Dwie lewe nogi, ale oh, tak zgrabny ma Sweet Georgia Brown

Alongside a cornucopia of "names" including John Inman, Richard Rodgers, Peter Paul Rubens, Gilda Radner, King Henry VIII, Kathy Bates, John Wesley, A. A. Gill, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Sir Harold Evans, Willy Whitelaw and - erm - Elon Musk...

...it's the one-hundredth birthday today of the peerless Mel Brooks!

Always one of my favourite film-makers way back to when I was a child, his Blazing Saddles, The Producers, Young Frankenstein, Silent Movie and History of the World: Part I remain among my most cherished films, and I particularly adored his classic entourage of regular actors (Madeline Kahn, Dom DeLouise, Gene Wilder, Harvey Korman and Cloris Leachman among them).

He also has an unerring eye for camp - I suppose being married to Anne Bancroft for all those years must have helped!

Speaking of camp...

Madeline Kahn as "Empress Nympho" [History of the World: Part I]

[and again:]

Mel Brooks in "Inquisition - the musical" [History of the World: Part I]

"The French Mistake" [Blazing Saddles]

Men in Tights

"Puttin' on the Ritz" [Young Frankenstein]

Madeline Kahn as "Lili Von Shtupp" - I'm Tired [Blazing Saddles (1974)]

Mel Brooks and Anne Bancroft - Sweet Georgia Brown IN POLISH

All hail, Mel Brooks (born Melvin James Kaminsky, 28th June 1926)!

Who can satisfy their lustful habit? I'm not a wabbit!

I wish.

It's been peeing down all night, and it feels more like October out there than the end of June. I certainly did not want to get out of bed for work this morning...

Never mind, eh? Among a whole raft of fellow luminaries, including Henry VIII, John Inman, Harold Evans, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, John Cusack, Richard Rodgers, Willie Whitelaw, Gilda Radner, Kathy Bates, Peter Paul Rubens, A. A. Gill, John Wesley and - erm - Elon Musk, it is the fantabulosa Mel Brooks' 95th birthday today!

On this Tacky Music Monday, I think a rather appropriate song from one of his funniest films is in order:

Madeline Kahn as "Lili Von Shtupp" - I'm Tired [Blazing Saddles (1974)]

Here I stand, the goddess of Desire
I set men on fire
I have this power
Morning noon and night, it's drink and dancing
Some quick romancing
And then a shower
Stage door johnnies constantly surround me
They always hound me
with one request
Who can satisfy their lustful habit?
I'm not a rabbit!
I need some rest!

I'm tired
Sick and tired of love
I've had my fill of love
From below and above
Tired
Tired of being admired
Tired of love uninspired
Let's face it
I'm tired!

I've been with thousands of men
Again and again
They promise the moon
They're always coming and going
And going and coming
And always too soon!

Tired
Tired of playing the game
Ain't it a crying shame?
I'm so tired...
Goddammit, I'm tired!

I've been with thousands of men
Again and again
They sing the same tune
They start with Byron and Shelley
then jump on your belly
and bust your balloon!
Oy! [BANG!]

Tired
Tired of playing the game
Ain't it a friggin shame
I'm so...
Let's face it
Everything below the waist...is kaput!
Tired!

Have a good week, dear reader.

Pure imagination

The films of Gene Wilder

RIP Leo Bloom, Willy Wonka, Dr. Frankenstein, The Waco Kid - all the creations of the comedy genius Gene Wilder (born Jerome Silberman, 11th June 1933 – 28th August 2016)

It's good to be the King

Yesterday, that genius comic movie maestro and all-round funny man Mel Brooks celebrated his 85th birthday!

Always one of my favourite producers way back to when I was a child, his Blazing Saddles, The Producers, Young Frankenstein, Silent Movie and History of the World: Part I remain among my most cherished films, and I particularly adored his classic entourage of regular actors (Madeline Kahn, Dom DeLouise, Gene Wilder, Harvey Korman and Cloris Leachman among them).

He also has an unerring eye for camp - I suppose being married to Anne Bancroft for all those years must have helped!

So in recognition of his survival (apart from Miss Leachman and Mr Wilder, all the others are dead), and also befitting the Gay Pride theme of this week, here are a few of the more homosexualist sketches from his vast repertoire...

The "selecting escorts" scene from History of the World Part 1, with Madeline Kahn:

Madeline Kahn as "Empress Nympho"

From the same movie, The Spanish Inquisition musical extravaganza:

Mel Brooks in "Inquisition - the musical"

And finally, Blazing Saddles and "The French Mistake" routine:

"The French Mistake"

Mel Brooks on IMDB

Hedley Lamarr is dead

More bad news today - the death of actor Harvey Korman, famous in this country for his pompous sneering character roles in Mel Brooks' classic films, most notably as Count de Monet in History of the World: Part 1, and of course the fabulous Hedley Lamarr in Blazing Saddles.

Always the foil for the leading comic, Harvey was for many years the side-kick of the lovely Carol Burnett in her successful US TV show, and over the years he worked with George Burns, Lucille Ball, Jack Benny and Peter Sellers (in the Pink Panther films).

Another great loss to comedy, and one who will be sorely missed...

Harvey Korman - Blazing Saddles

Harvey Korman - History of the World Part 1

Read his obituary in the Guardian

Harvey Korman on IMDB