December 22, 2025
BLAZING SADDLES (1974) – AFI Movie Club
A chaotic interruption of a filmed movie musical, in progress, is just one wild moment among the myriad, rapid fire hysterics in BLAZING SADDLES (1974), ranked by the American Film Institute at #6 among the greatest filmed comedies of all time. Co-writer, director and star (in a dual role), AFI Life Achievement Award honoree – and AFI Honorary Degree recipient – Mel Brooks has said of the film’s...
September 6, 2024
THE PRODUCERS (1967) – AFI Movie Club
After a career that already included such comedy classics as YOUR SHOW OF SHOWS, THE 2000 YEAR OLD MAN and GET SMART, AFI Life Achievement Award honoree Mel Brooks made his feature directorial debut in 1967 with THE PRODUCERS – which was subsequently named by the American Film Institute among the greatest filmed comedies of...
August 4, 2024
YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (1974) – AFI Movie Club
YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (1974) is ranked by AFI as one of the funniest films in the art form’s history. Directed by AFI Life Achievement Award recipient Mel Brooks, this iconic comedy features an unforgettable sequence in which Gene Wilder and Peter Boyle perform the duet “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” which AFI ranked as #89 on the...
September 8, 2023
WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (1971) – AFI Movie Club
Adapted from Roald Dahl’s best-selling children’s novel, WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (1971) stars the legendary and beloved Gene Wilder – who participated in the AFI Life Achievement Award tribute to Mel Brooks and whose work is featured across several of AFI’s lists celebrating excellence in American cinema. Visit the AFI Catalog to learn more about...
October 4, 2022
STIR CRAZY (1980) – AFI Movie Club
STIR CRAZY (1980) was directed by AFI Life Achievement Award honoree and American Film Institute founding co-chairman Sidney Poitier, who broke new ground with this picture by helming the first movie by a Black director to gross over $100 million. STIR CRAZY was also the first film directed by Poitier in which he did not play a starring role, and...
August 30, 2022
BLAZING SADDLES (1974) – AFI Movie Club
Ranked by the American Film Institute among the greatest filmed comedies of all time, BLAZING SADDLES (1974) was co-written and directed by AFI Life Achievement Award honoree Mel Brooks, who also appears in a dual role. Of the film’s placement on AFI’s list – at #6 – Brooks has said, ““I am so angry at...
July 2, 2022
WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (1971) – AFI Movie Club
Adapted from Roald Dahl’s best-selling children’s novel, WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (1971) stars Gene Wilder – who participated in the AFI Life Achievement Award tribute to Mel Brooks and whose work is featured across several of AFI’s lists. Learn more about WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY in the AFI Catalog. HOW TO WATCH Where to...
January 12, 2022
AFI Movie Club Tribute to Sidney Poitier: STIR CRAZY
STIR CRAZY was directed by AFI Life Achievement Award honoree and former co-chairman of the AFI Board of Trustees Sidney Poitier, who broke new ground with this picture by helming the first movie by a Black director to gross over $100 million. STIR CRAZY was also the first film directed by Poitier in which he did not play a starring role,...
June 30, 2021
AFI Movie Club: STIR CRAZY
STIR CRAZY was directed by AFI Life Achievement Award honoree and former co-chairman of the AFI Board of Trustees Sidney Poitier, who broke new ground with this picture by helming the first movie by a Black director to gross over $100 million. STIR CRAZY was also the first film directed by Poitier in which he did not play a starring role,...
June 28, 2021
AFI Movie Club: Celebrating Mel Brooks’ 95th Birthday and THE PRODUCERS
“It’s good to be the king.” Happy birthday to Mel Brooks! A recipient of the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2013, comedian and filmmaker Mel Brooks had the previous year received an honorary degree at AFI commencement – presented to him by director and AFI alum David Lynch, whose film ELEPHANT MAN he produced. Three of Brooks’ comedy classics appear on the AFI’s...
April 19, 2021
AFI Movie Club: BONNIE AND CLYDE
Produced by and starring AFI Life Achievement Award honoree Warren Beatty, BONNIE AND CLYDE appears across a number of AFI’s lists – including both its original and 10th anniversary lists of the greatest American films of all time, as well as cinema’s greatest love stories, greatest villains and greatest movie quotes. It also features work...
August 7, 2020
AFI Movie Club: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN
YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN is ranked by AFI as one of the funniest in cinematic history. Directed by AFI Life Achievement recipient Mel Brooks, this iconic comedy features an unforgettable sequence in which Gene Wilder and Peter Boyle perform the duet “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” which AFI ranked as #89 on the list of greatest movie songs…
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