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Posted : 1 year, 1 month ago on 6 March 2023 11:44
I wasn’t really sure what to expect from this flick but since it seemed to have a decent reputation, I thought I might as well check it out. To be honest, when I noticed on IMDb that this movie was more than 3 hours, I was actually rather apprehensive to see a movie which seemed to be not much more than a daft comedy lasting for so long. Well, eventually, I wonder what it is listed with such a long running time since the only version(s) that you can watch are much shorter (the one I saw was around 150 mins). Anyway, on paper, there is no way that such a silly comedy with a very thin plot and lasting for way too long should interest me and, yet, I have to admit I did enjoy the damned thing after all. I mean, there is nothing much to it, it's about a group of barely developed characters finding out that there might be some kind of treasure hidden in some park and, for the rest of the movie, you get see to see them racing each other to get there first. How they managed to deliver 150 mins of running time which such a flimsy concept is quite extraordinary but it was even more impressive that the end-result was actually entertaining. Eventually, even though the die-hard fans might argue otherwise, I think that’s actually the strength of this movie, the fact that nobody involved took it seriously at all so there was nothing pretentious about the whole endeavor, just some plain old fun. Finally, one of the major points or goals with this movie was to include as many ‘famous’ American comedians as possible but, if you are not familiar with who was famous back then in the 60’s, this whole aspect will be pretty much lost on you (I think I managed to spot only 3 or 4 actors). Anyway, to conclude, even if I don’t think it was really amazing, I have to admit that it is actually an entertaining comedy and it is worth a look, especially if you like the genre.
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World Reviews
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World review
Posted : 13 years, 10 months ago on 29 June 2010 09:04
I love it!!!! Best. Movie. Ever.
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IT'S A MAD MAD MAD MAD WORLD
Posted : 15 years, 9 months ago on 23 July 2008 07:12
Director Stanley Kramer is probably best known for his serious dramas such as "Champion", "The Defiant Ones", "Inherit the Wind" and "Judgement at Nuremberg" etc so this film came as a complete change of pace for him. Stanley Kramer is to be congratulated for putting together such a brilliant cast of comedians in the one film. This is definitely a movie not to be missed. When Smiler Grogan (Jimmy Durante) crashes his car on the highway an ill assorted group of diverse travellers gather around him to hear his last words. When he tells them of some buried treasure under a "big W" at Santa Rosita park they all resolve to be the first there to dig up the money. The chase is then on by plane, car, truck and whatever means they can find to get them to the park quickly and look for the loot. Police Captain Culpeper (Spencer Tracy) keeps an eye on them all from a safe distance so that he can grab the money for himself once it is found. J. Russell Finch (Milton Berle) has to put up with nagging mother-in-law Mrs Marcus (Ethel Merman), his wife Emmeline Finch (Dorothy Provine), and the interference of the very British J. Algernon Hawthorne (Terry-Thomas), while dentist Melville Crump (Sid Caesar) and wife Monica Crump (Edie Adams) get trapped in a hardware store looking for tools to dig up the treasure. Truck driver Lennie Pike (Jonathan Winters - in his first screen role) meets up with con man Otto Meyer (Phil Silvers) who naturally wants to get in on the chase and claim a share of the proceeds. Benjy Benjamin and Ding Bell (Buddy Hackett and Mickey Rooney) charter a light aircraft hoping that will give them the advantage but are panic stricken when their pilot Tyler Fitzgerald (Jim Backus) is accidentally knocked unconscious during the flight leaving Benjy to pilot the plane!! There were many cameo appearances throughout the film including Jerry Lewis, Jack Benny, Buster Keaton, Peter Falk, the Three Stooges, Paul Ford, Stan Freburg, Leo Gorcey, Don Knotts, Carl Reiner, Zasu Pitts (her final film), Mike Mazurki, Edward Everett Horton, Charles McGraw, Norman Fell, Howard da Silva, Allen Jenkins, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson and several others. Judy Garland, Bob Hope, George Burns and Red Skelton were all offered roles in the film but declined. Stan Laurel also turned down an invitation to be in the film as he had pledged that when Oliver Hardy died in 1957 he would never perform again. He never did.
Favourite lines:
Milton Berle (to group at scene of car crash): "Hey, did you see it? The way he went sailing right out there! He just went sailing right out there".
Buddy Hackett (to group): "Now look! We've figured it 17 different ways, and each time we figured it, it was no good, because no matter how we figured it, somebody don't like the way we figured it! So now, there's only one way to figure it. And that is, every man, including the old bag, for himself!".
Ethel Merman (to Terry-Thomas): "Where did you get that funny accent? Are you from Harvard or something?".
Phil Silvers (to Jonathan Winters): "Try me - I'm pretty gullible".
Jim Backus (to Mickey Rooney and Buddy Hackett): "Who says this boy can't fly this old plane? There you go!".
Buddy Hackett (to Rooney): "What, am I supposed to do everything? You want me to fly the airplane, you want me to work the radio, what are you gonna .... What are you, the hostess?".
Incidentally, I can recommend a new biography I have just read on Ethel Merman called "Brass Diva" by Caryl Flinn. Also "Mickey Rooney" by Alvin H. Marill is worth looking at.
Favourite lines:
Milton Berle (to group at scene of car crash): "Hey, did you see it? The way he went sailing right out there! He just went sailing right out there".
Buddy Hackett (to group): "Now look! We've figured it 17 different ways, and each time we figured it, it was no good, because no matter how we figured it, somebody don't like the way we figured it! So now, there's only one way to figure it. And that is, every man, including the old bag, for himself!".
Ethel Merman (to Terry-Thomas): "Where did you get that funny accent? Are you from Harvard or something?".
Phil Silvers (to Jonathan Winters): "Try me - I'm pretty gullible".
Jim Backus (to Mickey Rooney and Buddy Hackett): "Who says this boy can't fly this old plane? There you go!".
Buddy Hackett (to Rooney): "What, am I supposed to do everything? You want me to fly the airplane, you want me to work the radio, what are you gonna .... What are you, the hostess?".
Incidentally, I can recommend a new biography I have just read on Ethel Merman called "Brass Diva" by Caryl Flinn. Also "Mickey Rooney" by Alvin H. Marill is worth looking at.
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It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World
Posted : 16 years, 3 months ago on 25 January 2008 02:02
I just finished watching this film and I HAD to write about it.
The title with so many "mad" in it is perfect. This film is wild to the exact meaning of the word.
Stanley Kramer, a director so well known about his extraordinary dramas, such as Judgment at Nuremberg, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner and To Sir With Love, presents us with this magnificent comedy, not very typical of him, a very pleasant surprise.
But the credits must not all go to the director, because the cast is equally great: Spencer Tracy, Milton Berle, Sid Ceasar, Buddy Hackett, Mickey Rooney, and last but not least, my favorite, Terry-Thomas are some of the main names in this film and also the greatest names of comedy back in the 50's and 60's.
A group of people, who happened to be travelling each one to a different place, see a car crash, they all go help the victim. Unfortunately, it's a bit too late and the man is dying, but not before revealing there's a huge fortune (for those days anyway) buried under a big "W". Now, is every man for himself in a greedy and comic race against time to see who will get to the money first.
One of the funniest films I have ever seen, It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World delivers what it promises and it doesn't disappoint for a minute.
The title with so many "mad" in it is perfect. This film is wild to the exact meaning of the word.
Stanley Kramer, a director so well known about his extraordinary dramas, such as Judgment at Nuremberg, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner and To Sir With Love, presents us with this magnificent comedy, not very typical of him, a very pleasant surprise.
But the credits must not all go to the director, because the cast is equally great: Spencer Tracy, Milton Berle, Sid Ceasar, Buddy Hackett, Mickey Rooney, and last but not least, my favorite, Terry-Thomas are some of the main names in this film and also the greatest names of comedy back in the 50's and 60's.
A group of people, who happened to be travelling each one to a different place, see a car crash, they all go help the victim. Unfortunately, it's a bit too late and the man is dying, but not before revealing there's a huge fortune (for those days anyway) buried under a big "W". Now, is every man for himself in a greedy and comic race against time to see who will get to the money first.
One of the funniest films I have ever seen, It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World delivers what it promises and it doesn't disappoint for a minute.
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