# Why did Mel Brooks stop working with Madelaine Kahn? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 18, 2020, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-mel-brooks-stop-working-with-madelaine-kahn/848118 "2020-02-18T18:48:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-mel-brooks-stop-working-with-madelaine-kahn/848118/1 "2020-02-18T18:48:49Z")
The “Blazing Saddles or Airplane! ?” thread got me to thinking about Madelaine Kahn. I was reading thru [her Wikipedia entry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madeline_Kahn) and was struck by this sentence, talking about her work with Mr. Brooks: > [@](#): > > Their last collaboration was 1981’s _History of the World, Part I_. Why? She was undeniably brilliant in all his previous films and HOTW was another huge success, so why did he not have her in his productions ever again? It’s not as if Mr. Brooks stopped making movies after that. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-mel-brooks-stop-working-with-madelaine-kahn/848118/2 "2020-02-18T18:56:07Z")
Interesting question. It looks like he made two more movies before she died, maybe there just wasn’t a role good for her? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-mel-brooks-stop-working-with-madelaine-kahn/848118/3 "2020-02-18T18:59:52Z")
Well, Brooks only directed four films after _History of the World: Part 1_, and six years passed between that film and _Spaceballs_. And, by the late '80s and early '90s (when Brooks was making those last few films), Kahn was also doing a lot of TV and stage work. It might well be that she was busy when he was filming, or, as Maserschmidt notes, he didn’t have the right roles for her in those films. As far as I can tell from a few minutes of googling, I’m not seeing any evidence of any bad blood between the two of them (and, in fact, it looks like they had a great deal of mutual respect and admiration). Brooks didn’t work with Gene Wilder on those later films, either, and I know that the two of them adored each other, as well. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-mel-brooks-stop-working-with-madelaine-kahn/848118/4 "2020-02-18T19:06:18Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Well, Brooks only directed four films after _History of the World: Part 1_, and six years passed between that film and _Spaceballs_. And, by the late '80s and early '90s (when Brooks was making those last few films), Kahn was also doing a lot of TV and stage work. It might well be that she was busy when he was filming, or, as Maserschmidt notes, he didn’t have the right roles for her in those films. I was coming in to suggest this, as it’s the simplest answer, which often is the likely answer. Sometimes, schedules don’t line up. It’s not like either ever had a bad word to say about the other. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-mel-brooks-stop-working-with-madelaine-kahn/848118/5 "2020-02-18T20:05:59Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Well, Brooks only directed four films after _History of the World: Part 1_, and six years passed between that film and _Spaceballs_. And, by the late '80s and early '90s (when Brooks was making those last few films), Kahn was also doing a lot of TV and stage work. It might well be that she was busy when he was filming, or, as Maserschmidt notes, he didn’t have the right roles for her in those films. > > As far as I can tell from a few minutes of googling, I’m not seeing any evidence of any bad blood between the two of them (and, in fact, it looks like they had a great deal of mutual respect and admiration). Brooks didn’t work with Gene Wilder on those later films, either, and I know that the two of them adored each other, as well. I seem to recall reading that Gene Wilder only said ‘yes’ to “Young Frankenstein” on the condition that Brooks not appear in it. Doesn’t mean they weren’t on good terms, but Brooks had a habit of stinking up a film. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-mel-brooks-stop-working-with-madelaine-kahn/848118/6 "2020-02-18T20:24:19Z")
From [her Wikipedia page:](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madeline_Kahn) 1981 History of the World, Part 1 1982 Slapstick of Another Kind 1983 Betty 1984 City Heat 1985 Clue 1986 My Little Pony: The Movie 1986 An American Tail 1986 Comedy Factory CTV 1987-1988 Mr. President 1990 Betsy’s Wedding 1991 Road to Avonlea 1992 Dr. Seuss’s Sleep Book 1992 Lucky Like 1992 Ror Richer, For Poorer 1993 Sesame Street 1993 Monkey House 1994 Mixed Nuts 1995 Nixon 1995 New York News 1996 London Suite 1996 For Love Alone 1996-1999 Cosby 1998 A Bug’s Life 1999 Judy Berlin 1999 Little Bill Except for 1989, she worked pretty steadily, for almost two decades. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-mel-brooks-stop-working-with-madelaine-kahn/848118/7 "2020-02-18T20:28:29Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I seem to recall reading that Gene Wilder only said ‘yes’ to “Young Frankenstein” on the condition that Brooks not appear in it. Doesn’t mean they weren’t on good terms, but Brooks had a habit of stinking up a film. That’s not correct at all. Young Frankenstein was really a Gene Wilder project to start, he took the fill-in role in Blazing Saddles with the agreement that Mel would make Young Frankenstein. As to not appearing in Young Frankenstein, I think you’re correct Gene talked him out of it. Probably for the reason you stated, Mel isn’t really a very good actor in the end. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-mel-brooks-stop-working-with-madelaine-kahn/848118/8 "2020-02-18T20:33:59Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Interesting question. It looks like he made two more movies before she died, maybe there just wasn’t a role good for her? In both _Robin Hood: Men in Tights_ and _Dracula: Dead and Loving It_, whenever Amy Yasbeck was onscreen, I kept thinking, “I miss Madeline Kahn.” Though I will concede that MK was probably too old for those roles. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-mel-brooks-stop-working-with-madelaine-kahn/848118/9 "2020-02-18T21:47:54Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Mel isn’t really a very good actor in the end. Harrumph! ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-mel-brooks-stop-working-with-madelaine-kahn/848118/10 "2020-02-18T21:58:19Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > Except for 1989, she worked pretty steadily, for almost two decades. In fact, Kahn spent the first half of '89 starring in [a revival of “Born Yesterday” on Broadway](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Born_Yesterday_(play)#1989_Broadway_revival). ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-mel-brooks-stop-working-with-madelaine-kahn/848118/11 "2020-02-18T22:06:52Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Harrumph! Hey, he is a freaking genius, I practically worship Mel Brooks. Few people have ever been funnier just to listen to, probably Groucho then Mel. He is made of awesome, but seriously, his acting? No so good. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-mel-brooks-stop-working-with-madelaine-kahn/848118/12 "2020-02-18T22:40:39Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > She was undeniably brilliant in all his previous films and HOTW was another huge success, so why did he not have her in his productions ever again? _HOWT:P1_ wasn’t all that hot at the box office. _HOWT:P1_ $31.7 million ($10M budget) _Young Frankenstein_ $86.2 million ($2.78M) _Blazing Saddles_ $119.5, the 10th film to cross $100m ($2.6M) In those days theaters got a higher cut of the gross and, at least for the last two, home media wasn’t a concern. So the ROI wasn’t much compared to his big films. Reviews were middling for the most part except many top reviewers really dinged on it. I remember waiting in a multiplex lobby and peeked into the theater where _HOWT:P1_ was playing opening weekend. Not even a handful of people. There really was talk before it was released that there was going to be a sequel. It wasn’t just a joke title. That never happened. Combined with the lesser successes of _High Anxiety_ and _Silent Movie_, the studios were less interested in continuing to finance his films. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-mel-brooks-stop-working-with-madelaine-kahn/848118/13 "2020-02-18T22:52:56Z")
Of the movies he made after he last worked with Madeline Kahn the only one that had a Madeline Kahn type role was _Life Stinks_. Possibly it was her good taste that kept her away because movie stinks. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-mel-brooks-stop-working-with-madelaine-kahn/848118/14 "2020-02-18T22:56:02Z")
Really, every movie he made after _High Anxiety_ stinks. And _HA_ wasn’t all that good either. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-mel-brooks-stop-working-with-madelaine-kahn/848118/15 "2020-02-18T23:05:38Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Really, every movie he made after _High Anxiety_ stinks. And _HA_ wasn’t all that good either. Space Balls was funny. Oh no not again was extremely funny. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-mel-brooks-stop-working-with-madelaine-kahn/848118/16 "2020-02-18T23:05:42Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > 1993 Sesame Street [Sing what I sing](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsCOTsE4atQ), sing after me. Be my echo if you can be… Getting to own Sesame Street videos made having kids worth all the bother. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-mel-brooks-stop-working-with-madelaine-kahn/848118/17 "2020-02-18T23:07:17Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > … Probably for the reason you stated, Mel isn’t really a very good actor in the end. He seems to be aware of his limitations in that regard; he never cast himself in serious roles. For example, he was one of the two producers of the David-Lynch-directed _The Elephant Man_, but didn’t try to horn in on an acting part. Possibly his most serious dramatic efforts are in his remake of _To Be or Not to Be_, in which he played the role Jack Benny did in the original. But there again he was following a fellow-comic, so the expectations weren’t of a heart-rending dramatic turn. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2020, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-mel-brooks-stop-working-with-madelaine-kahn/848118/18 "2020-02-19T02:48:16Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > That’s not correct at all. Young Frankenstein was really a Gene Wilder project to start, he took the fill-in role in Blazing Saddles with the agreement that Mel would make Young Frankenstein. As to not appearing in Young Frankenstein, I think you’re correct Gene talked him out of it. Probably for the reason you stated, Mel isn’t really a very good actor in the end. Could have sworn that I saw it in a bio flick. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2020, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-mel-brooks-stop-working-with-madelaine-kahn/848118/19 "2020-02-19T03:59:24Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > Possibly his most serious dramatic efforts are in his remake of _To Be or Not to Be_, in which he played the role Jack Benny did in the original. But there again he was following a fellow-comic, so the expectations weren’t of a heart-rending dramatic turn. Also, his character in that movie is an enormous ham, so he didn’t have to act too hard to pull it off. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2020, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-mel-brooks-stop-working-with-madelaine-kahn/848118/20 "2020-02-19T04:20:21Z")
> [@What Exit?](#): > > Mel isn’t really a very good actor in the end. > [@muldoonthief](#): > > Harrumph! I didn’t get a “Harrumph!” outta dat guy… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-mel-brooks-stop-working-with-madelaine-kahn/848118.md?page=2)