After immortalizing a joke in the cement at the TCL Chinese Theatre — with an extra finger on his left hand — Mel Brooks was in his usual feisty form Tuesday night at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to kick off a 40th anniversary screening of “Young Frankenstein.”
Brooks, Cloris Leachman, Teri Garr and producer Michael Gruskoff joined Leonard Maltin for a lively Q-and-A.
'OK, Leonard – start the bullshit' – Mel Brooks following a standing ovation at the Academy
— Dave McNary (@Variety_DMcNary) September 10, 2014
Brooks told the SRO crowd that the screening of the first cut — which came in at two-and-a-half hours — didn’t go well but credited himself and editor John C. Howard with key adjustments for the final 105-minute version.
'You've got to find the sit-down places for the audience to stop laughing' – Mel Brooks on editing 'Young Frankenstein'
— Dave McNary (@Variety_DMcNary) September 10, 2014
Brooks contended that he knew he had a hit during filming because star Gene Wilder and the crew kept “killing” takes because they could not stop laughing.
Mel Brooks recalls ordering $1,000 of handkerchiefs for the 'Young Frankenstein' crew to keep them from laughing out loud
— Dave McNary (@Variety_DMcNary) September 10, 2014
Brooks and Leachman bantered back and forth several times with actress accusing him of cutting her scenes as Frau Blucher. Brooks noted that he had told Leachman to portray Judith Anderson’s Mrs. Danvers character from “Rebecca,” saying it was the easiest part to cast.
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'I was lucky – I found Cloris in a bar…she had a sort of Judith Anderson quality' – Mel Brooks
— Dave McNary (@Variety_DMcNary) September 10, 2014
Garr said she based her German accent on Cher’s wigmaker for “The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour.” Brooks said one of his favorite scenes involved Gene Wilder commenting on the huge door knockers at the castle and Garr responding, “Thank you, doctor.”
Cloris Leachman explains the double meaning of knockers to her granddaughter during the 'Young Frankenstein' panel at the Academy
— Dave McNary (@Variety_DMcNary) September 10, 2014
Brooks mocked Fox topper Jim Gianopulos several times. The studio released a Blu-ray edition of “Young Frankenstein” on Tuesday.
(Pictured: Cloris Leachman, Mel Brooks and Teri Garr at the Academy’s anniversary screening of “Young Frankenstein”)
SEE ALSO: Mel Brooks Riffs on ‘Young Frankenstein,’ Laddie and the Biz
