History of the World: Part I
Mel Brooks turns humanity’s grand historical milestones into a bawdy, musical parade of disconnected comic catastrophes.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Mild
- irreverent
- bawdy
- campy
- comedy marathon
- late night viewing
What critics said
Critics generally found sporadic cleverness and solid laughs in the performances and set pieces, but judged the anthology uneven, rambling, and often mean-spirited or scatological.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film moves through the Stone Age, Roman Empire, Last Supper, Spanish Inquisition, and French Revolution while treating them as vehicles for modern comic incongruity.
Separate sketches about Moses, Nero, Comicus, Torquemada, and Louis XVI form a broad tour through history with limited narrative continuity.
Large comic production numbers such as the Spanish Inquisition routine combine theatrical choreography with scatological and taboo humor.
Religious authority, imperial power, monarchy, aristocracy, and supposedly monumental historical events are all subjected to farcical mockery.
Films like History of the World: Part I, and why
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Broad historical satire, musical comedy, and irreverent ensemble farce performed through episodic comic set pieces.
The Producers
Anachronistic historical parody combining lavish production, musical numbers, taboo humor, and sketch-like comic episodes.
Robin Hood: Men in Tights
Mel Brooks-style historical spoofing, exaggerated performances, vulgar farce, and comic treatment of grand institutions.
Movie Details
- Director
- Mel Brooks
- Release Date
- 1981-06-12
- Runtime
- 92 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (955)
Cast
- Mel Brooks
- Dom DeLuise
- Madeline Kahn
- Harvey Korman
- Cloris Leachman
- Ron Carey
- Gregory Hines
- Pamela Stephenson
- Shecky Greene
- Sid Caesar
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- Buy
- Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is History of the World: Part I about?
- Mel Brooks turns humanity’s grand historical milestones into a bawdy, musical parade of disconnected comic catastrophes.
- What is History of the World: Part I like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of History of the World: Part I as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as simple.
- Is History of the World: Part I violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in History of the World: Part I as mild.
- What did critics think of History of the World: Part I?
- Critics generally found sporadic cleverness and solid laughs in the performances and set pieces, but judged the anthology uneven, rambling, and often mean-spirited or scatological.
- Which films are like History of the World: Part I?
- Films with a similar feel include Monty Python and the Holy Grail, The Producers, and Robin Hood: Men in Tights.
- How long is History of the World: Part I?
- History of the World: Part I runs 92 minutes.
- Where can I watch History of the World: Part I?
- In United States, History of the World: Part I is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand.
