Brooks Quote by Gene Wilder
![“With Mel [Brooks], only one time and that was later on during "Young Frankenstein" - never with Zero [Mostel] and never with Mel except I was writing every day, and then Mel would come to the house and read what I'd written. And then he'd say, yeah, yeah, yeah, OK, yeah, OK. But we need a villain…” quote by Gene Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4f4/gene-wilder-3914_brooks_with-mel-brooks-only-one-time-and-that-w_602487.jpg)
“With Mel [Brooks], only one time and that was later on during "Young Frankenstein" - never with Zero [Mostel] and never with Mel except I was writing every day, and then Mel would come to the house and read what I'd written. And then he'd say, yeah, yeah, yeah, OK, yeah, OK. But we need a villain or we need whatever it was.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Behind the Scenes of Young Frankenstein, 1974
The speaker recalls collaborative writing dynamics, highlighting the need for a clear antagonist to shape a story.
In simple terms: Stories need a villain to create tension and purpose.
Key Takeaway
Ensure a compelling conflict in narratives.
Themes
storytelling
collaboration
character development
film
Mood
reflective
inquisitive
Type
analytical
creative
When to use this quote
- screenwriting
- film production
- creative brainstorming
Key Concepts
narrative structure
creative process
role of antagonists
Questions to Reflect On
- How does a villain enhance a story?
- What alternatives exist to a traditional antagonist?
A Different Perspective
Without a clear antagonist, narratives may lack direction.
![“And Mel [Brooks] - you have to understand this important point - he had done "The Producers" for $50,000 over two years, and he didn't make a penny from it. And then he did "The Twelve Chairs" - $50,000 for two more years and didn't make a penny from it. That's four years of work. And then they…” quote by Gene Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/236/gene-wilder-3914_bits_and-mel-brooks-you-have-to-understand-th_2047500.jpg)
![“[ Zero Mostel] would tell anyone anything, not to be impolite, but he'd show that he wasn't at all afraid of however much money that person [had] or whatever title they had in a company. It didn't scare him. Mel [Brooks] was very much the same way.” quote by Gene Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4d0/gene-wilder-3914_brooks_zero-mostel-would-tell-anyone-anything-n_2656684.jpg)
![“I met Mel [Brooks] backstage in Anne's [Bancroft] dressing room. He was wearing one of those pea coats, pea jackets that were made famous by the Merchant Marines, and I admired it and he said, "You know, they used to call this a urine jacket, but it didn't sell."” quote by Gene Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8c6/gene-wilder-3914_brooks_i-met-mel-brooks-backstage-in-anne-s-ban_2497273.jpg)
![“I was miscast in that production [of Mother Courage and Her Children] ... but it was with Anne Bancroft, whose boyfriend at the time was Mel Brooks, and that made my - I can't say my day, it made my life, in a way.” quote by Gene Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ffd/gene-wilder-3914_brooks_i-was-miscast-in-that-production-of-moth_2851071.jpg)
![“[Gilda Radner] died in '89, and I got non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2000. I've just passed the five-year mark and I'm now what you call - well, it's called complete remission, but I'm cured. I'm fine.” quote by Gene Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a19/gene-wilder-3914_died_gilda-radner-died-in-89-and-i-got-non-ho_55482.jpg)
![“The audience. They see the name Mel Brooks, they want something really funny. They don't want to be moved; they don't want to be taught any lessons. [...] I get more letters for Twelve Chairs and Life Stinks than I get from any other movies, because people actually agree with the philosophy…” quote by Mel Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/516/mel-brooks-2308_agree_the-audience-they-see-the-name-mel-brook_114482.jpg)
