Parody Yes, Nanette" (1925). In 1940 Charlie Chaplin created a satirical comedy about Adolf Hitler with the film "The Great Dictator", following the first-ever Hollywood parody of the Nazis, the Three Stooges' short subject "You Nazty Spy!". About 20 years later Mel Brooks started his career with a Hitler parody as well. After "The Producers" (1968), Brooks became one of the most famous film parodists and did spoofs on any kind of film genre. "Blazing Saddles" (1974) is a parody of western films, "Young Frankenstein" (1974) is a Frankenstein spoof, "Spaceballs" (1987) is a "Star Wars" spoof, and "Robin Hood Men
Charlie Chaplin himself. Chaplin finished editing "City Lights" in December 1930, by which time silent films were an anachronism. A preview before an unsuspecting public audience was not a success, but a showing for the press produced positive reviews. One journalist wrote, "Nobody in the world but Charlie Chaplin could have done it. He is the only person that has that peculiar something called 'audience appeal' in sufficient quality to defy the popular penchant for movies that talk." Given its general release in January 1931, "City Lights" proved to be a popular and financial success – eventually grossing over $3 million. The