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Spaceballs (1987)

Mel Brooks had already parodied classic genres like the Western in Blazing Saddles, the Universal horror films in Young Frankenstein (both 1974) and the Alfred Hitchcock thriller in High Anxiety (1977) when he took on the Star Wars franchise and other popular science fiction films. George Lucas didn’t just approve of his plot about an alien princess (Daphne Zuniga) rescued by a space mercenary (Bill Pullman) from an evil ruler (Brooks) and his hatchet man, Dark Helmet (Rick Moranis). He allowed his Industrial Light & Magic to do the special effects and loaned Brooks the Millennium Falcon for a cameo. Always a welcome presence, Brooks makes his seventh appearance in the TCM Film Festival’s 15-year history at this screening. “May the Schwartz be with you!” 

d. Mel Brooks, 96m, DCP