'The Producers,' 'Blazing Saddles' & 'Young Frankenstein'

In a six-year span in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Mel Brooks wrote and directed three of the greatest comedies in the history of film: "The Producers," "Blazing Saddles" and "Young Frankenstein."

A tremendous accomplishment. Especially considering it were three of his first ever forays into making films. "The Producers" -- his first ever movie -- won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.

Yes, those three movies are fantastic. Brilliantly executed on every level, in every way imaginable.

In these films, there are performances from actors and actresses that rank as among the best comedic performances in the history of comedic performances.

Gene Wilder, Cleavon Little, Teri Garr, Cloris Leachman, Gene Hackman, Kenneth Mars, Madeline Kahn, Marty Feldman, Peter Boyle and Harvey Korman. That's to name a few.

Granted, some credit should be given to these performers. But it's no accident that they put forth once-in-a-lifetime performances under the direction of Brooks while reading Brooks' words.

We like our directors to be deep, brooding and serious. Chances are, one of the best film directors and entertainers of the 20th century was a guy who had Frankenstein's monster singing "Putting on the Ritz" and doing tap.