Zwölf Stühle (1970)

Zwölf Stühle: Directed by Mel Brooks. With Ron Moody, Frank Langella, Dom DeLuise, Andréas Voutsinas. In 1920s Soviet Russia, a fallen aristocrat, a priest and a con artist search for a treasure of jewels hidden inside one of twelve dining chairs, lost during the revolution.

“A u0026quot;serious comedyu0026quot; from Mel Brooks. u0026quot;The Twelve Chairsu0026quot; borders on farce but is relatively restrained. This restraint is all the more remarkable in light of Dom DeLuiseu0026#39;s manic attempts to take over. Ron Moody (who is best remember as Fagin in u0026#39;Oliveru0026#39; on film and on the West End and Broadway)is superb. Frank Langella is less impressive, but he does bring the necessary character to the role. If you expect and want u0026quot;Blazing Saddlesu0026quot; this movie is not for you. Nor is it as perfect a picture as u0026quot;Young Frankensteinu0026quot;. But this Brooksian take on a Russian comedy of errors is well worth your attention. The belly laughs are few and far between, but the tugs on the heartstrings (along with some slapstick) suffice. If I am spare on the details, it is only because I have not seen this motion picture since its theatrical release in 1970; itu0026#39;s definitely one to which I have to renew my acquaintance.”