History of the World, Part I facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History of the World, Part I |
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Theatrical release poster by John Alvin
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| Directed by | Mel Brooks |
| Produced by | Mel Brooks |
| Written by | Mel Brooks |
| Narrated by | Orson Welles |
| Starring |
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| Music by | John Morris |
| Cinematography | Woody Omens |
| Editing by | John C. Howard |
| Studio | Brooksfilms |
| Distributed by | 20th Century-Fox |
| Release date(s) | June 12, 1981 |
| Running time | 92 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $10 million |
| Money made | $31.7 million |
History of the World, Part I is a funny movie from 1981. It is a comedy film written, produced, and directed by Mel Brooks. He is a famous comedian and filmmaker. Mel Brooks also acts in the movie. He plays five different characters! These include Moses, a stand-up comedian from ancient Rome named Comicus, and King Louis XVI.
Many other actors are in the film too. Some of them are Sid Caesar, Shecky Greene, and Gregory Hines. This was Gregory Hines' first movie role. Famous actor Orson Welles tells the story as the narrator.
Even though the movie is called Part I, there were no plans for a second movie at first. The name is a joke based on an old book. That book was also called The History of the World. It was supposed to have many parts, but only the first part was finished. However, many years later, a TV show called History of the World, Part II was made. It came out in 2023.
Meet the Cast
This movie has many talented actors. Here are some of the main ones and who they play:
- Mel Brooks – He plays five characters: Moses, Comicus (a philosopher), Torquemada, Jacques, and King Louis XVI.
- Dom DeLuise – He plays the Roman Emperor Nero.
- Madeline Kahn – She plays Empress Nympho.
- Harvey Korman – He plays Count de Monet.
- Cloris Leachman – She plays Madame Defarge.
- Ron Carey – He plays Swiftus.
- Gregory Hines – He plays Josephus.
- Pamela Stephenson – She plays Mademoiselle Rimbaud.
- Shecky Greene – He plays Marcus Vindictus.
- Sid Caesar – He plays the Chief Caveman.
- Mary-Margaret Humes – She plays Miriam.
- Orson Welles – He is the Narrator.
- Carl Reiner – He plays God (he was not credited for this role).
Movie Release and Success
History of the World, Part I came out in theaters on June 12, 1981. It opened in 484 movie theaters. The movie earned $4.8 million during its first weekend. This was a good start for a Mel Brooks film.
Overall, the movie made about $31.7 million. Even with this amount, some people thought it could have done better. This was because Mel Brooks' earlier movies were very successful.
The Sequel Series
On October 18, 2021, a new TV show was announced. It is a sequel to the movie. The show is called History of the World, Part II. It was made for Hulu, a streaming service.
Mel Brooks helped create and write the new series. He also stars in it. Other stars include Wanda Sykes, Ike Barinholtz, and Nick Kroll. The show started on March 6, 2023. It continues the funny historical stories from the original movie.
See also
- List of films featuring fictional films
Images for kids
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Bea Arthur in History of the World Part I.jpg
Bea Arthur as the "Vnemployment Insvrance" Clerk
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Nigel Hawthorne in History of the World Part I.jpg
Nigel Hawthorne as a Citizen Official
