Kismet—Meeting Anne Bancroft

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Chapter Summary

In early 1961 Mel Brooks was working on the book for the Broadway musical All American with Charles Strouse (Buddy) and Lee Adams. One day Buddy invited Mel to tag along to a Perry Como show rehearsal at the Ziegfeld Theatre, where Buddy was to find a performance key for Anne Bancroft. When Anne appeared onstage in a white dress singing “I Wanna Get Married,” Mel was instantly smitten. He shouted his love from the audience; she laughed and asked who he was. Their first conversation led to a shared cab, and Mel began a weeklong campaign of “coincidental” appearances wherever Anne went – a pattern she soon exposed as stalking. She challenged him to be brave and ask her directly for a date. He did, and they saw each other almost every night.

Cash‑poor while the Broadway show was still in rehearsal, Mel relied on inexpensive outings like Chinese restaurants. During one such dinner, Anne slipped him a twenty‑dollar bill to cover the check; he left a generous tip with her money, earning a sharp smack from Anne. She told him she believed in his talent and that he would not always be poor.

To make money to date Anne, Mel took whatever voiceover work he could get. He recorded a comic radio spot for the Bic Banana pen, pitching it as “the only fruit you can write with.” He also teamed with Dick Cavett for a Ballantine Beer commercial, reviving his 2,000‑Year‑Old Man character as the 2,500‑Year‑Old Brewmaster. The collaboration marked the start of a lasting friendship; decades later they taped an HBO special, Mel Brooks and Dick Cavett Together Again (2011).

Still needing income, Mel collaborated with animator Ernie Pintoff on a short film called The Critic. Ernie’s original idea was a parody of Norman McLaren’s avant‑garde animations, narrated by Mel in an English accent. Mel instead suggested ad‑libbing as a little old Jewish man who wanders into a movie house and tries to make sense of the abstract imagery. The three‑and‑a‑half‑minute film premiered at the Sutton Theatre to riotous laughter and later won the Academy Award for Best Short Subject (Cartoon).

Key Events

February 5, 1961 – Mel accompanies Buddy Strouse to the Ziegfeld Theatre and first sees Anne Bancroft perform.
Mel shouts “Anne Bancroft! I love you!” from the audience; Anne responds by asking who he is.
After the rehearsal, Mel and Anne share a taxi – Mel lies about needing to see the same agent.
For the next week Mel “stumbles upon” Anne at restaurants, nightclubs, and parties.
Anne calls out his stalker‑like behavior and tells him to ask for a date directly.
On a Chinese‑food date, Anne gives Mel cash, and he tips extravagantly, earning a physical rebuke.
Mel records the Bic Banana commercial, a whimsical pitch comparing pens to fruits.
Mel and Dick Cavett record the Ballantine Beer commercial featuring the 2,500‑Year‑Old Brewmaster.
Ernie Pintoff proposes a Norman McLaren parody; Mel rewrites the concept as The Critic.
The Critic wins the Academy Award for Best Short Subject (Cartoon) .

Character Development

Mel Brooks – Transitions from a struggling writer to a cunning romantic. He shows persistence, creativity, and a willingness to take any job to support his new relationship. His innate comedic instincts shine in the ad‑libbed Critic recording.
Anne Bancroft – Portrayed as confident, direct, and supportive. She sees through Mel’s “kismet” ruse, yet she encourages his talent and accepts his limited budget without complaint.
Dick Cavett – Introduced as a bright, funny collaborator with whom Mel develops a lasting rapport.
Ernie Pintoff – A visionary animator open to Mel’s improvisational changes, resulting in an Oscar‑winning short.

Themes, Symbols, and Motifs

Kismet vs. persistence – Mel orchestrates “coincidental” meetings, but Anne demands honesty. The word kismet becomes a running joke that underscores the theme of taking active steps toward love.
Financial insecurity and creativity – Broke while writing a Broadway show, Mel turns to odd voiceover jobs (Bic Banana, Ballantine) and an improvised short film to earn money – proof that constraint can fuel invention.
The power of voice – Mel’s vocal talents, from the multi‑character commercial to the grumpy old man in The Critic, become his early career lifeline.
Belief in a partner – Anne’s statement “I believe in you…you won’t always be poor” foreshadows her role as a steadfast supporter.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter marks Mel Brooks’s first meeting with his future wife, Anne Bancroft – the beginning of a decades‑long personal and professional partnership. It also captures a pivotal financial low point that forced Mel to diversify his skills as a voice actor, leading directly to the creation of The Critic, which won an Oscar and gave him a major career credential. The anecdotes reveal Mel’s romantic drive, his ability to turn a lie into a love story, and his early willingness to blend high‑concept humor with commercial work – all traits that would define his later successes.

Study Questions and Answers

How does Mel Brooks describe his first encounter with Anne Bancroft?
He went with Charles Strouse to the Ziegfeld Theatre for a Perry Como rehearsal. When Anne came onstage in a white dress, Mel was captivated. He shouted his love from the audience, and she laughed and asked who he was, leading to a conversation and a shared cab.
What approach did Mel take to spend time with Anne after their first meeting, and how did she respond?
Mel found out where Anne would be and showed up at the same restaurants, clubs, and parties, pretending it was coincidence. After a week, Anne told him it was not kismet but stalking and dared him to ask her out directly.
What were two voiceover jobs Mel took to make money, and how did one of them lead to an Academy Award?
He recorded a humorous commercial for Bic Banana pens and a Ballantine Beer ad with Dick Cavett. He also provided the ad‑libbed voice of an old Jewish man for Ernie Pintoff’s animated short The Critic, which won the Oscar for Best Short Subject (Cartoon).