Reviews (18) 
Brooks, Chaplin, Keaton????
Mel Brooks' homage to silent movies isn't nearly as funny or clever as the movies it aims at. I'm a long time Brooks admirer. He's the reason I wanted to become a filmmaker. But,"Silent Movie" is one of the few movies I stay away from. I'll give the movie some credit. It does have a great cast cast; Marty Feldman (Marty Eggs), Dom DeLuise (Dom Bell), Bernadette Peters (Vilma Kaplan), Sid Caesar (Studio Chief), Harold Gould (Engulf) Ron Carey (Devour) and cameos by Burt Reynolds, Paul Newman, Anne Bancroft (It's no suprise to find her in this movie, since she is after all Brooks' wife.) James Caan, Liza Minnelli, and Marcel Marceau (His one scene is an absolute highlight!). If the cast wasn't enough, as with any Brooks movie there is going to be laughs, how many depends on the movie. And this one offers a few. The scenes that really make me dislike this film are the scenes with Brooks, Feldman, and Deluise driving around in their car. It's these scenes that I feel slow the movie up. Whenever the movie starts to carry some energy, we see them in the car in the very next scene! For those who don't know, this movie is about a once great director (Brooks) who was ruined due to drinking. After some time away from movies he tries to make a comeback. His grand idea is to make a...you guessed it...a silent movie. After Sid Caesar warns him that slapstick is dead, and as soon as he's done saying that, he falls out of his chair and flies across the room, proving to us, that yes, slapstick is dead! Caesar won't hear of making a silent movie, even though his studio needs all the help in can get before a conglomerate "Engulf & Devour" (who's tagline is "our hands are in everything") buys the studio. After Brooks suggest what if he gets big stars to act in the film, the studio chief soon realizes that with big stars, the film could make big money, and so he agrees to let Brooks make his film. This all sound like it could be a good funny movie, don't you think? But, it's because of those Brooks, Feldman, and DeLuise "car scenes" I'm unable to suggest anyone renting or buying this. If you insist on buying it, my favorite moments are Brooks and Bancroft's scene together,the hospital scene with Caesar (That one scene offers the biggest laugh in my opinion)and the first time the executives at "Engulf & Devour" first see a picture of Peters, ONLY Brooks would of thought of what you see in that scene. A hell of a lot better then most comedies being made today, but that's not saying much when films by Adam Sandler are being released. I don't know about you, but if I have to pick between Mel Brooks and Adam Sandler, get "Blazing Saddles" in the vcr ready to go lol. ** 1\2 out of *****
"You bad boy"
It's not as cohesive or funny as YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN or THE PRODUCERS, but SILENT MOVIE has plenty to offer. A wild romp that parodies the film business and the all but lost art of creating silent films, SILENT MOVIE stars Mel Brooks, Marty Feldman, and Dom Deluise as a trio of film makers who vow to save their studio by making a new silent film with major stars. Many conventions of silent films are spoofed, such as how the right title card can alter the meaning of a scene (the title of this review is from one such card). Several stars (such as Burt Reynolds and Paul Newman) seem to enjoy parodying themselves, and Anne Bancroft's tango with our heroes is a standout. Harold Gould is the epitome of blackhearted villany and Sid Ceaser contributes some of his trademark pantomime as the neurotic studio chief. Best of all is Marty Feldman; with his wirey body, elastic face, and, of course, those eyes, Feldman looks as if he stepped out of 1920's of Mack Sennett into the 1970's of Mel Brooks. He steals many a scene (subtly or otherwise) in SILENT MOVIE.
Can't see the time for this being released on DVD
This is a classic Mel Brooks movie. Mel is genial, a very talented producer and an extraordinary actor, he and his pals
Dom DeLuis and Marty Freeman (that's how he is called I think)
make a riot and performed a lot of scenes where I literally fell
of my bed laughing. Can not understand why is not on DVD. I have
a collection on DVD of classic and this is on my whising list
(along with High Anxiety, another Brooks classic,and Foul Play).
Really enjoyed how they persuade Burt Reynolds, Paul Newman
and even Marcel Marceau to be a part of a movie project Mel Fun
had. Another highlight of this movie is Sid Caesar performance.
Excellent. Let's see if the wait is not that long.
MEL USE YOUR INFLUENCE AND PUT THIS ON DVD
I love this movie. Its silent of voice but not of music. John Morris' score is wonderfully crafted. Its funny because Mel Brooks is a GODDAMN COMEDIC GENIUS. And its a movie because it deserved to be in the the theater.NOW FOR MY GRIPE. WHYYYY OH WHYYYY ISN'T THIS MOVIE ON DVD.If the saner heads of who ever it is that decides what goes to DVD puts this one out I hope it's in TRUE WIDESCREEN like BLAZING SADDLES and HISTORY OF THE WORLD I'm also waiting for HIGH ANXIETY,ROBIN HOOD M.I.T. and DRACULA DEAD AND LOVING IT.AND MAYBE JUST MAYBE THEY'LL REISSUE YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN AND SPACEBALLS in TRUE WIDESCREEN I dont have an alleged 16x9 widescreen tv. Squashed screen is the more approapiate term.Sooo.. TO ALL DVD MAKERS STOP MAKING YOUR DVDS TO ACCOMODATE THIS FALSE FORMAT. maybe I wasn't helpful with the movie review but I know my other info was crucially helpful.
This Underappreciated Gem Really Should Be on DVD!
Silent Movie is my favorite Mel Brooks movie and I think it is very underrated. I see that some reviewers didn't enjoy the silly humor in this movie but I love it and the jokes and gags never fail to cheer me up when I'm not feeling good but of course it's a wonderful movie to watch anytime! It is both a spoof of and a homage to silent movies and stars Mel Brooks, Marty Feldman and Dom Deluise as well as a lot of cameo apperences from some well known actors and entertainers and I really want to see Silent movie transferred to DVD as my video is wearing out. A widescreen editon DVD would be very nice!
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