Mel Brooks’ Top 20 Movies: Psycho to When Harry Met Sally
When a cinematic legend reaches a significant milestone, it invites a deep dive into the history they’ve witnessed. In June, the witty and iconic Mel Brooks turned 100, marking a century of living history and a lifetime spent immersed in the magic of film. Naturally, one of the best ways to celebrate a life rich with storytelling is to explore the movies that have shaped his world.
To celebrate this milestone, the American Cinematheque invited Brooks to curate a list of his favorite films, and the resulting collection quickly ballooned into an incredible twenty movies spanning nearly nine decades of cinema. The selection itself was a journey, taking viewers from the silent era right up to the modern age.
The timeline of Brooks’ cinematic passion is staggering. The list featured classics like the 1931 masterpiece City Lights and the timeless romance of When Harry Met Sally…, balanced with historical epics such as The Grapes of Wrath and the dramatic intensity of Schindler’s List.
The curated selection spanned a remarkable range, including cinematic gems from the 1940s, the 1950s, the 1960s, and the more recent hits like Jojo Rabbit and Dolemite Is My Name.
The process of compiling the list was as much a story as the films themselves. When the American Cinematheque sought Brooks’ input, the initial selection was already brilliant. But as the project unfolded, the process evolved into a collaborative exploration of film history.
The director of programming, Chris LeMaire, found that by asking Brooks to take over the calendar, they uncovered a treasure trove of cinematic history. As Brooks suggested key inclusions, such as adding The Grapes of Wrath, the list expanded further, leading to a truly comprehensive collection.
In his reflection on the experience, Brooks summed up the joy of the endeavor, noting that compiling the list of these marvelous movies reminded him of why he first fell in love with the art of film. It was a wonderful opportunity to revisit the foundational works that defined the cinematic landscape.
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