The filmography of Mel Brooks is long and fierce, casting a very long shadow. With movies like Young Frankenstein (1974), Blazing Saddles (1974), and Spaceballs (1987), the director has managed to keep audiences laughing over a number of decades.

The basis of Brooks’ relationship with his audience is built on respect. More than the critics and the producers, Brooks worked hard to give his viewers the comfort and entertainment they deserved.

“You know, there’s a contract when you make a film,” Brooks said during an interview with the Wisconsin State Journal. “The contract for me, as a filmmaker, is with the audience. It’s not with the studio. It’s not with the critics. It’s with that audience in the dark theater. That is the only contract. I know that every time I film a scene, they’re with me. They’re saying, ‘Please, please us. Give us something. Give us our money’s worth. And more important than our money’s worth, give us something for our time.’”

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Though his movies were often off-the-wall, Brooks maintained that his movies appealed to human nature.

“I think I can use all the forms of comedy to say what I want to say about the human condition,” said the director. “If you can make ‘em laugh, it’s your duty to do so.”