History of the World, Part I is a 1981 American comedy film written, produced, and directed by Mel Brooks. Brooks also stars in the film, playing five roles: Moses, Comicus the stand-up philosopher, Tomás de Torquemada, King Louis XVI, and Jacques, le garçon de pisse. The large ensemble cast also features Sid Caesar, Shecky Greene, Gregory Hines (in his film debut), Charlie Callas; and Brooks regulars Ron Carey, Dom DeLuise, Madeline Kahn, Harvey Korman, Cloris Leachman, Andreas Voutsinas, and Spike Milligan.
The film also has cameo appearances by Royce D. Applegate, Bea Arthur, Nigel Hawthorne, Hugh Hefner, John Hurt, Phil Leeds, Barry Levinson, Jackie Mason, Paul Mazursky, Andrew Sachs and Henny Youngman, among others. Orson Welles narrates each story.
Despite carrying the numeration Part I, there were originally no plans for a sequel. The title is a play on The History of the World by Sir Walter Raleigh, which was intended to be published in several volumes but only the first was completed. However, four decades later, Hulu announced the limited series History of the World, Part II, which premiered on March 6, 2023.
Storyline
From the dawn of man to the distant future, mankind's evolution (or lack thereof) is traced. Often ridiculous but never serious, we learn the truth behind the Roman Emperor, we learn what really happened at the Last Supper, the circumstances that surrounded the French Revolution, how to test eunuchs, and what kind of shoes the Spanish Inquisitor wore.
Sound Effects Used
- H-B GULP, CARTOON - SPEEDY'S GULP, SWALLOW
- H-B SPUTTER, CARTOON - SPEED BUGGY SPUTTERING
- H-B WHIP, CARTOON - HEAVY WHIP CRACK
- Hollywoodedge, Heavy Face Punch FS040303 (debut)
- SKYWALKER, SPACECRAFT - SPACECRAFT PASS BY 01
- Sound Ideas, AIRPLANE, JET - FAST PASS BY, SHORT
- Sound Ideas, ANIMAL, MONSTER - LOW GROWLING, CREATURE
- Sound Ideas, ANIMAL, MONSTER - SEVERAL SCREAMS, CREATURE
- Sound Ideas, BATTLE, ROMAN - LARGE CROWD: FIGHTING, SOLDIERS
- Sound Ideas, BATTLE, SWORD - LARGE CROWD: GENERAL AMBIENCE
- Sound Ideas, BIRDS, JUNGLE - BIRDS CHIRPING, WIND AND WATER IN B/G, ANIMAL
- Sound Ideas, BODYFALL - BODYFALL ON DIRT, HUMAN 01
- Sound Ideas, BODYFALL - BODYFALL ON DIRT, HUMAN 03
- Sound Ideas, BOXING, SPEED - BAG PUNCHING SPEED BAG
- Sound Ideas, FIGHT SCENE - SMALL GROUP FIGHTING: PUNCHES, FALLS, CROWD, HUMAN
- Sound Ideas, GUN, RICOCHET - MACHINE GUN RICOCHETS, BULLET 01
- Sound Ideas, HORN, RAM'S HORN - SHOFAR RAMS HORN RITUAL
- Sound Ideas, HORN, TALLY HO - ENGLISH TALLY HO HORN, SLOW, MUSIC, FANFARE, TRUMPET 01
- Sound Ideas, MOVIE SET, AMBIENCE - AMBIENCE ON MOVIE SET BETWEEN TAKES, VOICES, SET BUILDING
- Sound Ideas, RICOCHET - CARTOON RICCO 05
- Sound Ideas, SAND STORM - STRONG WINDS IN DESERT SAND STORM, WEATHER
- Sound Ideas, THUNDER - BIG THUNDER CLAP AND RUMBLE, WEATHER 02
- Sound Ideas, THUNDER - THUNDER CLAP AND RUMBLE, WEATHER 01 (H-B)
- WB CARTOON, CROWD - LITTLE OH DISAPPOINTED (low pitched)
- Wilhelm Scream