Hollywood: The Oral History

by Jeanine Basinger

MEL BROOKS: After Mike Nichols had done The Graduate, I said, “If Mike Nichols could have gone to Joe Levine and said, “I want to do The Green Awning.” “The what?” “The Green Awning.” “What is it?” “It’s a movie about a green awning.” “Does any famous star walk under the green awning?” “No, all unknowns.” “Are there any naked women near the green awning?” “No, no naked women.” “Are people talking and eating sandwiches and scrambled eggs in outdoor tables under the green awning?” “No, it’s just a green awning. Panavision. Just a green awning. It doesn’t move.” “How long would it be?” “Two hours. Two hours, nothing but a green awning on-screen. No talking, no dialogue, nothing.” “All right, what the hell, we’ll do it.”