Page 30 - ARUBA TODAY

A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Tuesday 24 april 2018
Q&A: Mel Brooks still loves movies, just not streaming them

By LINDSEY BAHR It's where they're seen that
AP Film Writer just really gets me.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mel AP: Is it a little bittersweet to
Brooks is just two months be celebrating the 50th an-
shy of his 92nd birthday niversary of "The Producers"
and he still carves out time without Gene Wilder and
for movie nights with his pal (composer) John Morris?
Carl Reiner. The two just BROOKS: Yeah. It's heart-
recently got together to rending but it's what it is.
watch a restoration of the And I'm glad that there will
1938 Errol Flynn and Olivia be a lot of young people
de Havilland classic "The in the audience who will
Adventures of Robin Hood." actually understand it. I
Classic film and proper pre- kind of understand "The
sentation are important to Last Jedi." I kind of under-
the legendary comedian stand it. There were two or
and filmmaker, especially three battle scenes, two
in the age of streaming. big fights where I don't re-
This week, Brooks will be on ally know who's fighting
hand to kick off the ninth and why they're fighting,
annual TCM Classic Film you know? But thank God
Festival at the TCL Chinese for "The Empire Strikes Back"
Theater Thursday night in because I have something
Hollywood with a special In this May 17, 2017 file photo, Mel Brooks attends the LA Premiere of "If You're Not In The Obit, Eat I can refer to. So I know
screening of the first film he Breakfast" in Beverly Hills, Calif. some of the names. I know
ever directed: "The Produc- Associated Press Han Solo. I know some of
ers." the names. But I don't know
Brooks spoke to The Associ- TCM, these are people I re- versary of "The Producers," I ing Bull" is magnificent, but why they're fighting, I don't
ated Press about the film, ally admire and I love them got very excited. I admire his love and dedi- really know. I have a grand-
streaming and even "The and God bless them for AP: The film has only grown cation to the art of movies. son, he's 13 and he knows
Last Jedi." Remarks have keeping all the movies that in esteem too. Why do you He's really one of the great all the names. He says to
been edited for clarity and I grew up with still alive, still think it's endured? moviemakers of our time. me things like, "If you've
brevity. available. I don't think any- BROOKS: Oh it's very simple AP: Like Scorsese, you also gone to Jakku you've gone
AP: Congratulations on this body else does it, or does and it sounds a little ego- have an encyclopedic too far." And I say well,
new restoration of "The Pro- it as well. When they said tistical, but it's because it's knowledge of cinema. "What is Jakku?" and he
ducers." they wanted to open their very good. The only test — BROOKS: Yeah well I'm old, said, "Well it's a planet." I re-
BROOKS: I'm very thrilled. festival with the 50th anni- real test — it's not critics. that's the secret. The se- ally don't know these plan-
It's never critics. The only cret is I've lived a long time. ets anymore. Jakku. Ok. But
test is whether a movie is There's a lot of people who it's all right. I'm catching up.
still around after 10 years, love film. I've been around, Young people like big wild
20 years, 30 years, 40 years so there isn't a movie you future fights. Fighting in the
and in this case 50 years. could name that either I or future. I kind of like it too. It's
So, you know, I know, it Carl Reiner couldn't give better than fighting at 47th
must be a good movie or you a chapter or verse on. and Broadway, you know?
no one would care about it AP: Do you keep up with Two guys get out of a car?
50 years later. current movies? Do you get Yeah, future fights are
AP: And Martin Scorsese will out to the theater or watch much better than two guys
be there on opening night them at home? in a car. Anyway, you've
too to get the Robert Os- BROOKS: I don't like to got to ask me two more
borne Award. watch movies at home. I questions because I've got
BROOKS: He was gracious don't like to watch movies more things I've got to get
enough to give me my life- on TV. I really like going to done today.
time achievement trophy the theater. I like the com- AP: Well, I'll keep it to one
at the American Film Insti- munity experience, espe- big one. What sort of im-
tute. I love Marty Scorsese. cially if it's a comedy. I like pact do you think you've
As a matter of fact, this is being in the dark and being had on American com-
a true story, when I was in transported into different edy?
pre-production on "The Pro- worlds, it's very important BROOKS: One never really
ducers," this is a true story to me. And now there's a sees themselves in relation-
and he will never admit it thing that's replaced it. It's ship to the wide world. It's
but he and Harvey Keitel called streaming. I'm afraid rather impossible to judge
were two little ragamuffins to make another movie be- your impact on moviego-
who for some reason fol- cause I don't want it to be ers, your impact on people
lowed me around when seen by millions of people who like your films or who
we were in pre-production on a telephone. Comedies like your television. It's seri-
50 years ago. I think they must be seen by at least 100 ous. When they tell me, I'm
were putting together people in some kind of the- glad to hear it, but frankly
a movie called "Mean ater. It's really heartbreak- I've got to tell you honestly,
Streets" or something. It was ing to me. You know, mov- I walk past the mirror and I
pretty weird. But I really ad- ies are still good. Acting is say that's a cute old guy. I
mire him. I admire not only still good. Directing is still don't think it's me! I'm not a
his outrageous talent, "Rag- good. Writing is still good. cute old guy. q