"History of the World" (Mel Brooks comedy)

Jewish-American humor classic

The History of the World, Part I is an American sketch comedy film written, produced, and directed by the comedic genius Mel Brooks. He also stars in the film, playing five roles: Moses, Comicus the Stand-up Philosopher, Tomás de Torquemada, King Louis XVI, and Jacques le garçon de pisse.

The large ensemble cast also features Sid Caesar, Shecky Greene, Gregory Hines (in his film debut), Charlie Callas, and Brooks regulars Ron Carey, Dom DeLuise, Madeline Kahn, Harvey Korman, Cloris Leachman, Andreas Voutsinas, and Spike Milligan. The film also has cameo appearances by Royce D. Applegate, Beatrice Arthur ("Maude"), Hugh Hefner (of Playboy infamy), John Hurt, Phil Leeds, Barry Levinson, Jackie Mason, Paul Mazursky, Andrew Sachs, and Henny Youngman, among others.

Orson Welles narrates each story. Despite carrying the title "Part 1," there is no sequel. The title is a play on The History of the World, Volume 1 by Sir Walter Raleigh.

The film is a parody of the historical spectacular film genre anthology, including the sword and sandal epic and the period costume drama subgenres. The four main segments consist of stories set during the Stone Age, the Roman Empire, the Spanish Inquisition, and the French Revolution. Other intermediate skits include reenactments of the giving of the Ten Commandments and the Last Supper. More