The one director Mel Brooks called the greatest of all time
Mel Brooks has worked in Hollywood at the same time as many of cinema's greatest directors, and there's only one name on his mind as the best ever.
(Credits: Far Out / TCM)
Film Âť Cutting Room Floor
Sat 8 February 2025 21:15, UK
As one of Hollywoodâs eldest elder statesman, Mel Brooks is uniquely qualified to comment on who he thinks the greatest director of all time is. After all, heâs spent his career sharing an industry with many of the all-time greats, some of whom he got to know on a personal level.
To put the writer, director, producer, and actorâs longevity into perspective, he began his career as a writer and comedian for Sid Caesarâs variety series Show of Shows in 1950. That was the year Joseph L Mankiewiczâs All About Eve won âBest Pictureâ at the Academy Awards, and Hedy Lamarrâs biblical romance Samson and Delilah was the highest-grossing theatrical release of the year.
His most recent credit was in a 2023 episode of Only Murders in the Building, which was the year that Danielsâ madcap multiversal adventure Everything Everywhere All at Once scooped âBest Pictureâ and Greta Gerwigâs Barbie was the top-earning title to hit cinemas. Neither of those films would have been remotely conceivable in any way, shape, or form when Brooks was starting out, and not just because the latter doll hadnât even been created yet.
To put it lightly, heâs been around. Responsible for some of the industryâs greatest-ever comedies and a one-man fountain of creativity across multiple mediums, Brooks has seen and done almost everything there is to see and do in Tinseltown. So, when he names one filmmaker as the finest to ever wield the megaphone, itâs coming from a place of both experience and knowledge.
âI think the best director who ever lived was Alfred Hitchcock, for his timing,â he told the Directors Guild of America. âThatâs my vote.â OK, there might be a hint of bias in play as well, considering Brooks was friends with the âMaster of Suspenseâ, and they collaborated on a picture together.
It definitely wasnât in his wheelhouse, but the maestro behind a string of seminal chillers and thrillers like Psycho, The Birds, Rear Window, Vertigo, North by Northwest, and countless more besides was instrumental in Brooksâ High Anxiety. The film sought to parody the type of potboilers Hitchcock knew so well, so the former opted to head straight to the source for inspiration and ended up finding himself an unlikely co-writer in the process.
Hitchcock took Brooksâ top spot, but it was a close-run race. âRight on his heels, Iâd have to say, Preston Sturges, for his freedom,â he offered. âHe gave me the freedom to go crazy.â The comedy icon also threw Marcel CarnĂŠ, Ernst Lubitsch, Jean Renoir, and George Stevens into the mix as the rest of his all-timers, but nobody could hold a candle to âHitchâ, a friend and fellow filmmaker who, in his opinion, has never been bettered behind the camera.
Related Topics
Alfred HitchcockMel Brooks
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex watched the ceremony, cheering on the performers and competitors when they took to the stage.
Read more >> : Cick here
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Bills quarterback Josh Allen's fiancĂŠe, Hailee Steinfeld, sends a strong message on Instagram following his MVP award win.
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
âBachelorâ alum Rachael Kirkconnell said she has âTortured Poets Departmentâ on repeat following her split from Matt James
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
These superhero movie twists are unforgettable.
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Hollywood couple Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively were noticeably absent at the 2025 Critics Choice Awards, as legal drama unfolds between the actress' "It Ends With Us" co-star Justin Baldoni.
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
â??It forces me to slow down. I have to use it,â Washington, 70, said of his injury.
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported "some people" for the Pittsburgh Steelers favor Justin Fields, but Mike Tomlin could be loyal to Russell Wilson.
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
The bet365 bonus code CLBET365 offers a bet $5 get $150 bonus for Super Bowl 59 Eagles vs. Chiefs.
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Dog The Bounty Hunter made a name for himself catching criminals, but he also made headlines multiple times for jaw-dropping controversies of his own.
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Enzo Maresca insists the Chelsea captain is fine despite his absence against the Seagulls
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Twitter (X), Inc. was an American social media company based in San Francisco, California, which operated and was named for its flagship social media network prior to its rebrand as X. In addition to Twitter, the company previously operated the Vine short video app and Periscope livestreaming service
Twitter (X) is one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 619 million monthly active users worldwide. One of the most exciting features of Twitter (X) is the ability to see what topics are trending in real-time. Twitter trends are a fascinating way to stay up to date on what people are talking about on the platform, and they can also be a valuable tool for businesses and individuals to stay relevant and informed. In this article, we will discuss Twitter (X) trends, how they work, and how you can use them to your advantage.
What are Twitter (X) Worldwide Trends?
Twitter (X) Worldwide trends are a list of topics that are currently being talked about on the platform and also world. The topics on this list change in real-time and are based on the volume of tweets using a particular hashtag or keyword. Twitter (X) Worldwide trends can be localized to a Worldwide country or region or can be global, depending on the topic's popularity.
How Do Twitter (X) Worldwide Trends Work?
Twitter (X) Worldwide trends are generated by an algorithm that analyzes the volume of tweets using a particular hashtag or keyword. When the algorithm detects a sudden increase in tweets using a specific hashtag or keyword, it considers that topic to be trending.
Once a topic is identified as trending, it is added to the list of Twitter (X) Worldwide trends. The topics on this list are ranked based on their popularity, with the most popular topics appearing at the top of the list.
Twitter (X) Worldwide trends can be filtered by location or category, allowing users to see what topics are trending in their area or in a particular industry. Additionally, users can click on a trending topic to see all of the tweets using that hashtag or keyword.