlock is terrific for some of the minimal things that pay homage to Hitchcock‘s films including the moments where Dr. Thorndyke deals with his anxieties. The sound effects of William Hartman and Richard Sperber are superb for the way it play into the suspense and how it also add to its humor. The film’s music by John Morris is amazing for its orchestral-based score that owe a lot to the music of Bernard Herrmann as well as moments that are quite playful including a title song written and performed by Mel Brooks.
The film’s phenomenal cast feature some notable small roles from Lee Delano as a half-shaven orderly, Ron Clark as a patient who fears werewolves, Ron De Luca as a mysterious figure known as Braces, Barry Levinson as an uptight bellhop, famed Hitchcock special effects supervisor Albert Whitlock as a patient, Charlie Callas as a man who thinks he’s a dog, and Dick Van Patten as a fellow doctor in the institute in Dr. Wentworth who would become a victim in a scheme that adds to the mystery. Howard Morris is superb as Dr. Thorndyke’s mentor Dr. Lilloman who tries to cure his protégé over his fears as well as reveal what might be going on in the institute. Ron Carey is fantastic as Brophy as a photograph-obsessed chauffer who befriends Dr. Thorndyke as he always struggle to do things right while having his own theories into what is going on.
Cloris Leachman is excellent as Nurse Diesel as this intimidating nurse with a mustache and a penchant for torture who is the real mastermind behind a lot of what is going on as well as being very funny in what she does to Dr. Montague. Harvey Korman is brilliant as Dr. Montague as a scheming psychiatrist who is trying to create more chaos for his patients and wants to run the institute as Korman is just funny throughout for what he tries to do. Madeline Kahn is amazing as Victoria Brisbane as the daughter of a patient who believes something isn’t right as she tries to see if her father is alright as her character is a homage of sorts to some of the heroines in Hitchcock’s film while having her own moments that are just hilarious. Finally, there’s Mel Brooks in an incredible performance as Dr. Richard H. Thorndyke as a psychiatrist with a fear of heights as he copes with some of the strange things happening as well as a being a victim of these strange events where it’s Brooks being absolutely hilarious.
High Anxiety is a sensational film from Mel Brooks. Featuring a great cast and some hilarious gags, it’s a film that isn’t just one of Brooks’ finest film but also a film that fans of Alfred Hitchcock would love for not just the references. It’s also for the fact that it’s a homage to the filmmaker whom the film is dedicated to. In the end, High Anxiety is a remarkable film from Mel Brooks.
Mel Brooks Films: The Producers - (Twelve Chairs) - Blazing Saddles - Young Frankenstein - (Silent Movie) - (History of the World, Part 1) - Spaceballs - (Life Stinks) - Robin Hood: Men in Tights - (Dracula: Dead and Loving It)
© thevoid99 2017
(In Memory of Gene Wilder 1933-2016)
Directed, starring, and songs by Mel Brooks and screenplay by Brooks, Andrew Bergman, Richard Pryor, Norman Steinberg, and Al Uger from a story by Bergman, Blazing Saddles is the story of a State Attorney General who conspires to have a railroad be built on a town while getting an African-American railroad worker to be its sheriff only for the sheriff to gain the trust of the locals to fight back. It’s a film that is a spoof of sorts on the western genre that includes some well-intended anachronisms as well as a commentary on race relations and ideas of the American West. Also starring Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, Harvey Korman, Madeline Kahn, Slim Pickens, David Huddleston, Alex Karras, and Dom DeLuise. Blazing Saddles is an off-the-wall and rip-roaring film from Mel Brooks.
Set in the American West, the film is about a railroad worker, who was about to be hanged for hitting his boss with a shovel, who becomes the sheriff for a town that is under the threat of bandits unaware that that the bandits are working for the State Attorney General wanting to build a railroad through the town. It’s a film that sort of makes fun of the western genre where it plays into every cliché that happens as well as provide some commentary about the modern world where this town is aghast over the fact that their new sheriff is African-American. The film’s script doesn’t just play into some satirical commentary on race relations but also what men of power would do to stop this sheriff only to be outwitted.
The script also has gags that doesn’t just play into clichés but also subvert many stereotypes of the genre such as this dim-witted henchman named Mongo (Alex Karras) who is revealed to be quite philosophical. Another gag in the film is the fact that it’s intentionally anachronistic where it adds to the film’s subversive approach to the genre as well as the fact that the antagonist Hedley Lamarr (Harvey Korman) is mistakenly called Hedy Lamarr. It adds to some of the absurdity that is in the script as well as the fact that it refuses to take itself too seriously.
Mel Brooks’ direction is quite simple in terms of the compositions he creates yet he definitely brings in a lot of the visual tropes that is expected in the western genre with its usage of wide and medium shots to capture the beauty of its locations. Shot in the back-lot studios of Warner Brothers, the film definitely play into some of the artificial aspects that is common with the genre while also creating these moments that are offbeat. Even with the anachronistic elements such as an audition scene for Lamarr’s posse where there’s German soldiers from World War I, bikers, and Ku Klux Klan members as well as a scene in the climax where the film literally breaks the fourth wall. It’s among these moments of the absurd that makes it so interesting while Brooks isn’t afraid to be politically-incorrect as it add to a lot of the humor that occurs in the film. Even as Brooks is willing to go into lowbrow territory just to maintain that sense of joy and laughter without deterring too much from the story. Overall, Brooks creates a witty yet sensational film about an African-American sheriff fighting for liberty, justice, and German sausages.
Cinematographer Joseph F. Biroc does excellent work with the cinematography as it is very straightforward in its approach to the daytime exteriors while using some light for some of the interiors and scenes set at night. Editors Danford Greene and John C. Howard do nice work with the editing as it is very straightforward with some stylish cutting for some of the transitions. Production designer Peter Wooley and set decorator Morris Hoffman do amazing work with the look of the town as well as the office of Lamarr and Governor Le Petomane. The sound work of Gene S. Cantamessa does superb work with the sound as it‘s straightforward in playing up the chaos of the West. The film’s music by John Morris is wonderful for its orchestral-based music that play into the world of the American West as it includes some songs written by Mel Brooks that are very funny.
The casting by Nessa Hyams is great as it features notable small roles and appearances from Robyn Hilton as the governor’s busty secretary, Ralph Manza as an actor playing Adolf Hitler, Count Basie as himself, Robert Ridgely as the hangman Boris, Rodney Allen Rippy as a young Bart, Anne Bancroft as an extra at the congregation, Richard Collier as the town doctor, Liam Dunn as the local reverend, Carol Arthur as the local schoolmarm, Charles McGregor as Bart’s friend Charlie, Burton Gilliam as Taggart’s henchman Lyle, and David Huddleston as one of the locals in Olson Johnson who isn’t receptive about Bart because he’s African-American. Dom DeLuise is fantastic as filmmaker Buddy Bizarre who is trying to make a Busby Berkeley-style musical while Mel Brooks is superb in a dual role as the dim-witted Governor William J. Le Pentomane and a Yiddish-speaking Indian chief the young Bart meets. Alex Karras is excellent as Mongo as this big and strong man who looks and seem like the dumbest person around yet is surprisingly philosophical where he eventually helps Bart and Jim.
Slim Pickens is brilliant as Taggart as Lamarr’s henchman who is the personification of every cliché of the western genre where he says all sorts of shit and does idiotic things. Madeline Kahn is amazing as Lili Von Shtupp aka the Teutonic Titwillow as German seductress/performer who is asked by Lamarr to seduce Bart only to fall for Bart. Harvey Korman is incredible as Hedley Lamarr who always has to correct people for saying his name wrong as he is this state attorney general trying to do whatever he can to destroy a small town so he can get this railroad built. Gene Wilder is phenomenal as Jim aka the Waco Kid as the fastest gunslinger in the world that is trying to escape his past while later helping out Bart in every way where Wilder provides a lot of humor without doing much. Finally, there’s Cleavon Little in a sensational performance as Bart as a railroad worker who becomes sheriff for a town unaware that he is meant to cause trouble only to win over the people and do whatever it takes to outwit and outplay the bad guys.
Blazing Saddles is a magnificent film from Mel Brooks. Featuring a great cast, hilarious gags, witty commentary on social and racial issues, and some off-the-wall humor. It’s a film that isn’t just a great spoof on the western but also manages to do a lot of things and more to create something that is full-on entertainment. In the end, Blazing Saddles is an outstanding film from Mel Brooks.
Mel Brooks Films: The Producers - (Twelve Chairs) - Young Frankenstein - (Silent Movie) - High Anxiety - (History of the World, Part 1) - Spaceballs - (Life Stinks) - Robin Hood: Men in Tights - (Dracula: Dead and Loving It)
© thevoid99 2016
Directed by Steve Binder and David Acomba and written by Bruce Vilanch, Pat Proft, Leonard Ripps, Rod Warren, and Mitzie Welch, The Star Wars Holiday Special is 1978 variety show program in which Han Solo is trying to take Chewbacca to his home planet for the Christmas holidays while other things happened. Featuring people from the Star Wars film in Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter Mayhew, Kenny Baker, Anthony Daniels, and the voice of James Earl Jones as Darth Vader. The special also features appearances from Diahann Carroll, Bea Arthur, Harvey Korman, Art Carney, and a performance from Jefferson Starship. The result is essentially one of the most horrific things to ever exist in the history of entertainment.
In the 1970s, variety shows were the thing as it had people do singing and dancing on television and do all sorts of things. Due to the popularity of George Lucas’ 1977 film Star Wars, a variety show was made where it’s main storyline involves Han Solo and Chewbacca trying to return to Chewbacca’s home planet to spend the holidays with Chewbacca’s family in this day known as Life Day. Along the way, there’s performances and all sorts of things that happen in the story where Harvey Korman plays three characters and a lot of things occur. It is clear that those involved in the creation of this abomination were probably under the influence of some nose candy and what they created is one of the worst things ever.
Through its writers, it is clear that they wanted to include everything that is indicative of the variety shows in the U.S. during those times but also include elements that made Star Wars interesting. Unfortunately, the story that involves Chewbacca’s family where they talk in a language that no one understands isn’t just boring but some of the things they do is pretty stupid. The stuff involving the characters like Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo is a total waste as they are put into awfully comical situations where Leia would sing a song at the end of the special about Life Day.
The special under the direction of Steve Binder is typical of these programs yet it involves a lot of cheesy and very dated special effects involving acrobats, dancers, and some special performances from Diahann Carroll and the Jefferson Starship which are just a pain to watch. Notably as they’re in ridiculous costumes and surrounded by cheesy special effects that tries to make it weird but comes across as horrifying. The songs that are used that are written by its score composers Ian Fraser, Ken Welch, and Mitzie Welch that Carroll and Leia would sing are terrible. Even their electronic-based score that is based on John Williams’ score from the film is pretty bad.
Some of the comedy that involves Art Carney and Bea Arthur not only has the two feel like they don’t belong but it never works. The scenes with Harvey Korman as a cook, an Imperial officer, and a robot are not only unfunny but it has Korman look ridiculous to the point that it feels forced. Then there’s the animated sequence that would introduce a major character to the series in the bounty hunter Boba Fett. It has some interesting animation and it is actually sort of the highlight of the special but it doesn’t really much of an interesting story which only serves as a major plot-point for the main story. Then there’s the people in the special where Harrison Ford as Han Solo looks very uncomfortable while Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker looks like a fucking Ken doll with all of the makeup he is given. Then there’s Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia where it is clear she was on cocaine from the look of her face where she tries to look professional but is also high under the influence.
The Star Wars Holiday Special is a fucking travesty. If there’s any reason into why George Lucas and those involved with the franchise deny the existence of this special. This special is a big reason where it’s only for Star Wars completists to see this though it really should have no part with the main series. In the end, The Star Wars Holiday Special is a TV special that lives up to its infamy as one of the worst things ever presented in the history of television.
Star Wars Films: Star Wars - The Empire Strikes Back - Return of the Jedi - The Phantom Menace - Attack of the Clones - Revenge of the Sith - The Force Awakens - The Last Jedi - The Rise of Skywalker
Related: Caravan of Courage - The Battle for Endor - The Clone Wars - Fanboys - The People vs. George Lucas
Star Wars Anthology Films: Rogue One - Solo - (Untitled Star Wars Anthology Film)
George Lucas Films: THX 1138 - (American Graffiti)
© thevoid99 2015
