History of the World Part II it’s an arthouse sequel that we’ve been waiting for just forty-two years. It is in fact an exceptional TV series based on fulminating comedy sketches and on the parody of ancient and modern history. History of the World Part I it is in fact dating back to the now distant 1981 in which we started from prehistory and then concentrated on the Roman Empire and the French Revolution with hilarious gags. During the end credits, the release of a sequel that would cover the other historical periods was imminent, but the wait was only broken this year. A decidedly highly anticipated return, even if, in reality, the fact that a second chapter was originally planned was, in the mocking style of Mel Brooksauthor of both productions, a space bale, paraphrasing another of his best known works. Spaceballsparody of Star Warsfor those too young to listen, he would say Grandpa Simpson.
The original flyer of the History of the World Part II series on the US channel HULU
Today everything becomes a TV series, everything…
Known in Italy with the title of The Mad History of the World Part Ithe eighties film definitely lends itself to becoming a TV series, and here is the brilliant Mel Brooks, born in 1926, has decided to give us the long-awaited sequel. At the tender age of ninety-seven, the artist takes on various roles in the series, in fact we find him as a narrator, a role that in the original 1981 film had been Orson Weels, as a writer, screenwriter and director of several sketches, as well as an executive producer with his own development company Brooksfilms Limited. They also took care of the production and distribution 20th Televisionor the historic television studios of the (defunct) FOXe Searchlight Televisionwhile the distribution was handled by Huluat least in the United States, while in Europe the series is available on the thematic channel DISNEY+. Within the exceptional production there is an irreverent, politically incorrect and self-deprecating air as one could not see from the best historical productions of the FOX from the time of the first unforgettable seasons de I Simpson. We will hear impossible jokes, even against the same Huluin which we complain that today everything becomes a TV series, really everything.
The exquisite 80’s style artwork of the original poster is truly faithful to the film A Crazy History of the World Part I
Forty long years of waiting, hope and desire to really see a sequel, also given the statements that periodically Mel Brooks himself released to the press about the idea, one day, of actually making a second part of the film, today they are a reality. History of the World Part II Of Mel Brooks it is a work that historical fans will love madly, but also capable of speaking to younger viewers, thanks to the use of current languages and comedy between the old and new generations. Whether you are retirees from the land registry office smoking a pipe on the terrace, or young rampants who spend their days on Tik Tok to put like a half-naked Chinese underage dancers, get ready, the irreverent and transversal humor of Mel Brooks is ready to make you laugh out loud.
“But young people still say unleash? We’ll find out in the next episode…” (Mel Brooks)
Mel Brooks supervised the series at the age of almost one hundred years, in addition to writing and directing several episodes, also the role of narrator, which was Orson Welles at the time of the first film
Mel Brooks is back on track at the tender age of ninety-seven
The rediscovery by the new generations of the works of genius Mel Brooks therefore continue. One of the director’s most famous works, Frankenstein Juniorrecently returned to the cinema on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary, as we said on this page. Mel Brooks, we remind you, at the end of June he will turn ninety-seven, but instead of enjoying his retirement as a Hollywood legend, he prefers to still stay on track and make his audience laugh with amazing insane stunts. A true comedy hero. Although in Italy the artist is decidedly better known for his cult films, in reality he is not new to serial production for television, in fact we remember the entertaining TV series Get Smartparody of spy serials, dated 1965, from which some cinematographic films are also derived. History of The World Part II is a decidedly pleasant product, with a comedy that mixes genres, while starting from the typical humor of Mel Brooks. Short episodes of variable duration, between twenty and thirty minutes, full of crazy jokes and absurd ideas. From the more traditional sketches of historical parody of Jewish origin up to Princess Anastasia Romanova who does live broadcasts Instagram as the red (indeed white) army invades his royal palace. There is no shortage of exceptional guest stars in the series, such as Taika Waititi, Danny DeVito e Jack Black, the latter as iconic figures of the Russian Revolution. After all, the appearances stood out in the original film (yes, the cameos in the eighties were called that, dear youngsters) by Hugh Hefnerlegendary and iconic founder of Playboy, o John Hurt in the role of Jesus during the last supper. The messiah also returns in Part II with the story of the betrayal of Jesus, moreover black and, apparently, looking for followers, told from the point of view of Judas, full of irresistible Jewish humor, you can’t stop laughing for a moment. There is space also for the love of i Musical in the TV series, with several pieces sung by historical figures, along the lines of the cult song The Inquisition heard in the first film, which you can find on YouTube on this page, inside the unforgettable sketch on Torquemada. We then move on to a hilarious serialized Civil War, D-Day, The Normandy landing, or an exceptional parody of the character of Shirley Chisholmwell known in the United States for being the first black congresswoman in history, here in an eighties sitcom version, which recalls I Jeffersoncomplete with recorded laughter and 4:3 aspect ratio, just like in the good old days.
Cadet: “I would follow you to the gates of Hell, sir.”
Sergeant: “It’s much worse son, we’re going to West Virginia…”
Cadetto: “Noooooooooooo”
(Catchphrase of The Civil War in installments)
The Civil War in installments, longer than The Beautiful, more exciting than Game of Thrones, crazier than Austin Powers, awaits you in History of The World Part II
History of the World Part II, Mel Brooks non risparmia nessuno
There is genius in Denmark. We do not quote William Shakespeare randomly, as the great playwright will also be parodied in the series. Yes, Mel Brooks really shoots zero on everyone, without brakes, with a crazy and bohemian comedy, which passes lightly from the birth of Kamasutra a Marco Polo o Rasputin in an episode of Jack Ass. Sometimes we indulge in the most vulgar and politically incorrect comedy, but after all when it gets involved Huluor the channel that launched the cult cartoon Rick & Morty, everything is possible. Dwarfs dressed in tutus dancing during castrations, black messiahs, unsuspected historical characters in the grip of attacks of vulgarity worthy of South Parkand above all the sketch we were waiting for from the end credits of the first film, that is Hitler on Ice with the mad Teutonic dictator dancing on the ice, anticipated forty years ago as a fake trailer in the film. Remember the story of the movie Machete That Quentin Tarantino made it into a real movie after a bogus trailer? Here, the same thing, but comical. One of the funniest things about the sequel, in fact, is that a sequel wasn’t really planned, because the original late 16th century book of the same name The History of The World Of Sir Walter Raleighwhich inspired the film by Mel Brooks, it was never completed, due to beheading while imprisoned in a tower, as was the fashion at the time. And if the book was supposed to have five volumes, we definitely wish the TV series a long life, which is making its debut these days on the Italian streaming portal DISNEY+, which you can find on this page. You can also watch the episodes via HULU on the web, in the original language at the following LINK. The Crazy History of the World she’s back, hilarious, crazy, but historically accurate.
