Classic Comedy Movies

[rlditmars]

I am surprised no one has mentioned Jerry Lewis. His comedy was physical, imaginative, and brilliant. It's probably too sedate for today's audience, but that doesn't diminish the genius. Not only was he an exceptional comedian, he was an unbelievable influence in the film industry to the point he was responsible for some of the technological advances that make movies possible today. Since he was acting in and directing his own movies, he needed a way to see if a "take" was good before he could move on. He commissioned and worked with Sony back in the 60's to develop the video playback. That way he knew if the "take" could be printed or he would do another take before going on to the next sequence which saved millions for the studio over his career. He also wrote a book about directing called "The Total Film Maker". If you question whether it was good or not, Martin Scorsese used to carry a copy around with him.

Some of my favorite moves of his are:

The Nutty Professor
Rock-A-Bye Baby
Who's Minding the Store
The Disorderly Orderly
Cinderfella

If you've never seen them, check them out and pay particular attention to how good a shape he had to be in to achieve some of the physical demands of the films. In the movie Cinderfella, he ran up a flight of 64 steps in 8 seconds.

[MR Snakes]

OK, if we are going old, old school, I'll take just about any Bob Hope movie. The Road to Bali with Bing Crosby was especially funny.

[Bogertophis]

I almost forgot- probably my favorite: a quirky gem of an English language German-made film called Bagdad Cafe (1987), set & filmed in the Mojave Desert
of CA at a real* remote truck stop, with a few actors you know but maybe don't think of in comedy, Jack Palance & CCH Pounder. A mix actually of comedy
-drama, but funny & super original. (*Newberry Springs, CA)

Here's the gist of it from Wiki-
German tourist Jasmin Munchgstettner (Marianne Sägebrecht) argues with her husband after car trouble strands them along a dusty highway in the American Southwest. Fuming, she storms off and travels by foot to the nearest outpost of civilization -- the Bagdad Café. Upon arriving, she butts heads with the owner (CCH Pounder), but they soon forge an unlikely friendship. What begins as a few days' respite becomes a prolonged stay as Jasmine finds her niche within this eccentric truck-stop community.

[MR Snakes]

Muriel's Wedding

[Bogertophis]

Benny & Joon

[MR Snakes]

Benny & Joon

What planet was that shown on?

[Bogertophis]

What planet was that shown on?

Don't knock it, got some great cooking tips there..."cereal in a blender" & iron-on 'grilled' cheese sandwiches.