gwnightscream Mel Brooks writes, directs & stars in this 1977 comedy that co-stars Madeline Kahn, Harvey Korman and Cloris Leachman. This is a send-up of Alfred Hitchcock films, mainly "Vertigo," "Psycho" and "The Birds" and Brooks plays Richard Thorndyke, a psychiatrist who has a fear of heights, "High Anxiety." He helps woman, Victoria Brisbane (Kahn) search for her father, but in the process he's falsely accused of murder and tries to overcome his phobia. Korman (Blazing Saddles) plays Dr. Charles Montague and Leachman (Young Frankenstein) plays Nurse Diesel who set Richard up. This is a good spoof, Brooks is great as usual, the rest of the cast is good as well as John Morris' score. If you enjoys comedies, check this one out.

John Brooks Mel Brooks is first and foremost as a movie-maker a good businessman. He understood the things that worked, and the things that didn't, and did a whole lot of the first. What's this, a Mel Brooks parody film with Madeline Kahn that spoofs the Hitchcock movies, with a big self-titled song, in a totally wacky comedy that makes fun of big clichés in the fields of horror movies, psychology with the usual 'film that is aware it is a film' angle ? Oh, just that description alone will make people laugh and buy the film without even hearing the jokes themselves which are, as usual, terribly uninspired, common, predictable and repeated in kind.If you're a fan of his or of this film, seriously ask yourself: how difficult would it be to make a 1hr30min parody on Hitchcock films ? Could you not come up with at least a bit of a plot, some funny material in such an abundant context ? I'll give this a 4 rather than lower just for the two or three really funny moments where I actually laughed. Every so often of course, an intelligent man like Brooks who loves humor so much would ultimately stumbled on an actually funny, worthy concept. It's only mathematical probability. But out of the entire film, two or three funny moments are a terribly scarce occurrence.

Mr-Fusion "High Anxiety" never reaches the heights of other Brooks classics (despite coming highly recommended), but it ain't bad. Inconsistent, sure, but there are some solid laughs throughout. The gags tend to come at you pretty fast, and Mel takes on everything from "Vertigo", to "Psycho" to "North By Northwest". But it works as both an homage and parody of Alfred Hitchcock, and he's not just shooting fish in a barrel; he's paying due (off-color) respect to the suspense master. Its heart is in the right place. And then there's Cloris Leachman, who takes disturbing to outlandish heights. She's gotta be seen to be believed. She's easily the movie's best feature, no question. 6/10

dougdoepke There's more plot here than expected from a Brooks' movie. Can he kick his aversion to high places, overturn the hospital's bad reputation, and bring the baddies to justice. That's a lot to coordinate into 90-minutes of intended laughs. Overall, it's a movie of funny moments, but lacks the consistent absudity of, say, Young Frankenstein (1974). The only really wacky character is Cloris Leachman as a nurse from heck. And, oh yes, there's an outrageous bit by Charlie Callas as a guy you might find at the local dog shelter. Meanwhile, Barry Levinson has a funny bit as a bellboy with a screeching sound and homicidal urges. Surprisingly, however, Brooks' doctor is pretty restrained except for his anxiety shakes. But then his character has to carry the plot.The satirical parts are just okay, except for the clever take-off on Psycho's celebrated shower scene. It's a hoot and a half. The other Hitchcocks I could detect are Vertigo (1958), The Birds (1963), and North by Northwest (1959). But none come off in very humorous fashion. I suspect the writers had trouble blending the satirical elements into plot requirements. Thus, the two don't combine as well as they should. Too bad, Madeleine Kahn doesn't get more screen time. She was such a funny performer and without half trying. She should have done the musical number instead of Brooks who unfortunately does it fairly straight. Still, that scene in the convention hall is pretty funny. When the little kids come in, Brooks has to use evasive words like woo-woo instead of more adult language.I guess I was somewhat disappointed, not because the movie isn't generally funny, but because it doesn't reach the wacko heights of either Blazing Saddles (1974) or Young Frankenstein. All in all, the movie's a two-base hit instead of a homerun.