Madeline Kahn

Madeline Gail Kahn (née Wolfson; September 29, 1942 – December 3, 1999) was an American actress, comedian and singer, known for comedic roles in films directed by Peter Bogdanovich and Mel Brooks, including What's Up, Doc? (1972), Young Frankenstein (1974), High Anxiety (1977), History of the World, Part I (1981), and her Academy Award–nominated roles in Paper Moon (1973) and Blazing Saddles (1974). Kahn made her Broadway debut in Leonard Sillman's New Faces of 1968, and received Tony Award nominations for the play In the Boom Boom Room in 1974 and for the original production of the musical On the Twentieth Century in 1978. She starred as Madeline Wayne on the short-lived sitcom Oh Madeline (1983–84) and won a Daytime Emmy Award in 1987 for an ABC Afterschool Special. She received a third Tony Award nomination for the revival of the play Born Yesterday in 1989, before winning the 1993 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for the comedy The Sisters Rosensweig. Her other film appearances included The Cheap Detective (1978), City Heat (1984), Clue (1985), and Nixon (1995). Description above from the Wikipedia article Madeline Kahn, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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The Pixar Story (2007)

Adventurous

A look at the first years of Pixar Animation Studios - from the success of "Toy Story" and Pixar's promotion of talented people, to the building of its East Bay campus, the company's relationship with Disney, and its remarkable initial string of eight hits. The ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Leslie Iwerks
CAST:  Stacy Keach  •  John Lasseter  •  Brad Bird  •  John Musker

A look at the first years of Pixar Animation Studios - from the success of "Toy Story" and Pixar's promotion of talented people, to the building of its East Bay campus, the company's relationship with Disney, and its remarkable initial string of eight hits. The ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Leslie Iwerks
CAST:  Stacy Keach  •  John Lasseter  •  Brad Bird  •  John Musker

A Bug's Life (1998)

CleverCuteFunnyCharming

On behalf of "oppressed bugs everywhere," an inventive ant named Flik hires a troupe of warrior bugs to defend his bustling colony from a horde of freeloading grasshoppers led by the evil-minded Hopper.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Lasseter
CAST:  Kevin Spacey  •  Julia Louis-Dreyfus  •  Hayden Panettiere  •  Phyllis Diller

On behalf of "oppressed bugs everywhere," an inventive ant named Flik hires a troupe of warrior bugs to defend his bustling colony from a horde of freeloading grasshoppers led by the evil-minded Hopper.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Lasseter
CAST:  Kevin Spacey  •  Julia Louis-Dreyfus  •  Hayden Panettiere  •  Phyllis Diller

An American Tail (1986)

CuteCharmingEnjoyableFun

A young mouse named Fievel and his family decide to migrate to America, a "land without cats," at the turn of the 20th century. But somehow, Fievel ends up in the New World alone and must fend off not only the felines he never thought he'd have to deal with again ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Don Bluth
CAST:  Phillip Glasser  •  Dom DeLuise  •  Nehemiah Persoff  •  Erica Yohn

A young mouse named Fievel and his family decide to migrate to America, a "land without cats," at the turn of the 20th century. But somehow, Fievel ends up in the New World alone and must fend off not only the felines he never thought he'd have to deal with again ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Don Bluth
CAST:  Phillip Glasser  •  Dom DeLuise  •  Nehemiah Persoff  •  Erica Yohn

Blazing Saddles (1974)

FunnyClassicBrilliantEnjoyable

A town—where everyone seems to be named Johnson—stands in the way of the railroad. In order to grab their land, robber baron Hedley Lamarr sends his henchmen to make life in the town unbearable. After the sheriff is killed, the town demands a new sheriff from the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mel Brooks
CAST:  Cleavon Little  •  Gene Wilder  •  Mel Brooks  •  Madeline Kahn

A town—where everyone seems to be named Johnson—stands in the way of the railroad. In order to grab their land, robber baron Hedley Lamarr sends his henchmen to make life in the town unbearable. After the sheriff is killed, the town demands a new sheriff from the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mel Brooks
CAST:  Cleavon Little  •  Gene Wilder  •  Mel Brooks  •  Madeline Kahn

City Heat (1984)

Set in Kansas City in 1933, Eastwood plays a police lieutenant known simply by his last name, Speer. Reynolds plays a former cop turned private eye named Mike Murphy. Both Speer and Murphy served on the force together and were once good friends, but are now bitter ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Benjamin
CAST:  Clint Eastwood  •  Burt Reynolds  •  Jane Alexander  •  Madeline Kahn

Set in Kansas City in 1933, Eastwood plays a police lieutenant known simply by his last name, Speer. Reynolds plays a former cop turned private eye named Mike Murphy. Both Speer and Murphy served on the force together and were once good friends, but are now bitter ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Benjamin
CAST:  Clint Eastwood  •  Burt Reynolds  •  Jane Alexander  •  Madeline Kahn

Clue (1985)

CharmingClassicFunLighthearted

Clue finds six colorful dinner guests gathered at the mansion of their host, Mr. Boddy -- who turns up dead after his secret is exposed: He was blackmailing all of them. With the killer among them, the guests and Boddy's chatty butler must suss out the culprit ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jonathan Lynn
CAST:  Lesley Ann Warren  •  Christopher Lloyd  •  Eileen Brennan  •  Tim Curry

Clue finds six colorful dinner guests gathered at the mansion of their host, Mr. Boddy -- who turns up dead after his secret is exposed: He was blackmailing all of them. With the killer among them, the guests and Boddy's chatty butler must suss out the culprit ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jonathan Lynn
CAST:  Lesley Ann Warren  •  Christopher Lloyd  •  Eileen Brennan  •  Tim Curry

High Anxiety (1977)

A psychiatrist with intense acrophobia (fear of heights) goes to work for a mental institution run by doctors who appear to be crazier than their patients, and have secrets that they are willing to commit murder to keep.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mel Brooks
CAST:  Mel Brooks  •  Madeline Kahn  •  Cloris Leachman  •  Harvey Korman

A psychiatrist with intense acrophobia (fear of heights) goes to work for a mental institution run by doctors who appear to be crazier than their patients, and have secrets that they are willing to commit murder to keep.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mel Brooks
CAST:  Mel Brooks  •  Madeline Kahn  •  Cloris Leachman  •  Harvey Korman

History of the World: Part I (1981)

FunnyCleverFast pacedBrilliant

An uproarious version of history that proves nothing is sacred – not even the Roman Empire, the French Revolution and the Spanish Inquisition.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mel Brooks
CAST:  Mel Brooks  •  Dom DeLuise  •  Madeline Kahn  •  Harvey Korman

An uproarious version of history that proves nothing is sacred – not even the Roman Empire, the French Revolution and the Spanish Inquisition.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mel Brooks
CAST:  Mel Brooks  •  Dom DeLuise  •  Madeline Kahn  •  Harvey Korman

Mixed Nuts (1994)

The events of a crisis hotline business on one crazy night during the Christmas holidays.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Nora Ephron
CAST:  Steve Martin  •  Madeline Kahn  •  Robert Klein  •  Anthony LaPaglia

The events of a crisis hotline business on one crazy night during the Christmas holidays.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Nora Ephron
CAST:  Steve Martin  •  Madeline Kahn  •  Robert Klein  •  Anthony LaPaglia

My Little Pony: The Movie (1986)

The first day of Spring is on its way and the Little Ponies are preparing for it with a big festival. But all the fun may come to an end if the witch Hydia has her way! Can the Ponies defeat Hydia and her evil daughters, Reeka and Draggle? More importantly, can ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mike Joens
CAST:  Danny DeVito  •  Madeline Kahn  •  Cloris Leachman  •  Rhea Perlman

The first day of Spring is on its way and the Little Ponies are preparing for it with a big festival. But all the fun may come to an end if the witch Hydia has her way! Can the Ponies defeat Hydia and her evil daughters, Reeka and Draggle? More importantly, can ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mike Joens
CAST:  Danny DeVito  •  Madeline Kahn  •  Cloris Leachman  •  Rhea Perlman

Nixon (1995)

A look at President Richard M. Nixon—a man carrying the fate of the world on his shoulders while battling the self-destructive demands from within—spanning his troubled boyhood in California to the shocking Watergate scandal that would end his Presidency.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Oliver Stone
CAST:  Anthony Hopkins  •  Joan Allen  •  J.T. Walsh  •  Paul Sorvino

A look at President Richard M. Nixon—a man carrying the fate of the world on his shoulders while battling the self-destructive demands from within—spanning his troubled boyhood in California to the shocking Watergate scandal that would end his Presidency.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Oliver Stone
CAST:  Anthony Hopkins  •  Joan Allen  •  J.T. Walsh  •  Paul Sorvino

Paper Moon (1973)

During the Great Depression, a con man finds himself saddled with a young girl—who may or may not be his daughter—and the two forge an unlikely partnership.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Bogdanovich
CAST:  Ryan O'Neal  •  Tatum O'Neal  •  Madeline Kahn  •  John Hillerman

During the Great Depression, a con man finds himself saddled with a young girl—who may or may not be his daughter—and the two forge an unlikely partnership.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Bogdanovich
CAST:  Ryan O'Neal  •  Tatum O'Neal  •  Madeline Kahn  •  John Hillerman

The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother (1975)

After spending decades living in the shadow of his more famous and successful sibling, Consulting Detective Sigerson Holmes (Wilder) is called upon to help solve a crucial case that leads him on a hilarious trail of false identities, stolen documents, secret codes. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gene Wilder
CAST:  Gene Wilder  •  Madeline Kahn  •  Marty Feldman  •  Dom DeLuise

After spending decades living in the shadow of his more famous and successful sibling, Consulting Detective Sigerson Holmes (Wilder) is called upon to help solve a crucial case that leads him on a hilarious trail of false identities, stolen documents, secret codes. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gene Wilder
CAST:  Gene Wilder  •  Madeline Kahn  •  Marty Feldman  •  Dom DeLuise

The Muppet Movie (1979)

FunnyEnjoyableEpicBrilliant

A Hollywood agent persuades Kermit the Frog to pursue a career in Hollywood. On his way there he meets his future muppet crew while being chased by the desperate owner of a frog-leg restaurant!  (more)

DIRECTION:  James Frawley
CAST:  Jim Henson  •  Frank Oz  •  Jerry Nelson  •  Richard Hunt

A Hollywood agent persuades Kermit the Frog to pursue a career in Hollywood. On his way there he meets his future muppet crew while being chased by the desperate owner of a frog-leg restaurant!  (more)

DIRECTION:  James Frawley
CAST:  Jim Henson  •  Frank Oz  •  Jerry Nelson  •  Richard Hunt

What's Up, Doc? (1972)

The accidental mix-up of four identical plaid overnight bags leads to a series of increasingly wild and wacky situations.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Bogdanovich
CAST:  Barbra Streisand  •  Ryan O'Neal  •  Madeline Kahn  •  Kenneth Mars

The accidental mix-up of four identical plaid overnight bags leads to a series of increasingly wild and wacky situations.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Bogdanovich
CAST:  Barbra Streisand  •  Ryan O'Neal  •  Madeline Kahn  •  Kenneth Mars

Wholly Moses (1980)

Harvey and Zoey, two tourists in Israel, discover an ancient scroll about Herschel, the man who was almost Moses. Herschel receives the command from God to free his people from slavery, but Moses keeps getting all the credit.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gary Weis
CAST:  Dudley Moore  •  Laraine Newman  •  James Coco  •  Paul Sand

Harvey and Zoey, two tourists in Israel, discover an ancient scroll about Herschel, the man who was almost Moses. Herschel receives the command from God to free his people from slavery, but Moses keeps getting all the credit.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gary Weis
CAST:  Dudley Moore  •  Laraine Newman  •  James Coco  •  Paul Sand

Young Frankenstein (1974)

FunnyClassicEnjoyableBrilliant

A young neurosurgeon inherits the castle of his grandfather, the famous Dr. Victor von Frankenstein. In the castle he finds a funny hunchback, a pretty lab assistant and the elderly housekeeper. Young Frankenstein believes that the work of his grandfather was ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mel Brooks
CAST:  Gene Wilder  •  Marty Feldman  •  Madeline Kahn  •  Cloris Leachman

A young neurosurgeon inherits the castle of his grandfather, the famous Dr. Victor von Frankenstein. In the castle he finds a funny hunchback, a pretty lab assistant and the elderly housekeeper. Young Frankenstein believes that the work of his grandfather was ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mel Brooks
CAST:  Gene Wilder  •  Marty Feldman  •  Madeline Kahn  •  Cloris Leachman

At Long Last Love (1975)

Four socialites unexpectedly clash: heiress Brooke Carter runs into gambler Johnny Spanish at the race track while playboy Michael O. Pritchard nearly runs into stage star Kitty O'Kelly with his car. Backstage at Kitty's show, it turns out she and Brooke are old ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Bogdanovich
CAST:  Cybill Shepherd  •  Burt Reynolds  •  Duilio Del Prete  •  Madeline Kahn

Four socialites unexpectedly clash: heiress Brooke Carter runs into gambler Johnny Spanish at the race track while playboy Michael O. Pritchard nearly runs into stage star Kitty O'Kelly with his car. Backstage at Kitty's show, it turns out she and Brooke are old ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Bogdanovich
CAST:  Cybill Shepherd  •  Burt Reynolds  •  Duilio Del Prete  •  Madeline Kahn

Yellowbeard (1983)

For years Yellowbeard had looted the Spanish Main, making men eat their lips and swallow their hearts. Caught and convicted for tax evasion, he's sentenced to 20 years in St. Victim's Prison for the Extremely Naughty. In a scheme to confiscate his fabulous treasure ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mel Damski
CAST:  Graham Chapman  •  Martin Hewitt  •  Eric Idle  •  Peter Cook

For years Yellowbeard had looted the Spanish Main, making men eat their lips and swallow their hearts. Caught and convicted for tax evasion, he's sentenced to 20 years in St. Victim's Prison for the Extremely Naughty. In a scheme to confiscate his fabulous treasure ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mel Damski
CAST:  Graham Chapman  •  Martin Hewitt  •  Eric Idle  •  Peter Cook

The Cheap Detective (1978)

A spoof of the entire 1940s detective genre. San Francisco private detective, Lou Pekinpaugh is accused of murdering his partner at the instigation of his mistress—his partner's wife.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Moore
CAST:  Peter Falk  •  Ann-Margret  •  Eileen Brennan  •  Sid Caesar

A spoof of the entire 1940s detective genre. San Francisco private detective, Lou Pekinpaugh is accused of murdering his partner at the instigation of his mistress—his partner's wife.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Moore
CAST:  Peter Falk  •  Ann-Margret  •  Eileen Brennan  •  Sid Caesar
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