History of the World: Part I

R

Released Jun 12, 1981

1h 33m

Comedy

List

61%

Tomatometer

36 Reviews

81%

Audience Score

50,000+ Ratings

Human history is traced through a series of vignettes, beginning with cavemen awestruck by their own magnificence. Then Moses (Mel Brooks) receives the tablets containing the "15" commandments, and Emperor Nero (Dom DeLuise) presides over a madcap Rome with his wife, Nympho (Madeline Kahn). Jumping ahead, the Spanish Inquisition softens repression with song and dance, and a few centuries later Madame Defarge (Cloris Leachman) is fomenting revolution in France.

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Critics Consensus

History of the World: Part I may not have enough comedic inspiration to merit a Part II, but the sporadic cleverness of these anachronistic skits are still a testament to Mel Brooks' gift for farce.

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Pauline Kael

New Yorker

It’s Brooks’s audacity -- his treating cruelty and pain as a crazy joke, and doing it in a low-comedy context -- that gives History the kick that was missing from his last few films.

Sep 12, 2023

Full Review

Matthew Rozsa

Salon.com

"History of the World, Part 1" is one of the all-time great spoof comedies. Its genius can be seen right there in its title.

Rated: 4/4

Jun 14, 2021

Full Review

David Denby

New York Magazine/Vulture

What [Brooks] takes to be the glorious folk humor that modern people have repressed looks to many of us like the tired jokes that were yawned off the burlesque stage 50 years ago.

Dec 31, 2019

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

As with many of the writer/director/producer’s works, not every gag lands (a couple actually fall quite flat), with a few portions meandering a touch, but several definitely stand out, sure to endure.

Rated: 5/10

Jul 20, 2024

Full Review

JoAnn Rhetts

Charlotte Observer

History of the World: Part I is Mel Brooks at his most appealing since The Producers and Young Frankenstein... This is just the sort of harmless, frequently hilarious summer movie that will appeal to adolescents of all ages.

May 3, 2023

Full Review

Larry Vitacco

Philadelphia Gay News

As written and directed by Brooks, the movie's overreliance on sex, scat and Semitic jokes wears painfully thin halfway through the picture.

Rated: 2/4

May 26, 2020

Full Review

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Rami A

It's a Mel Brooks film that shouldn't be taken seriously. Just sit back, relax and enjoy the show. If I spent time analyzing this, I would've given this a lower rating.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/06/24

Full Review

BJ M

In the history of the world there has never been a comedy film that was less funny.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/29/24

Full Review

P B

No one parodies religion in big stage musical cabaret format any better than Mel Brooks. A hidden / cult comedy gem for the very silly hearted.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/30/23

Full Review

matthias s

"History of the World: Part 1" is like a wacky rollercoaster through time, with Mel Brooks at the helm, determined to blend historical accuracy with hilariously twisted imagination. From cavemen discovering music to Moses delivering the 15 (ahem, 10) commandments, it's a riot of irreverent gags and slapstick that could make even a stoic statue crack a smile. However, like a cake missing a cherry, the film occasionally falls flat. Some jokes feel like they've been passed around since ancient Rome, and some scenes leave you searching for the punchline like it's a lost civilization. It's as if the comedic genius took a few water breaks during the making of this madcap medley. While not quite earning a full standing ovation, "History of the World: Part 1" is worth a watch if you're in the mood for some historical hijinks and a belly laugh or two. Just be prepared to accept that even the greatest empires had their missteps.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/11/23

Full Review

AB L

The meld of "Monty Pythonesque" historical humor and Borscht Belt one liners yields some occasionally great results, and while its a mess in the first half, the Spanish Inquisition musical number and the French Revolution bits that close out the film are hilarious enough that I'll forgive most of the problems I have.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/31/23

Full Review

StephenPaul C

LOL, the funniest 01 hour: and 33 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/11/23

Full Review

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Mel Brooks

Director

Mel Brooks

Moses

Dom DeLuise

Emperor Nero

Madeline Kahn

Empress Nympho

Harvey Korman

Count de Monet

Cloris Leachman

Madame Defarge

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Synopsis

Human history is traced through a series of vignettes, beginning with cavemen awestruck by their own magnificence. Then Moses (Mel Brooks) receives the tablets containing the "15" commandments, and Emperor Nero (Dom DeLuise) presides over a madcap Rome with his wife, Nympho (Madeline Kahn). Jumping ahead, the Spanish Inquisition softens repression with song and dance, and a few centuries later Madame Defarge (Cloris Leachman) is fomenting revolution in France.

Director: Mel Brooks
Producer: Mel Brooks
Screenwriter: Mel Brooks
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 12, 1981, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 24, 2020
Runtime: 1h 33m
Sound Mix: Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Digital 2.39:1

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