Cast and Crew:  Dom DeLuise, Madeline Kahn, Harvey Korman, Cloris Leachman, Ron Carey, Gregory Hines, Shecky Greene, Sid Caesar, Orson Welles, Jack Riley, Henny Youngman, Hugh Hefner, Barry Levinson, John Hurt, Jackie Mason, Bea Arthur

What It’s About: Mel Brooks spoofs pompous historical epics by giving us a short history of the world, including segments set in Prehistory, Biblical Times, the Roman Empire, The Inquisition, and the French Revolution.

Why Watch it Today?: Writer/Director/star Mel Brooks was born today in 1926.  History of the World Part 1 is arguably his last great movie as a director (though Spaceballs and Robin Hood:  Men in Tights have their defenders) and is certainly the last in his parodies of Golden Age Hollywood that began with Blazing Saddles.

Where to Get It: Your local library; Amazon and iTunes; Netflix (DVD)

Other Choices:  The Producers, Young Frankenstein, High Anxiety