Gene Wilder and Mel Brooks weren’t just writing collaborators - they were also good friends.

The two worked together on films like Blazing Saddles (1974) and The Producers (1967). By 1974, the two men had worked together on the script for Young Frankenstein, combining their creativity to make an incredible film.

Although the writing process for the movie was a bit rocky at first, Brooks stated that filming was, for the most part, relatively painless. In his memoir, All About Me!: My Remarkable Life in Show Business, Brooks recounted the major confrontation he had with Wilder that ruptured those once calm waters.

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“Gene and I got along swimmingly during filming, aside from one big fight,” wrote Brooks in his memoir, “It was about the scene where he and the monster sing and dance to ‘Puttin’ on the Ritz.’ It was Gene’s idea, and I told him I thought it was a great idea and very funny, but it was too far out. I was afraid it might have made the screenplay border on being unbelievable. I insisted that it was too silly and would tear the continuity of the movie to pieces.”

You might remember the scene Brooks is referring to, as it became one of the most memorable moments of the entire film. However, Brooks was so adamant in his refusal, he and Wilder nearly came to blows over a difference in opinion.

“We fought and we fought,” wrote Brooks. “Our tempers rose and we almost got into a fistfight over it.”

Still, Wilder convinced Brooks to shoot the scene, just to see how it looked. Reluctantly, Brooks agreed, though he soon changed his tune.

“I have never been so wrong in my life,” wrote Brooks. “I think I ate more humble pie on that day than ever before. Gene was right because it took the movie to another level. We left satire and made it our own. It was new, different, crazy, and had the audience laughing out of control.”