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All About Me!
- My Remarkable Life in Show Business
- Narrated by: Mel Brooks
- Length: 15 hrs and 6 mins
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Summary
Brought to you by Penguin.
At 95, the legendary Mel Brooks continues to set the standard for comedy across television, film, and the stage. Now, for the first time, this EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) winner shares his story in his own words.
"I hope fans of comedy will get a kick out of the stories behind my work, and really enjoy taking this remarkable ride with me." (Mel Brooks)
For anyone who loves American comedy, the long wait is over. Here are the never-before-told, behind-the-scenes anecdotes and remembrances from a master storyteller, filmmaker, and creator of all things funny.
All About Me! charts Mel Brooks' meteoric rise from a Depression-era kid in Brooklyn to the recipient of the National Medal of Arts. Whether serving in the United States Army in World War II, or during his burgeoning career as a teenage comedian in the Catskills, Mel was always mining his experiences for material, always looking for the perfect joke. His iconic career began with Sid Caesar's Your Show of Shows, where he was part of the greatest writers' room in history, which included Carl Reiner, Neil Simon and Larry Gelbart. After co-creating both the mega-hit 2000 Year Old Man comedy albums and the classic television series Get Smart, Brooks' stellar film career took off. He would go on to write, direct and star in The Producers, The Twelve Chairs, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Silent Movie, High Anxiety and Spaceballs, as well as produce groundbreaking and eclectic films, including The Elephant Man, The Fly and My Favorite Year. Brooks then went on to conquer Broadway with his record-breaking, Tony-winning musical, The Producers.
All About Me! offers fans insight into the inspiration behind the ideas for his outstanding collection of boundary-breaking work, and offers details about the many close friendships and collaborations Brooks had, including those with Sid Caesar, Carl Reiner, Gene Wilder, Madeleine Kahn, Alfred Hitchcock and the great love of his life, Anne Bancroft.
Filled with tales of struggle, achievement and camaraderie, listeners will gain a more personal and deeper understanding of the incredible body of work behind one of the most accomplished and beloved entertainers in history.
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What listeners say about All About Me!
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- papapownall
- 02-12-21
Anything is possible, the outrageous is probable
There are very few people who can actually claim to have had a truly "remarkable life in show business" but fast-talking Brooklyn Jewish funny-man Mel Brooks (born Melvin Kaminsky) is surely one of those who can. Telling his story of his incredible career for the first time at the age of 95 we hear how the young Mel cut his comedy teeth as a gag writer on the long running Sid Ceasar Show of Shows in the 1950's before breaking out with his own stand up routines with straight-guy Carl Reiner in the 1960's before hitting the big time in the 1970's and 1980's with his anarchic spoof movies sending up genres as diverse as classic horror (Young Frankenstein), westerns (Blazing Saddles), Hitchcock (High Anxiety), and space opera (Spaceballs). Brooks' production company was also behind films including The Elephant Man and The Fly (with Jeff Goldblum) but kept his name off the screen so as not to confuse the audience.
Mel Brooks has an incredible zest for making people laugh ("If you aren't working, your not alive") and says that the secret of comedy is to take it very seriously. He sees laughter as a protest scream against death and his life's work that includes TV, film and stage being a monologue satire on the human race.
And the secret to a long life? Try not to die.
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12 people found this helpful
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- John
- 10-03-22
Enjoyable but!
Most of the chapters are film & Tv synopsis with his role in the production. Talking about a lot of people I didn’t know. Being American & over 70 would help.
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8 people found this helpful
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- C. Brackenridge
- 27-03-22
A Hilarious Ride Through Mel's Life
I can't put enough praise on this. Not only was Mel's showbiz life incredible to hear about, but he narrates it in such a way that it's like watching one of his movies. I could have listened for another 15 hours and not get bored, and I almost wanted to applaud when he signed off. So he spends a lot of time dropping names that most people won't have heard of, big deal - he's had a lot of help and influence along his journey so it's fair he acknowledges them all.
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6 people found this helpful
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- Paula Neilson
- 25-02-22
Legend!
An amazing life story by an amazing man!
Fantastic listen & the stories behind the films make the nostalgia for them palpable.
I'm off to relive my teens with Blazing Saddles, Spaceballs & my favourite Dracula: Dead & Loving It.
Enjoy
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5 people found this helpful
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- Darth Gorilla
- 25-05-22
What A Life
This is one of the best, funniest and most heartfelt books I've listened to in year's. Just brilliant
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4 people found this helpful
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- Mr. J. Cole
- 14-12-21
The legend.
Superb. Mel Brooks is a living legend. Young Frankenstein is one of my all time favourite films and Blazing Saddles and High Anxiety are close 2nds. He's lived one hell of a life and at 95 show no signs of slowing down. I hope I'm so lucky!
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4 people found this helpful
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- joncart@singnet.com.sg
- 10-05-22
A horrible exhibition of monumental egotism.
I found it almost impossible to finish. Excruciating , self-promoting, self-serving nonsense, an arrogant assumption of his own self-declared brilliance. There is no insight, no self-awareness - indeed, no awareness of anyone other than himself. The title says it all. Read Patrick McGilligan’s 'Funny Man’ to understand the real Mel Brooks.
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3 people found this helpful
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- John Telfer
- 08-01-22
brilliant
i really loved this book...never knew Gene Hackman was in Young Frankenstein as the old blind man
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3 people found this helpful
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- P. M. Thomas
- 29-05-22
Melly good
Mel tells you everything he did was great and the people he hired and worked with were all marvellous and his best gags got incredible laughs - but I grant him the right to boast - he has achieved so much in his wide ranging career and achieved icon status. The self congratulations all becomes a bit repetitive so thank goodness for the end - or will he return on his blazing saddle!?
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2 people found this helpful
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- Ian Waxman
- 24-04-22
Hear it from the man himself!
With his unique comedic voice and characterisations this is the perfect way to enjoy Mel Brooks’ life story and catalogue of film and theatre hits.
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2 people found this helpful