Saturday, April 23, 2011

Comedy Explanations


Conductor 1492 1924  Netflix

Irish immigrant conductor Terry O'Toole ( Johnny Hines ) must prove his mettle and stop the villains who are attempting to take over Denman Connelly's ( Fred Esmelton ) streetcar company. O'Toole has a definite stake in the matter, as he's fallen for Connelly's gorgeous daughter, Noretta ( Doris May ). Frank Griffin and Charles Hines direct this silent comedy, while Dorothy Vernon , Byron Sage , Ruth Renick and Dan Mason co-star.

Little Andy Rooney (1925) Mary Pickford  Netflix
Silent-screen legend Mary Pickford is tough slum urchin Annie Rooney, who faces a heart-wrenching dilemma when Joe Kelly ( William Haines ), the young man she has a crush on, is accused of killing Annie's policeman father. Enraged, Annie's brother hunts the accused slayer and shoots him down in the street. Convinced of Joe's innocence, Annie rushes to the hospital to offer her own blood for a lifesaving transfusion … and vows to catch the real killer. (Netflix)

Chess Fever  1925  Netflix
Chess Fever details the inner workings of a chess tournament and one man's obsessive passion for the game.




The Paramount Comedy Shorts 1928-1942: Robert Benchley and the Knights of the Algonquin (1928) (ClassicFlix)


Dogville Collection (Warner Archive)  (1930) (ClassicFlix)

Dinner at Eight (1933)  Netflix  Implied marital infidelity, sexual innuendo and a suicide. A-III
Director George Cukor takes Edna Ferber and George S. Kaufman's 1932 stage play and makes it his own in this witty film depicting a wily Park Avenue woman's ( Billie Burke ) attempts to successfully host a dinner party for members of the British high society. But she seems to have forgotten that the other invitees are almost as important as the guests of honor, and the gathering soon takes a bitingly disastrous but ultimately comic turn.

If You Could Only Cook  1935 Netflix
Auto magnate James Buchanan has a fiancée who doesn't love him and a board of directors who won't listen to him. Brooding on a park bench, he meets unemployed Joan Hawthorne, a fine cook who needs a partner to apply for a 'couple' butler/cook job with gourmet ex-bootlegger Mike Rossini. Bemused, Buchanan goes along with the gag, taking lessons from his own butler. But there's sure to be a day of reckoning... Written by Rod Crawford   

The Great Garrick (Warner Archive) (1937)




Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938) Mickey Rooney (A-I) Netflix
A hugely popular series of films in the late 1930s and early '40s, the Andy Hardy movies provided a platform for many young up-and-coming MGM stars, introducing them to American audiences. In Love Finds Andy Hardy, Andy ( Mickey Rooney ) gets more than he bargained for when he finds himself with two dates to the big Christmas dance. Judy Garland , Ann Rutherford , Lana Turner and Fay Holden co-star. (Netflix)


The Gorilla  (1939)
A killer known as "The Gorilla" has the city in a grip of fear, and wealthy Walter Stevens (Bela Lugosi) discovers he's the next target. Now it's up to private detectives Garrity, Harrigan and Mulligan (The Ritz Brothers) to protect him. When Stevens disappears on their first night on the job, the boys interrogate his staff and search the house. But things take a turn for the unexpected when a real gorilla shows up on the scene! 


Destry Rides Again 1939 Jimmy Stewart Netflix
Jimmy Stewart stars as Tom Destry, a tough lawman who doesn't like guns. And that could pose a problem when a saloon owner and a corrupt mayor plan to rob the local cowpokes blind, with the help of crooked waitress Frenchy ( Marlene Dietrich ). Dietrich hits a career peak with her rendition of "See What the Boys in the Back Room Will Have." When sparks fly between her and Destry, there's no doubt they'll be riding off happily into the sunset. (Netflix)
It's a Wonderful World (1939) Jimmy Stewart  (ClassicFlix)
If the idea of James Stewart masquerading as a gangly Boy Scout leader in oversized pants and Coke-bottle glasses makes you laugh, It’s a Wonderful World awaits! This wisecracking classic scripted by screwball master Ben Hecht (Twentieth Century, Nothing Sacred, His Girl Friday) stars Stewart and the marvelous Claudette Colbert in their only screen pairing.

He’s a private eye on the run from a conspiracy rap in a phony murder case. She’s a dizzy poet he takes hostage…and takes on the adventure of her life to track down the real killer. Naturally, despite constant peril and the PI’s penchant for goofball disguises, romance blooms.

Join two iconic stars in a comic world that’s wacky, witty and completely wonderful. (ClassicFlix)

Too Many Husbands   1940 Netflix
It's been a year since Bill Cardew was declared dead by drowning, and his widow Vicky is now married to his old friend and business partner, Henry Lowndes. When Bill unexpectedly returns from the island where he was marooned, what is Vicky to do? Well, having twice been a rather neglected wife, Vicky finds all the attention from two husbands competing for her favors delightful, and is in no hurry to make a decision...much to the discomfiture of hapless Bill and Henry. Written by Rod Crawford   



The Joe McDoakes Collection (Warner Archive)  (1942
Woman of the Year (1942) Spensor Tracy, Katherine Hepburn Netflix
In this Oscar-winning romance, newspaper colleagues Sam Craig ( Spencer Tracy ) and Tess Harding ( Katharine Hepburn ) -- he a brash sportswriter, she a headstrong political columnist -- trade barbs in print, then meet, fall in love and walk down the aisle. But balancing work and marriage turns out to be a problem for the cosmopolitan Tess, whose prosaic hubby strives to foster her ambition while keeping the relationship afloat. (Netflix)

The More the Merrier (1943)  Netflix
During World War II, civil servant Connie Milligan ( Jean Arthur ) decides to turn the housing shortage in Washington, D.C., to her advantage. But when she rents out her four-room apartment to two men -- aging millionaire Benjamin ( Charles Coburn ) and young, handsome sergeant Joe ( Joel McCrea ) -- Connie gets more than she bargained for, including Benjamin taking on the role of matchmaking cupid. George Stevens directs. (Netflix)


Murder He Says (1945) Fred MacMurry (ClassicFlix)
Trotter pollster Pete Marshall is trying to find a missing coworker. In a rural town he stumbles onto the roughian Fleagle family. Bert and Mert would just as soon "splatter" snoopers with their rifles. However, Ma Johnson focuses the family energies on finding cousin Bonnie Fleagle's $70,000 bank job stash, somewhere around the large old rickety house. Claire Matthews, the daughter of a man implicated in Bonnie's bank job, also comes in search of the money to try and clear her father's name. Marshall and Matthews team up to try and decode Grandma Fleagle's strange deathbed clue but with Mr. Johnson attempting to poison people and Bonnie Fleagle showing up herself after a prison escape, it's anybody's guess as to who will find the money first. Written by Gary Jackson  

Love Laughs at Andy Hardy (1946) 
Netflix
Mickey RooneyDischarged from the military after serving in World War II, Andy ( Mickey Rooney ) anxiously returns home, hoping to marry Kay ( Bonita Granville ), the girl of his dreams. But completing his plan proves to be harder than Andy thought, as he's derailed by a series of mishaps. The last of the original Andy Hardy films, this one features the great Lewis Stone as Andy's father, Judge James Hardy, and Fay Holden as his mother, Emily. (Netflix)


Without Reservations 1946 John Wayne Netflix
When best-selling author Kit Madden ( Claudette Colbert ) hops a train to Hollywood to oversee the filming of her latest novel, she encounters a pair of Marines, one of whom ( John Wayne ) she thinks would be perfect to portray the war hero in her book. Not knowing that Kit is the author, though, the guys profess nothing but disdain for the story. Don DeFore co-stars, and a long list of celebrities (including Jack Benny ) make appearances.

Magic Town 1947 James Stewart Netflix
A public-opinion pollster ( James Stewart ) thinks he's struck gold when he stumbles upon the "magic town" of Grandview, a place where residents' opinions mirror the nation's as a whole. But Grandview's crusading newspaper editor ( Jane Wyman ) is doing her best to change all that. Complications ensue when the two adversaries begin falling in love despite their differences -- a minor miracle, statistically speaking.
Life With Father (1947) Netflix
Based on Clarence Day Jr.'s memoirs about growing up with his semi-tyrannical father, this wonderful comedy is truly one of the classics. William Powell stars as Father, a Wall Street broker who likes to think he rules the roost. But when a small crisis over his religious upbringing causes havoc, it becomes clear that it's really his adoring wife (Irene Dunne) and their enterprising children who pull the strings. (Netflix)
I Remember Mama (1948) Netflix
Based on John Van Druten's play, director George Stevens's drama gathers the recollections of a Norwegian family relocated to San Francisco -- especially those of Katrin (Barbara Bel Geddes), a novelist who credits her mother, Marta (Irene Dunne), for her and her siblings' success. In spite of poverty and the difficulties of adjusting to a new country, Marta persevered, paving the way for her children's bright future.
(Netflix)

On Our Merry Way- (1948) James Stewart Netflix
Classified-ad clerk Oliver Pease ( Burgess Meredith ), short on cash, moonlights as a "man on the street" newspaper reporter. But the simple question he asks draws three entirely different answers from two laconic jazz musicians ( Henry Fonda and Jimmy Stewart ), a movie star (Dorothy Lamour) and an everyman at the end of his rope (Fred MacMurray). This episodic comedy costars Paulette Goddard and William Demarest. (Netflix)



Sitting Pretty (1948)  AMAZON ON DEMAND


If You Knew Susie (Warner Archive) (1948)


Passport to Pimlico (1949)  Margaret Rutherford
A close-knit London neighborhood secedes from England in this remastered Ealing Studios comedy classic starring Stanley Holloway , Margaret Rutherford and Paul Dupuis . Just after the end of World War II, a document is uncovered at a bomb site and proves that Pimlico parish is, in fact, part of the French duchy of Burgundy. When British authorities try to regain control by blockading Pimlico's perimeter, the newly minted French citizens fight back. 
Netflix
Casimir 1950  Netflix
Beloved French comedian Fernandel stars as Casimir, a struggling door-to-door vacuum cleaner salesman who gets mistaken for the fiancée of Angelita (Germaine Montero), a wealthy South American woman who's never actually met her betrothed. But who is Casimir to argue, especially when he learns that Angelita is the owner of more than 1,000 hotel rooms? As the desperate salesman's logic goes, 1,000 rooms equal 1,000 vacuum cleaners. 



The Groom Wore Spurs- 1951  Netflix


Rhubarb (1951)  (ClassicFlix)

Father's Little Dividend 1951  Netflix
Hard on the outside, soft and gooey on the inside, Stanley Banks ( Spencer Tracy ) returns in Vincente Minnelli 's charming Father of the Bride sequel. Stanley's heart rate finally remains stable at the mention of his daughter's excessive wedding, but now he faces a new life crisis. With his daughter ( Elizabeth Taylor ) expecting, Stanley confronts his mortality, annoys all with his backseat parenting … and, in the end, falls hard for his grandson. (Netflix)


The Importance of Being Earnest 1952  Netflix
Oscar Wilde's delicious, penetrating wit shines through in this 1952 film adaptation of his famous play. Skillfully directed by Anthony Asquith , Wilde's turn-of-the-century social satire is a delightful, charming story of words and misunderstandings. Michael Redgrave and Michael Denison star as two men who escape social obligations by pretending to be someone they're not, often when its most inconvenient for the other. Joan Greenwood co-stars.


Androcles and the Lion (1952)
The Titfield Thunderbolt 1953  Netflix
Released by Ealing Studios after World War II, director Charles Crichton 's rib tickler captures the "take charge" spirit of many Brits. When British Railways announces the closure of the Titfield line, citizens try to run it themselves -- but the local bus company is out to shut down the competition. With money and pride at stake, the battle lines are drawn in this boisterous comedy starring Stanley Holloway , George Relph and Naunton Wayne .
The Kid From Left Field (1953)  Amazon on Demand

Trouble Along the Way 1953 John Wayne Netflix
Fighting for custody of his daughter, coach Steve Williams ( John Wayne ) takes a job at a tiny Catholic school with a football team in need of help. But when he lands at the center of a recruiting scandal, Williams may lose any chance of getting his daughter back. Wayne plays a rare comedic role in director Michael Curtiz 's winning film, which co-stars Charles Coburn as the school's elderly rector and Donna Reed as the Duke's love interest. (Netflix)

Roman Holiday 1953 NetflixAudrey Hepburn , the essence of 1950s chic, stars in an Oscar-winning performance as a cosseted European princess who goes AWOL in Rome and is soon taken under the wing of tabloid journalist Gregory Peck and his photographer sidekick, Eddie Albert . She thinks the boys don't suspect who she really is, but they're onto her -- and sense a sensational story if they can just keep Audrey's handlers from retrieving her too soon. (Netflix)


Mister Scoutmaster (1953) Amazon on Demand 

Sabrina 1954 Netflix
Industrious tycoon Linus Larrabee ( Humphrey Bogart ) has no room for love in his appointment book until a burgeoning romance between his libertine brother, David ( William Holden ), and the family chauffeur's daughter, Sabrina Fairchild ( Audrey Hepburn ), jeopardizes Linus' pending business merger. At that point, the workaholic CEO clears his calendar to derail the romance. This Billy Wilder classic collected an Academy Award for Best Costume Design. (Netflix)


 
Beat the Devil (1954) Netflix
John Huston directs the legendary Humphrey Bogart in this tongue-in-cheek parody of spy films from the 1940s -- with a script written by the equally legendary Truman Capote. When their steamer goes belly up and strands them in Italy, four criminals ( Robert Morley , Peter Lorre , Ivor Barnard and Marco Tulli) try to con a stranger (Bogart) into buying them land that's packed with uranium. Gina Lollobrigida and Jennifer Jones co-star. (Netflix)
 
 
 


Many Rivers to Cross (1955) NR  Netflix


Our Miss Brooks (Warner Archive) (1956)


Who Done It? 1956 Benny Hill Netflix
This early feature foreshadows the slap-shtick of British television cut-up Benny Hill . Hugo Dill (Hill) is a bumbling amateur detective and self-styled master of disguise who manages to uncover an international espionage plot involving a machine that can control the world's weather. Soon, he's besting dangerous spies at their own game, romancing a strongwoman and dressing up in goofy disguises as he tries to stop a madman from wreaking havoc. (Netflix)

Operation Mad Ball 1957 Jack Lemon, Ernie Kovaks Netflix
Fueled by his feelings for a pretty World War II-era nurse ( Kathryn Grant ), the mischievous Pvt. Hogan ( Jack Lemmon ) plots to throw a "mad ball" for love-starved nurses and soldiers at a ramshackle inn in the French countryside. Trouble is, there's a self-important captain ( Ernie Kovacs ) who's been watching his every move, which makes hosting a secret soiree all the more challenging. Dick York of "Bewitched" co-stars as Hogan's partner in crime. (Netflix)


Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?  (1957) Netflix
Jayne Mansfield teams with Tony Randall in this hilarious spoof about an ad man who nabs a movie star for his campaign -- and opens a can of worms in the process. Ad writer Rockwell Hunter (Randall) thinks he's hit the jackpot when sexy starlet Rita Marlowe (Mansfield) agrees to endorse a line of lipstick he's touting. But when the press mistakes the business partnership for an affair, it'll take some tricky maneuvers to set the story straight. (Netflix)

Tammy and the Bachelor 1957 Netflix
When a small plane crashes near her country home, Southern girl Tammy ( Debbie Reynolds ) nurses its pilot, Peter ( Leslie Nielsen ), back to health. Soon, she's head-over-heels in love with Peter, charming him and his well-to-do family with her unique brand of small-town charm. Walter Brennan and Mildred Natwick co-star in the debut Tammy film, a delightful musical romance that spawned three sequels, a television series and an Oscar-nominated song. (Netflix)
 

No Time For Sergeants (1958) Andy Griffin Netflix
Drafted into the Air Force, country bumpkin Will Stockdale ( Andy Griffith ) drives Sgt. Orville King ( Myron McCormick ) crazy with his overly friendly, dim-witted style. But Will bonds with fellow private Ben ( Nick Adams ), and the two try for a transfer to the infantry in this classic comedy. Meanwhile, King attempts to keep Will out of his hair by appointing him Permanent Latrine Orderly. Don Knotts appears as a nervous dexterity tester. (Netflix)


BIG DEAL ON MADONNA STREET (1958) Netflix
Director Mario Monicelli delivers this deft satire of the classic caper film Rififi, introducing a bungling group of amateurs -- including an ex-jockey ( Carlo Pisacane ), a former boxer ( Vittorio Gassman ) and an out-of-work photographer ( Marcello Mastroianni ). The crew plans a seemingly simple heist with a retired burglar (Totó), who serves as a consultant. But this Italian job is doomed from the start. (Netflix)


It Happen to Jane 1959 Jack Lemmon, Dorris Day, Ernie Kovacs Netflix
Single mother and fishmonger Jane Osgood ( Doris Day ) may be in over her head when she receives a large order from the Marshall Town Country Club for lobsters. Unfortunately, she fails to deliver, as the supply arrives ruined because of a train delay. To compensate for her business loss, Jane enlists her admirer, George Denham ( Jack Lemmon ), to sue the railway's owner ( Ernie Kovacs ) in a fight that winds up longer than the train route itself. (Netflix)

Good Morning (お早ようOhayō?)  1959  Japanese director Yasujiro Ozu Netflix
Depicting suburban Tokyo in the 1950s and the ordered social structure of Japanese culture, this film tells the story of two Japanese boys who beg their parents for a television set, nagging incessantly until they're ordered to be quiet. The children take the command literally and refuse to speak -- at all. Their disobedience and bad manners begin to take a toll on their family as well as the community in which they live. (Netflix)

Too Many Crooks (1959, 85 min.) (ClassicFlix)


Take a shady city tycoon loaded with tax dodging bank notes, a gang who has the reputation for being the most dim-witted crooks London has ever seen and what do you get? Too many crooks!

Wealthy and shady businessman Billy Gordon (Terry Thomas) doesn’t trust banks and hoards his money in the most unlikely places. When accident prone Fingers (George Cole) and his gang of misfits decides to kidnap Billy’s daughter for the ransom and nab the wife by mistake, the plot thickens when the wife refuses her freedom after discovering Billy’s plans to leave with his cash and a young blonde. Mrs Gordon organizes the Fingers gang and takes the lead to teach Billy a hard lesson and, make a little money herself. A hilarious romp from start to finish!  (ClassicFlix)

Make Mine Mink (1960, 100 min.) (ClassicFlix)

Dame Beatrice Appleby owns a boarding house which is occupied by a retired army major, a china repair artist, and a teacher. Dame Bea has become discouraged with her charity work. The other tenants are board with their routine lives and looking for something more meaningful to pursue. When a fur coat accidentally winds up in their possession and they covertly return it, a unique and exciting opportunity presents itself. They decide to steal fur coats and give the proceeds to Dame Bea’s charitable concerns. (ClassicFlix)

London is turned upside down when these amateur criminals baffle the police with their folly of crime. Watch for a scene that is a direct pun on the movie “The Third Man” including the noir like photography and theme music from the film.

Ocean’s Eleven (1960)  Netflix
The place is Las Vegas. The time: Midnight, New Year's Eve. Danny Ocean (Sinatra) and 10 of his ex-commando buddies get ready to rob the vaults of 5 casinos simultaneously!


The Wackiest Ship in the Army 1960 Jack Lemmon, Ricky Nelson  Netflix
During World War II, the Army recruits Navy officer Rip Crandall to command a battered old schooner with  An undisciplined warship crew for a top secret mission. Masquerading as a Japanese fishing boat, this nautical nightmare must smuggle a Australian spy through the mine-infested Japanese waters of the South Pacific


The Second Time Around (1961) Amazon on Demand

Boy Who Caught a Crook (1961)  Netflix
This heartwarming family film relates the adventures of a young newsboy (Roger Mobley) who finds a lost briefcase stuffed with cash and shares it with an elderly hobo named the Colonel (Don Beddoe) -- only to discover that bank robber Rocky Kent (Johnny Seven) wants it back. The youngster's widowed mother, Laura (Wanda Hendrix), urges her son to give the case to the police, but the violent Kent refuses to give up without a fight. (Netflix)

Dondi (1961) 


One, Two, Three (1961) James Cagney, Billy Wilder  Netflix
The Coca-Cola bottler in West Berlin tries to keep his job by breaking up the marriage of the daughter of a top boss who has wed a East Berliner -- and failing that, to turn the communist into a capitalist.

Everything's Ducky (Screen Classics) (1961

Billy Rose's Jumbo  (1962)
Circus owner Pop Wonder (Jimmy Durante) and his daughter, Kitty (Doris Day), try to save their beloved business from foreclosure in this musical. Pop and Kitty rely on aerialist Sam (Stephen Boyd) to help them save the circus, unaware that Sam's got an agenda of his own. Martha Raye and Dean Jagger co-star. The film features most of the Rogers and Hart songs from the original play, including "My Romance" and "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World." 


40  Pounds of Trouble (1962)  (ClassicFlix)

Tony Curtis stars in 40 Pounds of Trouble in which a day at the park becomes a high speed adventure on the world's most exclusive movie set - Disneyland!


After escaping from his greedy ex-wife in California, savvy Lake Tahoe hotel/casino manager Steve McClusky (Curtis) has had enough of women. His sabbatical is sabotaged, however, when hotel owner Bernie Friedman (Phil Silvers) orders him to chaperone the venue's new headliner, Friedman's beautiful niece Chris (Suzanne Pleshette). As if that's not enough, McClusky inherits a pint-sized problem in young Penny (Claire Wilcox), a five-year old recently abandoned by her debt-ridden father.

Soon charmed by his two charges, he risks crossing the Nevada border to take them to Disneyland. It's not long before the incognito trio is discovered by his ex's detectives, and a wild chase through the park's attractions begins! With a superb cast, gorgeous scenery, and the distinction of being the first feature film ever to be shot in (and above) Disneyland, this irresistible romantic comedy is a treat for the whole family! (ClassicFlix)

Boys' Night Out (Warner Archive) (1962)

Donovan's Reef (1963) John Wayne  Netflix
Making one of his rare forays into comedy, John Wayne stars in this charming tale as Guns Donovan, a World War II vet who sees his idyllic life on a tropical island turned upside down when a young American beauty ( Elizabeth Allen ) arrives in search of her father. Lee Marvin , Jack Warden and Cesar Romero also star in this lighthearted tale from iconic director John Ford (Stagecoach, The Searchers). (Netflix)

Papa's Delicate Condition  (1963)  
Jackie Gleason stars in this warm-hearted look back at one family's larger than life father. Set at the start of the 20th century, Gleason plays Jack Griffith, a gregarious railroad man whose love for his family is rivaled only by his love for the bottle. Griffith's penchant for outrageous behavior, followed up by a more outrageous gift to atone for it, has begun to alienate his wife and oldest daughter, although his youngest still adores her father. Gleason portrays Griffith's "delicate condition" with a mixture of humor and humanity, and the end result is a moving portrait of a family's ups and downs. Gleason's performance of the Academy Award winning song "Call Me Irresponsible" is not to be missed. (Classicflix)
The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1963)  Netflix
After Tom Corbett's (Glenn Ford) wife dies, Tom's young son Eddie (Ronny Howard) has definite ideas about who he wants his father to marry -- namely, Elizabeth (Shirley Jones), the kindly young divorcee living across the hall. Tom, however, is dating frosty socialite Rita (Dina Merrill), and that could put a crimp in Eddie's plans. Directed by Vincente Minnelli, the movie spawned a popular TV series in the early 1970s. (Netflix)

Kisses for My President (Warner Archive) (1964)  (ClassicFlix)
El Padrecito The Little Priest (1964) 
Diminutive Mexican film legend Cantinflas (a cross between Italian funnyman Roberto Benigni and silent film star Buster Keaton) stars as an unconventional priest who's assigned to a new position in a small town. The townspeople are skeptical of the new arrival, and the priest's own unconventional ways do little to boost his popularity. (Netflix)

Charade (1963) Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Walter Matthau, James Coburn.  Netflix
Comedy-mystery set in Paris about a young widow who, with the help of a handsome stranger, is trying to find the fortune her dead husband secreted away while being pursued by a trio of thugs.
Yellow Rolls-Royce (1964) Art Carney  Netflix
Passion, intrigue, adventure, love-- everything happens in the yellow Rolls-Royce, a luxuryautomobile that ties together three stories as it passes from owner to owner. In the first, an aristocrat with a penchant for the racetrack discovers his wife has a penchant for backseat amour. Then a moll takes a spin down lover's lane in the Rolls while her mobster boyfriend is busy rubbing out the competition. Finally, an imperious widow purchases the car and drives straight into danger as she helps an anti-fascist escape the Nazis.
Mail Order Bride (Warner Archive) (1964) 


Good Neighbor Sam  1964 Jack Lemmon, Edward G Robbinson  Netflix
In this urbane comedy of errors, Jack Lemmon (in a BAFTA-nominated performance) stars as happily married ad man Sam Bissel, who must pose as the husband of his wife's sexy friend in order to land a lucrative account with a prudish bigwig ( Edward G. Robinson ). Dorothy Provine and Romy Schneider co-star in this kooky double entendre-laden romp from director David Swift . (Netflix)



What a Way to Go 1964  Netflix
A frazzled widow tells her psychiatrist the unbelievable circumstances that made her a multimillionaire in this star-studded comedy. In a series of flashbacks, Louisa ( Shirley MacLaine ) recalls her four very different husbands ( Dick Van Dyke , Paul Newman , Robert Mitchum and Gene Kelly ) -- all of whom she married for companionship, and all of whom died rich, but prematurely, from ironically bizarre circumstances. Dean Martin also stars. (Netflix)

McHale's Navy  (1964, U.S.)  (ClassicFlix)
Ride along with Lieutenant Quinton McHale and his crew of military misfits as they take to the high seas and kick up waves of laughter in McHale's Navy, a feature-length comedy inspired by the ever-popular classic television series.


The fun begins when McHale (Ernest Borgnine) and the crew of the PT-73 conspire to recreate the Australian Derby on a South Pacific island in order to save a struggling orphanage. The plan backfires and they find themselves in debt while McHale's bumbling second in command (Tim Conway) goofs his way into thousands of dollars more in damages. McHale and the boys concoct a scheme to pay off everybody, but there is just one problem: the no-nonsense Captain Binghamton (Joe Flynn) is wise to their scheme and determined to present McHale with a court-martial! (ClassicFlix)

The Hallelujah Trail (1965)

The World of Henry Orient (1965) Peter Sellers Netflix
Peter Sellers fans won't want to miss this gem directed by George Roy Hill (The Sting). Sellers is Henry Orient, a playboy pianist who has the hots for a very married Paula Prentiss . But two young girls who secretly admire Orient start recording their fantasies in diaries -- and when mom Angela Lansbury mistakes a steamy diary entry for truth, Orient finds himself in hot water! (Netflix)


Beach Blanket Bingo (1965) Netflix
In the fourth of the highly successful Frankie and Annette beach party movies, a motorcycle gang led by Eric Von Zipper kidnaps singing star Sugar Kane managed by Bullets, who hires sky-diving surfers Steve and Bonnie from Big Drop for a publicity stunt. With the usual gang of kids and a mermaid named Lorelei. Written by alfiehitchie   


A Funny Thing Happen on the Way to the Forum 1966 Netflix
Indolent Roman slave Pseudolus ( Zero Mostel ) has one wish: to purchase his freedom. With his master and mistress away for the day, Pseudolus learns that the master's son, Hero ( Michael Crawford ), has fallen for a beautiful virgin in a slave merchant's house. The ever-crafty Pseudolus then cooks up a scheme that will allow him to go free if he can procure the girl for Hero. Richard Lester directed this frenetic adaptation of the stage musical. (Netflix)

Who's Minding the Mint  (1967) Amazon/Library VHS


A Delight 17 April 2000
by Ephraim Gadsby (USA) – See all my reviews

A fast-paced heist comedy, so innocent that nothing is even "stolen". When Jim Hutton, harrassed employee of the Bureau of Engraving, already on the outs with his boss, inadvertently takes 50,000 dollars and shreds them in his garbage disposal, he breaks back in to reprint the money. However, one thing leads to another and he eventually ends up with a gang of misfits, each of whom needs something and jumps at the opportunity to print their own money. Jack Gilford and Victor Buono grab their roles by the throat and they provide a great balance, each singlehandedly preventing the other from stealing the movie altogether out from under the others' noses. Everyone does a good job. The script is solid and plot-driven. Some of the laughs are diluted by appearing in so many other places in movies or tv in the last three decades, but the movie still remains fresh and funny, and makes a good diversion for a dull afternoon. It's too bad movies like this aren't made any more.

President’s Analyst, The (1967) NetflixIn writer-director Theodore J. Flicker 's comedic thriller, the president of the United Stated is stressed out and seeks help from psychiatrist Sidney Schaefer ( James Coburn ). But soon, Sidney himself feels the strain of being the powerful man's sounding board. The whole situation comes to a head when the president quits. Now, the shrink is being hunted down for what he knows, and everyone's closing in. (Netflix)


Divorce American Style (1967) Netflix
Ex-couple Richard ( Dick Van Dyke ) and Barbara ( Debbie Reynolds ) Harmon come to realize that after the trials and tribulations of dating, debilitating alimony payouts and commiserations with fellow divorcées, married life isn't so bad after all. Eileen Brennan , Joe Flynn , Van Johnson , Jean Simmons and Jason Robards co-star in director Bud Yorkin 's dark comedy about the paralyzing process of splitting up. (Netflix)


Barefoot in the Park (1967) Robert Redford, Jane Fonda NetflixNeil Simon's delightful screenplay chronicles the trials of a pair of newlyweds -- stuffed-shirt Paul ( Robert Redford ) and avant-garde Corie ( Jane Fonda ) -- attempting to adapt to each other and life in a small Greenwich Village walk-up. Among other things, the Bratters must wrestle with a dysfunctional radiator, a hole in the skylight and a building chock-full of loonies, including a bohemian upstairs neighbor who takes a shine to Corie's mother. (Netflix) A-III


Party, The (1968) Netflix
An Indian would-be actor named Hrundi ( Peter Sellers ) ruins an entire shooting day on an epic period film in which he's cast as an extra. But instead of being fired from the movie, Hrundi is accidentally invited to a major Hollywood party thrown by the studio chief. Sight gags, misunderstandings and accidental destruction soon follow. Sellers's frequent collaborator Blake Edwards writes and directs this film. (Network)


Madigan's Millions 1968 Dustin Hoffman Netflix
In his first lead role, Dustin Hoffman portrays Internal Revenue Service agent Jason Fister. After deported mobster Mike Madigan ( Cesar Romero ) kicks the bucket in Italy, the U.S. Department of the Treasury sends Fister to retrieve the money Madigan owes in back taxes. But when Fister meets Madigan's daughter ( Elsa Martinelli ) in Rome, the two become the Mafia's prime target. Perennial big-screen gangster George Raft costars in this comic caper. (Network)


The Scalp Hunters 1968 Burt Lancaster Netflix
Outnumbered by a tribe of gun-toting Kiowa Indians, illiterate trapper Joe Bass ( Burt Lancaster ) reluctantly agrees to trade his furs for educated slave Joseph Lee ( Ossie Davis ). Bass and Lee track down the Indians to reclaim the furs, but Jim Howie ( Telly Savalas ) gets there first, nabs the furs, kidnaps Lee and heads to Mexico. Director Sydney Pollack fills this high-spirited Western comedy with slick camera work and sly social commentary (Netflix)


The Secret of Santa Vittoria 1969 Netflix
Incompetent mayor Italo Bombolini ( Anthony Quinn ) rises to the occasion when his small Italian town is threatened by approaching Nazis planning to seize the town's supply of valuable wine near the end of World War II. Organizing the locals, he facilitates a plan to hide a million bottles in a nearby cave. Anna Magnani , Virna Lisi and Hardy Krüger co-star in Stanley Kramer 's appealing comedy, which garnered a Golden Globe for Best Film.(Netlix)

Those Daring Young Men in their Jaunty Jalopies (1969) Tony Curtis  (ClassicFlix)
An all-star cast drives this classic comedy tracking the contestants of an international auto race from the starting block in Monte Carlo all the way to the finish line. After playing a clever hand at cards, Chester ( Tony Curtis ) finds himself half-owner of a car company run by the ever-plotting Sir Cuthbert Ware-Armitage ( Terry-Thomas ). To get his business back, Sir Cuthbert proposes a winner-take-all race -- but he doesn't plan to play fair. (Netflix)


The Reivers (1969) Steve McQueen)  Netflix
In director Mark Rydell 's comedic drama based on a William Faulkner novel, 11-year-old Lucius McCaslin ( Mitch Vogel ) finds an unlikely friend in Boon ( Steve McQueen ), a handyman and philanderer. Along with Boon and his best friend, Ned ( Rupert Crosse ), Lucius makes his way to the big city. His goal is to gain some insight in how to handle the crises life throws his way, but wisdom doesn't arrive easily. This classic was nominated for two Oscars. (Netflix)


Support Your Local Sheriff!   1969 James Garner  Netflix
James Garner stars in this Wild West parody as a sharpshooting drifter who stumbles upon the lawless gold rush town of Calendar and winds up appointed as the new sheriff. With memorable performances from Bruce Dern as the villainous Joe Danby and Joan Hackett as Prudy Perkins, the requisite damsel in distress, this hilarious spoof is directed by Burt Kennedy  (Netflix)


If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium (1969)  Netflix
In this farcical look at Americans abroad, vacationing Samantha Perkins ( Suzanne Pleshette ) finds herself wooed by tour guide Charlie Cartwright ( Ian McShane ). As the busload of travelers rushes through nine countries in 18 days, Samantha ponders whether Charlie's her Mr. Right. (Netflix)

Hello Down There (1969)
Scientist Fred Miller (Tony Randall) will do anything in the name of science in this rib-tickling comedy. That's why he's agreed to live for one month underwater, in a home created especially for that purpose. His wife, Vivian (Janet Leigh), and his kids, however, aren't as enthusiastic about the enterprise. In spite of their misgivings, they go along with it anyway. But as expected, human nature has a way of messing up the best-laid plans. (Netflix)




I Clowns The Clowns (1970)
Fellini exposes his great attraction for the clowns and the world of the circus first recalling a childhood experience when the circus arrives nearby his home. Then he joins his crew and travel from Italy to Paris chasing the last greatest European clowns still live in these countries. He also meets Anita Ekberg trying to buy a panther in a circus. Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil   


The Projectionist 1971
Chuck McCann stars as a bored projectionist who tries to add some excitement to his mundane life by creating a rich fantasy world in which he's always the leading man. Casting himself as the daring Captain Flash and calling for backup from past heroes of the big screen such as Gary Cooper, Errol Flynn and Humphrey Bogart, the imaginative daydreamer faces off against his evil nemesis, The Bat ( Rodney Dangerfield , in a memorable film debut). (Netflix)


Start the Revolution without Me 1970 Gene Wilder
After a midwife accidentally mixes up two sets of twins, the mismatched pairs grow up to live very different lives during the French Revolution. Donald Sutherland and Gene Wilder star in dual roles as the twins -- one pair noble, the other peasants. Numerous instances of mistaken identity ensue as the twins try to escape the guillotine and avoid capture by the malevolent Duke d'Escargot ( Victor Spinetti ). Bud Yorkin directs this boisterous spoof. (Netflix)


La Folie Des Grandeurs (1971) 
After nobleman Don Salluste de Bazan (Louis de Funès) is banned from appearing in court, he and his assistant, Blaze ( Yves Montand ), are sentenced to collect taxes from the kingdom's poorest subjects. But what the aristocrat doesn't realize is that his sidekick is secretly helping the peasants pay up. This slapstick comedy -- with a touch of actual French history -- is loosely based on the dramatic play "Rus Blas" by Victor Hugo. (Netflix)


Support Your Local Gunfighter  1971 James Garner
James Garner plays a gambler who runs away from a madam with marriage on her mind, and is mistaken for a gunfighter in the troubled town of Purgatory.


Cops and Robbers (1973)
Two New York cops want to add to their pension plan via an unorthodox funding mechanism -- a $10 million heist! Along the way, however, they learn that even the perfect crime can turn into the perfect mess. Cliff Gorman , Joseph Bologna , Joe Spinell and Dolph Sweet head a cast of comic veterans in this wacky cop caper movie.


Paper Moon (1973)
A con man ( Ryan O'Neal ) and his precocious "daughter" ( Tatum O'Neal , in an Oscar-winning role as Best Supporting Actress) grift their way across the heartland of depression-era America in director Peter Bogdanovich 's nostalgic look at the 1930s. As the two try desperately to scrounge up enough money to live on, their "father/daughter relationship" soon becomes a business partnership when they realize they need each other for survival. (Network)

Hawmps! (1976)

Camels invade Texas in this slapstick comedy about a military experiment gone wrong. When the horses of a Texas-based cavalry unit can't take the heat, Howard Clemmons (James Hampton) is charged with testing camels as an alternative. It's a bumpy ride at first, but the soldiers soon grow attached to their humped steeds. Mayhem ensues when the men are ordered to release the camels into the wild. Slim Pickens, Denver Pyle and Jack Elam also star.  (Netflix)


For Pete's Sake (1974)
Screwball comedy is alive and well and personified by Barbra Streisand in this early showcase featuring more character actors than you can shake a shtick at. Babs is married to a struggling cabbie ( Michael Sarrazin ) who borrows money from a loan shark to seal a promising business deal. Trouble is, he can't pay off the interest fast enough. ... (Netflix)

The Sunshine Boys (1975)

Think The Odd Couple for the octogenarian set. Walter Matthau and George Burns have never been better (or more cantankerous) as two faded vaudeville legends -- Lewis and Clark -- who reteam for a television special about the history of comedy. Trouble is, the two geezers can't stand each other. Matthau and Burns are wonderful to watch in this vintage comedy penned by Neil Simon and directed by Herbert Ross. (Netflix)


The Prisoner of Second Avenue (1975) Jack Lemmon, 

Neil Simon's hit Broadway comedy makes a seamless transition to the big screen. Middle-aged New York City executive Mel has recently been "downsized" and doesn't know where to turn -- even though his sympathetic wife (Anne Bancroft) is just an arm's length away. The crazy ups and downs that follow keep the couple on their toes, if not on the edge of a nervous breakdown. Look fast for a young Sylvester Stallone as a man mistaken for a mugger.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail 1975
In this spoof of the legend of King Arthur, the king recruits the Knights of the Round Table. He is soon joined by Sir Bedevere the Wise, Sir Lancelot the Brave, Sir Galahad the Chaste and thePure, Sir Robin the Not-Quite-So-Brave-As-Sir- Lancelot, and Sir Not-Appearing-In-This-Film. God sends them on a quest to find the Holy Grail. Along the way they encounter a plague-ridden community, the Knights who say Ni, a killer rabbit, and more. (Netflix)


Nickelodeon(1976) 
Director Peter Bogdanovich pays tribute to the early days of filmmaking with this comedy about a young attorney -- Leo Harrigan ( Ryan O'Neal ) -- who stumbles into the movie business after meeting a producer. Before long, Harrigan and his band of actors and crew are cranking out one silent picture after another in a sleepy desert town. Burt Reynolds plays Harrigan's crass leading man, and Stella Stevens co-stars as a silent-screen vamp. (Netflix)

Kenny and Co. (1976)
Typical tweener and all-American kid Kenny ( Dan McCann ) endures the normal trials, tribulations and triumphs of a 12-year-old boy's life. Join Kenny and his friends as they make prank phone calls, build cherry bombs, face neighborhood bullies, prepare for Halloween and suffer first crushes. Made and set in the mid-1970s, this charming family film from director Don Coscarelli captures a slice of life during a bygone era. (Netflix)

 

Harry and Walter Go to New York 1976J

ames Caan and Elliott Gould are disgruntled turn-of-the-century vaudevillians who decide to become New York City safecrackers -- but making a killing in their new career turns out to be far funnier than their old act. In short order, they earn the hatred of the city's best safecracker and the devotion of one of its leading citizens ( Diane Keaton ). Can't you just hear those tumblers falling into place? (Netflix)

The Cheap Detectiive (1978) Peter Falk
With the requisite abundance of plot twists and creepy characters, playwright Neil Simon skewers film noir in a parody that combines scenes from Casablanca and The Maltese Falcon. Lou Peckinpaugh ( Peter Falk ), a private dick implicated in the murder of his partner, hunts down missing diamond eggs at the behest of Mrs. Montenegro ( Madeline Kahn ). Meanwhile, memorable cameos abound from Ann-Margret , Scatman Crothers and Abe Vigoda . (Netflix)


Movie Movie (1978)
George Burns hosts these spoofs that poke fun at the "classic" double features of yesteryear. "Dynamite Fists" is a rock 'em, sock 'em send-up of boxing dramas, while "Blansky's Beauties of 1933" skewers over-the-top, Technicolor musical spectacles. Nominated for three Golden Globes, this nostalgic nod to 1930s cinema stars George C. Scott , Harry Hamlin , Art Carney and Barry Bostwick . Stanley Donen directs. (Netflix)




In-Laws, The (1979) Peter Falk
Alan Arkin stars as a dentist who quickly grows skeptical about his daughter's wild claims that her future father-in-law, Vince ( Peter Falk ), is a CIA agent. But when he's sucked into a bizarre adventure in a banana republic, Arkin begins to reassess his opinion. Is Vince really all he's cracked up to be, or just out of his mind? Arkin and Falk excel as an odd couple brought together by outrageous circumstances. (Netflix)


Savannah Smiles   1982


The Survivors 1983 Robin Williams/Walter Matthau
Legendary funnymen Walter Matthau and Robin Williams star in this black comedy as Sonny Paluso and Donald Quinelle, two unemployed strangers who witness a robbery and become the targets of a hit man ( Jerry Reed ). Donald arms himself to the teeth and enrolls in a survival training course, retreating to the woods. Meanwhile, the crook confronts Sonny, promising to call off the dogs if he can keep Donald quiet. Michael Ritchie (Fletch) directs. (Netflix)






Baby Boom (1987)

In this light-hearted comedy, high-powered management consultant J.C. Wiatt (Diane Keaton) claims her inheritance from a distant relative, only to find out it's a baby. Children are not in her busy life plan, so she intends to put the child up for adoption. But when she realizes she's grown fond of the baby, she suddenly decides to leave her stressful life, move to the country and become a mom. Harold Ramis, Sam Shepard and James Spader co-star  (Netflix)

Radio Days (1987)
Director Woody Allen's Oscar-nominated comedy set in 1940s Brooklyn draws heavily on his youth -- a time when radio was king. Through vignettes woven together by music from the era, the film focuses on young Joe (Seth Green) and his houseful of relatives. His father (Michael Tucker) craves news from Europe, his aunt (Dianne Wiest) is obsessed with marriage, and his mother (Julie Kavner) is appalled that Joe has bought a secret decoder ring. Netflix


Young Einstein 1988



Career Opportunities 1991
Jim Dodge ( Frank Whaley ) can't keep a job. His latest is as a night janitor at a local store, where Dodge spends his time blasting stereos and binging on junk food … until he realizes he's not alone. Josie McClellan ( Jennifer Connelly ), the rich girl who wouldn't look at Dodge in high school, has hidden in the store to get her father's attention. Now she joins the party, and the two have a blast -- until a couple of thieves show up.

Matinee (1993)

Aging movie producer Lawrence Woolsey (John Goodman) screens his latest schlock-licious B-movie -- filled with atomic blasts and human mutation -- and gets the attention of teen horror-flick buff Gene Loomis (Simon Fenton), all while the Cuban Missile Crisis intensifies. Joe Dante directs this hilarious, touching and nostalgic tale based in Key West, Fla., in 1962. Cathy Moriarty and Kellie Martin co-star.



Cool Runnings October 1993


Baby's Day Out 1994
After three bumbling hoodlums ( Joe Pantoliano , Joe Mantegna and Brian Haley ) kidnap a toddler from a wealthy family, they discover that orchestrating the crime was much easier than holding onto the tiny heir. Home Alone screenwriter John Hughes penned the script for this comic children's adventure, which bears more than a passing resemblance to Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. Lara Flynn Boyle and Cynthia Nixon co-star. (Netflix)

I.Q. (1994) Cast: Meg Ryan, Tim Robbins
When Catherine (Meg Ryan), the cerebral niece of scientific genius Albert Einstein (Walter Matthau), piques the interest of an average auto mechanic (Tim Robbins), Einstein concocts a plan to bring the two divergent minds together in this lighthearted romantic comedy. But can a guy who works with his hands win a girl ruled by her brain? Einstein bends the laws of attraction to make it work. Stephen Fry co-stars as Catherine's stuffy fiancé.


Smoke Signals (1998)


The Extreme Adventures of Super Dave 1999
After yet another ghastly, near-fatal crash, bumbling stuntman Super Dave Osborne ( Bob Einstein ) discovers that his manager has run off with all of his money. He's about to give up on showbiz forever when he meets clumsy single mom Sandy ( Gia Carides ) and her ailing son. Now, Dave's determined to raise money to help his new friends -- even if it kills him -- in this klutzy comedy co-starring Dan Hedaya . (Netflix)


Rat Race 2001 
Loosely based on It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, this comedic adventure from director Jerry Zucker starts with six couples assembled at the Las Vegas casino of Donald Sinclair ( John Cleese ) and ends at a train station in Silver Lake, N. M., where a satchel stuffed with $2 million awaits. Scheming slapstick rules the day as Owen ( Cuba Gooding Jr. ), Enrico ( Rowan Atkinson ), Merrill ( Lanei Chapman ), Vera ( Whoopi Goldberg ) and others go for broke. (Netflix)

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2002
Screenwriter Nia Vardalos also stars as Toula Portokalos, a single Greek woman who falls in love with a non-Greek ( John Corbett ), which is a no-no for members of her strict family -- particularly her traditional father ( Michael Constantine ), whose Greek pride knows no bounds. Andrea Martin shines in a hilarious supporting turn as Toula's aunt, who tries her best to charm Toula's fiancé (who's a vegetarian to boot!) with her delicious lamb. (Netflix)

My Big Fat Greek Life: The Entire Series 2003
Nia Vardalos stars in this sitcom inspired by the film "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," as lovable Nia and her charming WASP husband, Ian ( Steven Eckholdt ), return from their honeymoon and embark on newlywed life alongside Nia's traditional Greek family. This collection includes all seven episodes of the short-lived television series, which pokes fun at extended family and the couple's attempts to adjust to married life.

50 First Dates (2004)

Hot Rod 2007
What better way to impress one's stepfather than to jump Snake River Canyon on a moped? That's the premise of this over-the-top action comedy starring Andy Samberg of "Saturday Night Live," who also co-wrote the script. In a silly send-up of stuntman Evel Knievel's famously unsuccessful jump, Samberg plays an accident-prone daredevil who's determined to carry out the ridiculous feat at all costs. Will Arnett , Bill Hader and Isla Fisher co-star.
Splash (1984)

Blind Date 1987

Diminutive Mexican film legend Cantinflas (a cross between Italian funnyman Roberto Benigni and silent film star Buster Keaton) stars as an unconventional priest who's assigned to a new position in a small town. The townspeople are skeptical of the new arrival, and the priest's own unconventional ways do little to boost his popularity. (Netflix)

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