RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Check out the new RT Community
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / History of the World: Part 1
History of the World: Part 1

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Get this Movie
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Bookmark and Share

History of the World: Part 1 (1981)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
61 %
Tomatometer

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted: 23

Fresh: 14

Rotten:9

Average Rating: 5.6/10

Runtime: 1 hr 33 mins

Genre: Comedies

Synopsis: In this spoof of great moments in history from the dawn of humanity through the French Revolution, director Mel Brooks delivers a twisted history lesson through his signature satirical, madcap... In this spoof of great moments in history from the dawn of humanity through the French Revolution, director Mel Brooks delivers a twisted history lesson through his signature satirical, madcap humor. Funny, vulgar, and narrated by the great Orson Welles, HISTORY OF THE WORLD - PART I tells the progress of humankind as cave dweller, tap-dancing slave, and biblical hero. The most famous bit in the film features Moses coming down from Mount Sinai. Other highlights include a hilarious "Hitler on Ice" sequence and other outrageous comic situations, unbelievably silly jokes, and inspired casting (Sid Caesar, Gregory Hines, and Madeline Kahn included), with the film itself mimicking several historical Hollywood epics, most notably THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD and THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, as well as a brilliant parody of 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY. [More]

Starring: Mel Brooks, Madeline Kahn, Harvey Korman, Cloris Leachman

Starring: Mel Brooks, Madeline Kahn, Harvey Korman, Cloris Leachman, Sid Caesar, Dom DeLuise

Director: Mel Brooks

Director: Mel Brooks

[See More Credits]

Get This Movie

Rent DVD
 
 

Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.

 
 
Buy DVD
 
 
Release:

Oct 5, 1999

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for History of the World: Part 1

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
Arrange By: Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
06/09/08
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

No review available.

comment Comment
10/20/07
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com

No review available.

comment Comment
09/29/06
Eric Melin
Scene-Stealers.com

Brooks proved that increasing the vulgarity level doesn't necessarily translate into more laughs. Gag after gag falls flat in this potty-mouthed dud.

Full Review Source: FulvueDrive-in.com | comment Comment
04/11/06
Chuck O'Leary
FulvueDrive-in.com
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Derek Adams
Time Out

The fact that there has been no Part 2 is ample proof that God hates us all.

comment Comment
06/21/05
Widgett Walls
Needcoffee.com

No review available.

comment Comment
06/07/05
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

comment Comment
02/17/05
Randy Shulman
Metro Weekly (Washington, DC)

Crude, rude Mel Brooks has low laughs

comment Comment
10/19/04
Steve Crum
Kansas City Kansan

No review available.

comment Comment
09/03/04
Frank Swietek
One Guy's Opinion

No review available.

comment Comment
04/23/04
Carol Cling
Las Vegas Review-Journal

Mel Brooks' The History of the World: Part I contains plenty of belly-shaking laughs.

Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice | comment Comment
01/31/04
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality and Practice

Occasional bright moments, but it's clear why there was no. part two.

comment Comment
11/24/03
Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

No review available.

comment Comment
07/03/03
Walter Chaw
Film Freak Central

No review available.

comment Comment
03/11/03
Mark Palermo
Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia)

No review available.

comment Comment
03/06/03
Karina Montgomery
Cinerina

No review available.

comment Comment
12/24/02
Nell Minow
Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Netflix | comment Comment
11/07/02
James Rocchi
Netflix

Disjointed Brooks effort that is only occasionally amusing

comment Comment
10/25/02
Jon Niccum
Lawrence Journal-World

Fifteen minutes of funny material trying desperately to fill a feature film.

comment Comment
10/15/02
Rob Vaux
Flipside Movie Emporium
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
all

Latest News for History of the World: Part 1

August 21, 2008: EW Lists 11 Movies with a Playboy Connection Opens in new window
Just in time for The House Bunny's theatrical debut, Entertainment Weekly has compiled a list of 11 notable films with a Playboy connection. Put on your bunny ears! More...

See More Topics...

Related Forums for History of the World: Part 1

Click here to be the first to post a message on this forum.

See All

More DVDs

Close
Top Rentals
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
—
The Code
23%
23%
Confessions of a Shopa…
39%
39%
Inkheart
80%
80%
Gran Torino
28%
28%
Tyler Perry's Madea Go…

More Rentals…

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
22%
22%
Push
12%
12%
The Unborn

More New Releases…

RT On Current TV

What’s Hot On RT

Exclusive Concept Art

Exclusive Concept Art

Images from Blood: The Last Vampire and more

50 States, 50 Movies

50 States, 50 Movies

This July 4th, take a cinematic road trip!

Johnny Depp's Best Movies

Johnny Depp's Best...

The finest work from Public Enemies' star.

Fred Durst's Faves

Fred Durst's Faves

The singer/director talks movies and more.

Other News

Close
  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Weekly Ketchup: Universal Takes on Asteroids
88
  • Brandon Routh Talks Superman's Future Source: Moviehole
90
  • Sony's Amy Pascal Explains Moneyball Balk Source: Los Angeles Times
6
  • Three Theaters Getting Harry Potter in IMAX Opening Day Source: Collider.com
18
  • Weekly Ketchup: Adam Sandler joins The Zookeeper, David Fincher joins Facebook
72
  • Zak Penn Talks The Avengers Source: Sci Fi Wire
20
  • Watchmen Director's Cut Headed to Theaters Source: Collider.com
32
  • Lorenzo di Bonaventura Talks G.I. Joe, Beverly Hills Cop 4, More Source: Collider.com
14
  • (Teaser) Trailer Bulletin: The Last Airbender Source: MTV
61
  • Johnny Depp Talks Alice, Pirates 4, Dark Shadows Source: Collider.com
12
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Critics Consensus: Solid Public Enemies Doesn't Quite Bring The Noise
104
  • Total Recall: Johnny Depp's Best Movies
88
  • Five Favorite Films with Fred Durst
87
  • RoboGeisha: 2009's Most Insane Trailer?
79
  • Weekly Ketchup: Universal Takes on Asteroids
44
  • RT on DVD: Street Fighter, Transmorphers 2, and Uwe Boll's Tunnel Rats!
36
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Transformers and Ice Age Tie for Top Spot
32
  • Academy Invites Tyler Perry, Michael Cera, Seth Rogen to Join Oscar Ranks
28
  • Box Office Guru Preview: Dinosaurs and Gangsters Spark Fireworks
23
  • Karl Malden: 1912-2009
17
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • RT Interview: Director Carlos Cuaron on Rudo and Cursi
0
  • RT Interview: Tony Scott on The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
10
  • Cannes 2009: RT Interview - Sally Hawkins on We Want Sex
2
  • RT Interview: Tilda Swinton on Julia
5
  • Hollywood Legend Debbie Reynolds Reflects On her Life in Showbiz
10
  • Exclusive: McG Talks Terminator Salvation
24
  • Georgia Groome - Fresh Talent on RT
5
  • RT Interview: Reading The Reader with Stephen Daldry
11
  • RT Interview: Oscar Nominee Melissa Leo
7
  • Carey Mulligan - Fresh Talent on RT
7
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • History of the World: Part 1 at Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh Links

Featured
Appreciating Michael Jackson
Appreciating Michael Jackson External Link

TIME music critic Josh Tyrangiel remembers - and appreciates - the high peak of Michael Jackson's career in the early '80s.

10 Best Picture Noms?
10 Best Picture Noms? External Link

With the Best Picture Oscar noms now 10 deep, BuzzSugar looks at 10 films that should have made the cut.

Successful Sci-Fi Sequels
Successful Sci-Fi Sequels External Link

Sequels never used to be as good as the original, but now they can be even better. Can Transformers 2 follow suit?

Films That Time Forgot
Films That Time Forgot External Link

The AV Club's Zack Handlen explores why Snowbeast has been dismissed and forgotten.

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Games| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.