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The Best Comedies of All Time : 10? 11? 25?Mar 28 '01 Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line The best comedies of all time. Groundbreaking, trailblazing, and very funny comedies to watch over and over again. Here's my top 25 favorite comedies with quick comments on the first 12 in the list. Yes in my opinion these are the best comedies ever made. Best because not only are they funny, but they are also influential, and in some case remarkable ground-breaking, trail blazing films. Important films in the development of comedy which are also laugh out loud funny. Watching older films one needs some perspective. You can't expect the pacing, even the humor to be same of recent comedies. And although the 'shock' value of the films is hard to imagine today in some cases, they all have stood the test of time. I hope you'll see them all. #1 Duck Soup 1933 The masters of irreverant comedy, The Marx Brothers, get in some poignant timeless political satire between some of the all-time classic comedy scenes including the mirror sequence which was masterfully re-created when Harpo visited I Love Lucy in the 1950's. It's hard to believe this film flopped and caused the team to be released from their Paramount contract--but it did. Comedy Anarchy at it's best !!! #2 Steamboat Bill Jr. (1928) * Buster Keaton can easily be enjoyed again since his films were finally re-mastered and released on video and DVD in the last few years. This is one of the best full length Keaton comedies and features the most acrobatic and visually inventive of all comedians at his finest. It features the cyclone finale and one his most dangerous stunts. #3 Horse Feathers (1932) * The silliest and funniest of the Marx Brothers films. Groucho's opening monologue remains one of my favorite five minutes in all of film. And remember "Whatever it is, I'm Against it!" Groucho as the new dean of the college decides there's too much attention and money going toward education and not enough for sports and football. When Groucho teaches a class, or tries to sneak into a Speak-Easy, or comes right up to the camera and advises the audience to take a quick break while brother Chico plays the piano, you know it doesn't get much funnier than this! #4 Sherlock Jr. (1924) It's not a full length feature (45 minutes), but it is one of the most inventive, technically brilliant (for it's time), and witty comedies ever made. Woody Allen borrowed the idea twice (for Zelig and Purple Rose of Cairo), Zemekis for Forest Gump (and Who Framed Roger Rabbitt)and it's inspired film-makers and comedians for over 70 years (including Bunnuel and Rivette). Buster Keaton's short masterpiece still pricelesss more than 76 years after it was first released. #5 Dr Strangelove (1964) Stanley Kubrick's witty clever and laugh out loud silly farce about THE BOMB features Peter Sellers in one of his best performances (don't miss him in The Party) and George C. Scott and. . .. many many more #6 The Gold Rush (1924) The very first full length comedy featureChaplin ever made. It's Charlie Chaplin and remains a timeless classic with scenes and images which live forever. The blend of pathos and comedy was never as perfect as in the shoe-eating sequence from this film. #7 Take the Money and Run (1969) * Woody Allen's first normal full length feature as director/star/and co-writer with Mickey Rose (What's up Tiger Lilly being his first--in which he eliminates the soundtrack from a Japanese James Bond film ) is a low-budget documentary styled comedy that is non-stop jokes and throw-away bits. Most of them work and though it's pace isn't as fast as an Airplane or Naked Gun film is, it's the father of all of those and more. It's here not because it's got much to say but because it is THAT funny. #8 Safety Last (1923) Harold Lloyd was one of the most popular comedians of the silent era and I hope more people re-discover his comic genius. This is a great place to start. You've seen the still funny and spectacular building climbing, hanging from a clock sequence from this wonderful film many times. It's a story of an average guy trying to make good in the big city. Don't miss it. #9 She Done Him Wrong (1933) Mae West broke all the roles. She was the woman who helped save Paramount studios and gave some great talent. their first big roles in movies (Cary Grant in this film and Randolph Scott later in Go West Young Man for instance). Her films and her personna upset a lot of conservative groups who pushed for censorship of films largely because of West. The Hayes Code went into effect in the early 1930's and was largely followed until the 1960's. In fact the Hayes Code and Mae West fought on the majority of her films, taking away much of West's sass. She was also a huge sex goddess even though she was in her 40's when she began making movies and had a Rubinesque figure. In this her best film, West recreated her biggest stage hit an 1890's spoof where she plays Diamond Lil and woos Cary Grant. Full of some of the funniest double entendres you've ever heard. If you can look at the film with some perspective you'll find it very funny. If it's gotta be Something Like Mary shock comedy well even though it all started right here with Mae, you won't enjoy it. #10 Annie Hall (1977) * At heart a sweet modern romance this warm and at times savagely funny comedy moved Woody Allen from a silly comic into a more intellectual one. Along with laughter some very poignant and true comments are being made on love, relationships, show biz, fame, and of course N.Y. versus L.A. It's not as perfect a film as Manhattan bit it's funnier and an inventive and rather mature look at romance. #11 King of Comedy (1983) One of Martin Scorcese's finest films is this dark comic satire about pop celebrity-hood (think Andy Warhol and everyone will be famous for 15 minutes). It won't make you laugh out loud, and to appreciate it fully you'll need to see it several times but it's a comic masterpiece never-the less. Not only does Robert DeNiro give one of his riskiest and more brilliant performance but believe it or not Jerry Lewis in a mostly serious role is nearly his equal. Sandra Bernhardt as an obsessed groupie is also quite good. #12 Modern Times Chaplin took a French film and re-worked it into this comic and still timeless masterpiece. And even though it's a masterpiece it is full of laugh out loud and roll on the floor sequences. Really !!! #13 His Girl Friday Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell #14 Never Give A Sucker an Even Break * W.C. Fields #15 Sons of the Desert Laurel and Hardy #16 Trouble in Paradise Ernst Lubitsch #17 Unfaithfully Yours Preston Sturges #18 Nothing Sacred Carole Lombard , Frederick March #19 Music Box (Laurel and Hardy) #20 Mr. Deeds Goes To Town Frank Capra #21 Harold and Maude Ruth Gordon and Bud Court and Cat Stevens #22 The Producers Mel Brooks, Zero Mostel, Gene Wilder, Dick Shawn #23 King of Hearts Alan Bates #24 Real Life Albert Brooks and Charles Grodin #25 Where's Poppa Ruth Gordon and George Seagal Oh in case you are wondering I have enjoyed and laughed very much at films like Happy Gilmore, Tommy Boy and Something about Mary. And Rushmore and Election are among the best of the last decade. This essay is a revised version of one originally written and posted in July of 2000. * Denotes films I've done longer reviews at Epinions for. Christopher Jarmick,is the author of The Glass Cocoon with Serena F. Holder a steamy suspense thriller which is now available (glasscocoon@hotmail for details). Original portions of this review Copyright© Christopher J. Jarmick 2001. The above work is protected by international copyright law.  |
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