Silent Movie (1976)

A down on his luck Hollywood director (Mel Brooks) is trying to make a comeback by making a silent movie but no movie studio is interested except a studio in danger of being taken over an evil conglomerate. The failing studio's head (Sid Caesar) says he will back the film if the director can cast it with big movie stars. Directed by Mel Brooks, this affectionate parody of silent comedies is so eager that you're rooting for it to succeed and it does although it wobbles near the end. Ironically, some 36 years later there would be a silent film (THE ARTIST) released that would go on to win a best picture Oscar. Brooks' movie is filled with sight gags, pratfalls and a congenial zaniness. It's not the kind of movie with hysterical laughs but there's bound to be a continuous grin on your face throughout. The film has some cameos by Paul Newman, Burt Reynolds, Anne Bancroft, Liza Minnelli, James Caan and Marcel Marceau and they all appear to be having a ball at the chance of being silly. John Morris provides an effective underscore to accompany the hijinks. With Bernadette Peters, Marty Feldman, Dom DeLuise, Harold Gould, Ron Carey and Yvonne Wilder.