Mel Brooks on Orson Welles | BFI

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“We joined the world of cinema art because of people like Orson Welles.”
Mel Brooks on Orson Welles.
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[@markcarey67]

Orson was putting Mel on. He put almost all his voiceover money back into financing his own films.

[@nonconforumity]

I knew before he got to punch line what Mel was gonna say. Welles would narrate radio shows like The Shadow. He would walk in just before show went on live, read the script cold for the first time live on the air, walk out as soon as the show ended. It would drive people crazy, but they couldn't say anything because he didn't make mistakes and he did a great job.

[@grahamhaynes9201]

He had so many radio shows he had an ambulance with a siren take him through the busy streets of NY to get to the next show. The law that was created that said you could not use a siren without it being an emergency was constructed because of Orson Welles !!!!

[@slakyresisty]

@@grahamhaynes9201 crazy how no one thought of this extremely obvious idea that still gets used all over the world of a fake emergency vehicle siren before Orson Welles 🙄

[@richardthelionheart5594]

Was he actually the opening voice for "The Shadow"... "What evil lerks in the heart of man.." etc ??????

[@jeffandersen7397]

Like Sinatra and Crusty the Clown, One take and Out !

[@idontknow164]

​@@richardthelionheart5594 yes, Welles was Lamont Cranston/The Shadow in the radio show for a while. He even wanted to make and direct a Shadow movie but for reasons which truly defy all logic, the producers passed.

[@kropchik]

Brooks and Welles: the two people I could listen to from morning to evening

[@robertplattner1636]

And Hitchcock

[@brandonwachter2264]

The stories, man. The things these men witnessed.

[@jacobadams5924]

Welles more than Brooks. I'd want Brooks to leave after about 2.5 minutes...

[@kentjensen4504]

Same here.

[@HansDelbruck53]

As well as in my sleep.

[@jamesfeldman4234]

Many people don't know this, but Mel Brooks was an expert at the business side of film production. This is always a plus to a film's financiers because mistakes can be costly. He prided himself on coming in on or under budget. To help accomplish this, Mel relied on other production experts who found cost effective ways to film particular scenes, but still achieve the desired effect and impact. One such expert was Robert Latham Brown who is, in fact, the author of one of the must-read books on the subject called "Planning the Low-Budget Film." As far as paying Orson Welles "more" than he had to given Orson's own abilities in narration, I think that Mel was really happy to pay him what he did just to have the honor and prestige of working with such a legend in the industry, and the "pain" he "conveyed" was just part of his Jewish humor.

[@NxDoyle]

All you have to do to know Mel Brooks' business acumen is listen to Gene Wilder.

[@TheLeatheryman]

He definitely had the Schwarz

[@RSR423]

James Feldman, All Jews are good with money, and the money side of anything.

[@onlythewise1]

so you could read his mind

[@NoPrivateProperty]

@@RSR423 yeah, like Bernie Madoff

[@renegadeangel5194]

Mel Brooks is truly one of the all-time greats.

[@Vulturefist]

Yup.

[@klauskinski139]

all time greatest long Nose Merchants.. yes..

[@AngusRockford]

Few things give me more pleasure than listening to either Mel Brooks or Orson Welles speaking on any subject.

[@dallisb1047]

Orson Welles timing was impeccable. Whether it be drama or comedy.. Mel Brooks, what can you say but comedic gold.

[@cjmacq-vg8um]

true. anyone to see welles in "catch-22" can attest to orson's great comic timing and inflection.

[@pierresavoie]

When Mel Brooks says the title of his film in french, I remember the scene with the French Revolution and then he said that famous quote "It's good to be the king" only he could have come up with that. I got the DVD set of his movies and I still loving it. Also have the Get Smart TV series too.

[@nicodemusriley]

Mel Brooks discussing Orson Welles. We are truly blessed to have access to these moments.

[@theclassicfilmloversguide1871]

I Love this So Much! Artists Supporting Artists - "We joined the world of cinema art because of people like Orson Welles." So True.

[@duwomaiishgabrielle9498]

Orson was so captivating, brilliant man

[@StephenDoty84]

I didn't realize how much money I was saving by not smoking Cubans or eating caviar. Feels good.

[@kbrodeur]

I love this guy, he is so creative and got me going in the industry just with "what if". Thank you amazing Mel Brooks

[@patrickjenkins9167]

🗿 Mel Brooks and Orson Welles: One artistic GENIUS hiring another❗✔

[@rwdplz1]

"Cuban cigars and Sevruga caviar" Damn the man had good taste.

[@suchanhachan]

Let us not forget that Orson Welles was also the narrator in the wonderful Start the Revolution Without Me...

[@rbrookswilliams1689]

And the 1980 Mini-Series, SHOGUN.

[@arnoldconrad744]

I have long thought how great it would have been to be invited to a dinner hosted by Mel Brooks and Anne Bancroft. Great stories and a laugh-a-minute.

[@stickitupyourasteric]

Plus Anna may seduce you while Mel was taking the kids swimming after the meal...

[@Milestonemonger]

Welles once said: "in this business, it's 2% making movies and 98% hustling.

[@HonoredGeneral]

Mel, we LOVE YOU!

[@KB4QAA]

What cost $25,000 in 1974 would cost $128,723 in 2018.

[@hungrypromethean]

That's a lot of caviar.

[@patrickjenkins9167]

🗿 STILL lucid & zany at 93❗..."I just wanted to show off my French." What a SWEETHEART OF A GUY. 😗

[@ChrisWilliams-pw6gw]

Mel is the best!

[@marcoscastillojaen1888]

Dos genios del cine,cada uno a su estilo.

[@KeithDec25]

Mel Brooks connects us with the last days of ol d Hollywood (1950's) and the New Hollywood of 1960's-70[s and beyond ... He's a great wit and ranconteur He was arried happily to another great talent, Anne Bancroft

[@gabe_s_videos]

I love Mel saying the title of his movie in French while disusing American cinema as a legitimate art form. It really shows how much one has to care about the craft of filmmaking even when he's making broad comedy.

[@v-town1980]

SOME American cinema is a legitimate art form. You need to use Netflix wisely.

[@austinkersey2445]

Old American cinema was an art form. Just look to the first two Godfather films (or any mob-based Scorsese films), Citizen Kane, and a whole lot more. It's modern American cinema that is complete and utter garbage, with no artistic or cinematic value. Though I'm hoping it comes around in a decade or two.

[@vengeancegauloise6049]

My dad is a Frenchman and constantly cites Mel Brooks as some of his all-time favourites

[@normsaunders4980]

​@@austinkersey2445 fingers definitely crossed.

[@moeshickenyay]

Mel Brooks, genius!

[@karlhungus5554]

Oh, I love Mr. Brooks so much. He looks especially wonderful in this interview with that beautiful suit. Even now, eight years later, his mind remains as sharp as ever.

[@Dina_tankar_mina_ord]

Funny charming entertainer. I'm happy I had the chance growing up with his movies. One of those people I would have loved to spend an afternoon listening to. :)

[@lucyboswell7584]

Legendary commentary

[@danielkellyuk]

Imagine being able to hire Orson Welles for five days work for $25,000. Even in 1980s money that's not much for an actor of his calibre.

[@rollingstopp]

back then 25 was equal too 100,000 or more

[@gabe_s_videos]

Maybe he thought he was recording a frozen peas commercial. :P

[@v-town1980]

I cringe when I think how much more these sports gits and talentless actors and rappers get now. Ugh.

[@arikcarlo]

What are you? an expert on actor salaries? Welles was no fool. He would have made sure he got paid right.

[@boppob1343]

@@v-town1980 I mean they bring entertainment and joy to millions of people. Its pretty hard to put a price on that

[@Deutschie]

$25,000 doesn't sound like all that much money considering how much "Great Talent" makes these days. If anything Orson was underpaid. He used to call these gigs "Food Money".

[@maxxxmodelz4061]

Well don't forget to adjust for inflation. $25,000 in the 1970s would equal roughly $100,000 in today's money. So $100,000 for 5 days work is nothing to sneeze at. However, you are correct in that he didn't have the kind of money you would expect for a cinema legend and American icon and legend like Orson Welles. When he died, his estate was estimated at around $25 million. I would have expected at least four times that for someone like him.

[@gyozanomics]

@@maxxxmodelz4061 who cares how much money it was what matters is if he thought of it as a bit of whoring lol

[@ingvarhallstrom2306]

@@gyozanomics Have you seen his commercials from the 70's? Where he's so sloshed he can't even talk straight? Of course it was whoring, and he was whoring around for the last twenty thirty years of his life. Such an incredible waste of talent....

[@zaurike]

Maxxx Modelz Actually, about that would be about 75K (1981)

[@maxxxmodelz4061]

@@ingvarhallstrom2306 He didn't really waste his talent. He gave us some of the greatest bits of art in cinema history and changed the way movies were shot and edited. I think he did enough to warrant some whoring around and doing whatever he felt like for the last decades of his life. He was more invested in relaxing toward the final years, and I don't blame him. He's immortalized in cinema history anyway.

[@briscoedarling3237]

Someone once complained to Picasso when he quoted them a price for a painting he completed in one day. He told them the painting was the result of 40 years of preparation. So it was with Olson Wells….

[@briangoldy8784]

I Love Mel Brooks........I Mean Really Love Him............Get Smart......History of The World.........Blazing Saddles..ETC.....These TV Shows an Movies are never dated...........Funny Forever...........what a Legacy............

[@VCT3333]

Plus he produced a lot of great films. Elephant Man and the like.

[@mikemcgrath6150]

I've confronted this strange reasoning from ppl as a contractor. U got the job asked of u done faster than expected and they want to deduct money rather than pay u more for saving them time. And then it follows that I should be allowed to charge more if it takes an extra day or 2? Ofcourse never that.

[@natalya9821]

Thank you from Moscow!

[@Me_AV]

I'm getting too big for that aerobic endeavor....😂😂🤣🤣 Great.

[@Caine7ify]

Golden oldies, these two are

[@alexaraya2018]

I can listen to mel brooks for days....reminds me when I was a kid and had the chance to listen to grown ups tell stories for real, I am not able to tell anyone stories, I work and I rest, that is it.......no anecdotes, nothing to tell for real.

[@Triumph2024.]

$25,000 for the Orson Welles voice is a deal, even in the 70s. If he did it in 5 minutes, 5 days or 5 weeks, he did it right. He was a perfectionist and he...mwwwaaahhhh the French! I rest my frozen peas...I mean, case.

[@mrrolandlawrence]

ahead of schedule and he didnt even charge extra! ... another way of looking at it ;)

[@hudsony777]

@@mrrolandlawrence Very tacky comments around payments from Mr. Mel. Why do people think he's funny?

[@richardthelionheart5594]

The market for voice overs paid peanuts. + it was probably Mel's personal $ he was paying. And any other producers would not like spending that much money on a voice over that could have been done by another famous voice for much less. Alas, if you want the best.... $ well spent

[@tramlad2]

Love Mel, a true genius

[@alexmook6786]

Brooks....our national treasure...they dont make 'em like that anymore.

[@GarretGrayCamera]

The odd thing is Brooks thinking it’d take 5 days of 8 hours each to record the voice over!

[@jkorshak]

Smart move to block out the time - he had a budget to work with and 5 days covered random events beyond Brooks' control which might halt or delay recording. Booking Wells for 5 days means he has the time to get exactly what he needed in case Wells wasn't as perfect from the start or equipment issues cropped up or family emergencies or what not. Say he had booked Wells for a day and not got what he needed and Wells was busy elsewhere for a month. That's why you give yourself extra time if you can get it and afford it. Brooks could.

[@charlesrocks]

What a sweet story.

[@guileniam]

25,000 for Fucking Orson Welles. Wtf.

[@josephpanzarella1417]

$25,000 to get Orson Welles for one week. Twenty years later the stars of "Friends" would be making a million dollars a week.

[@rman52]

And not a single one of them could act their way out of a paper bag. More talent in a finger nail of Wells or Brooks. Capitalism can work in mysterious ways.

[@lauradohrtv]

Paying Orson always pays off, genius is worth millions, not a paltry 25,000

[@jkorshak]

Wells was doing voice narration, not remaking Citizen Kane.

[@edwelndiobel1567]

Thanks Mel from Ohio! You made me laugh countless times!

[@ennuied]

Mel truly became Yoda.

[@gadaboutunited]

Yogurt

[@CarlosBenjamin]

Yikes! Thought my TV audio had gone out. I usually have it set to 14 for most of KZbin, a video here or there has to be bumped to 18, or even 20. I still wasn’t hearing anything at those settings. 65! Had to get it up to 65 to make out what they were saying. Great story, but when that next video started I used my butt muscles to jump 3 feet straight in the air.

[@gilldanier4129]

Dear Zaney Mel, where would we be without comedy (come back all is forgiven)

[@fortylove68]

Cuban cigars, cold caviar!! Classic.

[@MrVorpalsword]

agreed with some of the comments below, the silliness of translating the French - would hve done better to joke by (gallic)shrugging and just pretending not to know what Mel meant. Or yes, just keeping his gob shut. That said Alan Yentob is a good interviewer and documentary maker whose programmes work beautifully because he establishes a friendly rapport with his subjects.

[@cartyrdeyager3283]

The volume is very low

[@Deepurplerain]

Sadly for his carrer, Welles was one of those huge talents that disturbed and sometime irritated people, important people,.. and you know the rest..

[@THEC.O.VISIT.]

I can so relate to all of that. Getting paid 25,000 for a few hours work, cuban cigars, caviar. Not.

[@joj3734]

few hours? did you listen to what he said? he did 9 to 5 for a week.

[@TheBilly]

​@@joj3734 Did *you* listen? He was *scheduled* to do 9 to 5 for a week but finished in a few hours

[@mdaddy775]

Mel Brooks

[@sclogse1]

Are you saying Mel Brooks has balls?

[@mdaddy775]

saying I love him lol

[@jkorshak]

@@sclogse1 The man fought in WWII, made a hit comedy in B&W, and wrote a song called, "Springtime for Hitler." Enormous balls. And a lot of nerve.

[@JasonSmith-vj1de]

0:38 If that was a regular full time job that would mean he'd get $625 an hour. His yearly salary would be $1.3 million.

[@LenHummelChannel]

Great story. he should have a relaxed platform to share more and more and more.

[@MsBackstager]

Mel's still sharp and funny.

[@MediaGuy-2005]

Mel Brooks is almost 95 now.

[@nonamebrother8163]

The world needs more Mel Brooks’s. I don’t know if that is even proper english, but so what.

[@brandonhea4394]

Amazed he didn’t have an issue with Mel like the Frozen Peas outtakes

[@quotessential]

"Cuban cigars and Sevruga caviar" 😂😂😂

[@sduncanfoto]

why is that incredible? David Atenburough describing the love affair of two hummingbirds on an August day is incredible.

[@joj3734]

one mans trash is another mans treasure. in your case your trash is everyones trash.

[@Tmanaz480]

Orson was also a big fan of Cheetos.

[@MyUsernameIsAlsoBort]

I mean, Mel should've known that 5 days was overkill. There wasn't that much narration in the movie; maybe he was anticipating that Orson would be difficult to work with lol

[@bretthess6376]

Hey Mel, I had a dream with you in it once. (Yes, you had your clothes on.) I dreamed I was in the swimming pool of an all-Jewish gymnasium. You walked up to the edge of the pool and said, "Hey, you gotta get out, this pool is for Jews only!" And I said,"I was married to a Jew for 3 1\2 years, does that count?" And you replied, "Swandive, pal, you've paid your dues".

[@mcRydes]

lol

[@chiguirojaguar]

Underrated comment.

[@bretthess6376]

@@chiguirojaguar Thanks, it's all true.

[@ZikeAL3]

Now let's end this interview on a high note. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

[@HFritzson]

Mel Brooks for President.

[@cgavin1]

.. of Israel?

[@jkorshak]

@@cgavin1 Born in America, lives in America, and made his fortune in America - but only after going to Europe and fighting nazis FOR America. Yeah, President of the United States.

[@soaringvulture]

@@jkorshak You laid it down just right, Jerry. Thank you. Mel Brooks is an American we should all look up to.

[@princeharming8963]

President Skoorb! ('Brooks' backwards)

[@lisad476]

Classic

[@mrmacguff1n]

Mel still seems sharper than anyone else in the room.

[@Edfiki86]

The guy tells a joke and it flew over buddies house

[@ghoulbusiness5721]

Ist des der Niavarani der Interviwer? (schmäh) Wären 2 Spitzen des Entertainment

[@JakeBrannan5499]

I wouldn't be surprised if that $25,000 more than likely went to whatever film project Welles was working on at the time. He'd often have to go out and take acting roles and other jobs to finance his films.

[@johnwilliams2479]

"The shadow do"

[@MyEnemy]

The interviewer just had to interrupt one of the greats to insert his "me too" nonsense. Sit back and listen.

[@dabble778]

TheWholeYearInn it would be tempting 😁

[@htjur4e921]

Off to your meme-boards, idiot, enough of your bad pretending to be culutred.

[@DenkyManner]

"It was too late!" as if he's still kicking himself about paying Orson Welles too much :-D

[@greenspringvalley]

I think that's $250 per Cuban cigar.

[@soaringvulture]

You can get a whole Cuban for that.

[@dr.juerdotitsgo5119]

Orson's greatest achievement, aside from CK, Arkadin, Ambersons and Touch of Evil, was to bang Vampira I think.

[@nexussymbiosis9270]

mambo JUMBO kosher entertainment.

[@Mr.Goodkat]

Can someone explain the joke to me with the "half the price" punchline please?

[@jkorshak]

The joke is buying very expensive caviar but opting for the still expensive but not as expensive different cavier with a less famous name.

[@je25ff]

Monstrum in Fronte, Monstrum in Animo. The guy is nearly dead and the question is, 'could you cut back on the price'

[@Landrew0]

Not a bad story for a 90 year old.

[@rotube1438]

imagine if Mel would have 'raconted': He joined the world of cinema because of the BFI... or the BBC or Alan for that matter - who probably earns more than both ever did, from making movies. ...... We're still lucky that's not the case so we get to enjoy more than BFI-stuffed crocodiles !!

[@cicerogsuphoesdown7723]

Ayo lookame I’m Mel brooks ay I’m Melbrooks

[@davef.2811]

Who else could come up with something such as an Indian Chief on horseback speaking Yiddish? Hilarious!

[@jkorshak]

It was satire on the Mormons who have a tradition of belief that the American Indians are descended from lost tribes of Israel.

[@jeffandersen7397]

Orson Welles was a Genius, But i think Mel Brooks is a National Treasure. When he's no longer here, Hollywood will still be kissing his ass

[@rollingstopp]

arson wells lights up helly wood

[@QuadMochaMatti]

"Tommy Gunnnn," says Joe Strummer from the great beyond.

[@lucancherby]

$25 000 is just pocket change for Mel Brooks

[@WalterLiddy]

Consider that Brando got 3.7 million plus a percentage of gross for 12 days work on Superman. Sure, he had to actually appear on camera, but still. $25,000 for five days of Welles' time is preposterously cheap. Even for the one day he actually worked it's a steal.

[@RayJorg]

Welle's knew ahead of time he was going to be in'n'out in a few hours (with his experience of pages per hour historical output) so his hourly rate was off the charts. He was 'yea, that's about right, 5 days', during the talks, so the money counters wouldn't have a heart attack doling out $25,000 for 3 hours of work. Brando's 12 days @ 12 hours each calcs to $26,000 an hour. It wasn't that much of a steal.

[@Tom.Livanos]

A budget of $10m, revenue of $31.7m and he is miffed about a $25,000 payment to Orson Welles??

[@senoJSR]

The budget of 10 million is for production it doesn't include post production costs. There is a video on YT that explains the true costs of making a movie.

[@ingvarhallstrom2306]

He's not miffed you idiot, he's telling a story. It's part of his schtick.

[@Tom.Livanos]

@@ingvarhallstrom2306 Haha, yeah, you are correct. I was an idiot here and you are correct in pulling me up on it. My kudos to you and I also appreciate your courage because "blowing the whistle" is not an easy thing to do.

[@ingvarhallstrom2306]

@@Tom.Livanos I retract my previous statement, I do not consider you an idiot anymore. Furthermore, I apologize for even calling you that in the first place. I am so sorry! Self deprecating humour is among the corner stones of Jewish humour, and the way Mel Brooks uses it in this instance is a kind of humble bragging. He hired Orson Welles because he wanted to work with him, and I'm sure he gladly signed the check just for the pleasure of it.

[@Tom.Livanos]

@@ingvarhallstrom2306 Haha. Okay, yeah, idiot may have been strong based on one comment but, on my end, I am glad that you had me return and re-read my comment of over a year ago (as well as watch the video again). You are correct: Mel Brooks is telling an entirely well-intentioned and well-spirited anecdote here. I dare say/agree that Mel Brooks and Orson Welles had a fine time working with one another. Anyway, no problemo, apology accepted. I know that self deprecating humour is a key part of Australian and Greek humour/culture as well (being the two cultures I am most familiar with). Might I also venture that poking fun at oneself is very much a part of humour no matter where one goes. Not everyone finds the same thing funny but I'm sure self deprecating humour does exist in most towns, cities, countries... Aaaaaanyway, it is all good. Have a great day.

[@vova47]

Today 25 thousand dollars wouldn't buy a single box of some (vintage) Cuban cigars.

[@michaelbonet3783]

Wow, Mel was really tight with a buck. He doesn't remark on the value he got for hiring Orson Welles, he just remarks that he could have saved some money and hired him for less if he only knew how quickly Orson could work.

[@ZombieKilla2008]

Michael Bonet he's a comedian. You know that right?

[@Larkster187]

He is also a jew so that makes even more sense.

[@vicmclaglen1631]

yes

[@dkelly26666]

He was kidding.

[@sclogse1]

You want cheap...take a look at PG&E. I've spent many years with middle class jews. Do you know that they donate around 25 percent of their income to the synagogue as a normal thing? Cheap. It's a stereotype that people like you like to keep heating up. Something to do with Hollywood producers. Well, guess who owns Hollywood now? Sony. Tight with a buck. Let's see you part with 25,000 for a narrator.

[@TimothyJonSarris]

Sort of dispels the myth that he was looking for ways to finance his films.

[@xChimkin]

SCHWARTZ

[@funkyalfonso]

Monke May he be with you.

[@ricarleite]

Why did he book five days? 40 hours??? Orson Welles was a true professional, and there was manybe 15 minutes of narration in the whole thing. I'd have booked one day TOPS.

[@mrdanforth3744]

He wanted Orson Welles for his distinctive voice and personality. His experience of actors led him to believe multiple takes would be necessary and that it might take up to 5 days of takes, retakes, coaching, and trying different readings to get exactly what he wanted. He did not take into account Welles long experience of live radio broadcasts and live theater which allowed him to nail the readings first go.

[@KB4QAA]

Ric: Why book five days? Watch the Paul Masson takes to see what could happen!

[@CrazyTuco1]

He probably had tons more narration than was actually used in the film.

[@stusasser5947]

Pease fix the audio levels.

[@davidadcock8717]

This might have been interesting if I had been able to hear more that about 5 words...

[@gwen6622]

in what way is this supposed to make me like him

[@Michael-hw5wk]

RIP Mel. You had a great run (but Spaceballs still sucks).

[@timothynoble816]

It's quite strange really...nobody seems to like ( Botney )...I don't know why...I wonder if Mel did...do you...?