Retrospect - It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)

I was given a suggestion of a topic I should cover from when I asked for suggestions of topics from our Louisville Exclusive Films e-mail and one of you responded with a really good one of a discussing looking back on older films before the 1970's or covering 60's and 70's films. I think I might cover more of early 1940's to the early 1970's so I can have a broad range of unlimited sources of films (technically it's limited, but 30 years of films is a lot!).

So with that being said, this topic is called, "Retrospect" which covers the 1940's to the 1970's of films that you may have forgotten and might be a sleeper film that you might be interested in. Just remember without these films, today's films might not have been shaped the way they are.

First film to be discussed - 'It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World' from 1963. Directed by: Stanley Kramer.

Plot-  A caravan of motorists witness a terrible accident on a dangerously winding California desert highway. The auto-crash victim, Smiler Grogan, reveals in his dying words that he has hidden a fortune of stolen cash worth $350,000 from a heist job 15 years ago. This sends the drivers on a rambunctious race to see who can claim the loot first!

Awards- 6 Oscar Nominations with 1 win (Best Sound Effects).

The Cast- Includes the legends of Spencer Tracy, Milton Berle, Sid Caesar, Buddy Hackett, Mickey Rooney, Jonathan Winters, Ethel Merman, Edie Adams, Phil Silvers, Don Knotts,  Jerry Lewis, Peter Falk, Buster Keaton, Carl Reiner,  Jimmy Durante, the Three Stooges,  Jack Benny, and Jim Backus (voice of mr. magoo) as well as a few other cameo's of comedians along the way. I do wish that Bob Hope & Bing Crosby or even Groucho Marx could have made appearances in this film, but they didn't. 

Thought- This film is without a doubt one of the greatest underrated comedies in the history of film. I'm a little surprised it's not considered a Top 250 greatest films from AFI, but it might be well known to being more of just an entertaining film than anything else. Hailed with literally the biggest names of comedy in one film (especially at this time) ever assembled, 'A Mad World' hangs with the best of the best in screwball adventure comedies. With an unheard of 192 min (original version) film for a comedy  or even a 154 min (edited version) especially in 1963, it keeps your mind wondering what could possibly happen next. It's an epic alright, but laughing for this long might be the best medicine for you for all comedies that have been released. It's a film in which the strangest journey begins within probably the first 5-10 minutes and the heart of the it just keeps beating and beating right to the very end. If you were to compare this film to today's modern era the best film out there as of an example would have to be "Rat Race", which also assembled a very big well known cast, but not as big as 'A Mad World'. And to which "Rat Race" was in a sense a tribute to "A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" as they both dealt with a screwball journey of getting to money. So at least there was some sort of tribute to one of the greatest comedies ever made, but 'A Mad World' is still by far a better film. It is in the likes of any Marx Brothers film, Cary Grant comedies, The Three Stooges or even Bob Hope comedies, but it is still one of the funniest films you'll ever see and hear.

Suggestion- Well I obviously suggest that you watch this film for so many reasons I can't begin to list them all. It can be enjoyed by the whole family actually because it's a pretty clean film, in which it would be PG I would think in today's time. Maybe even G, but I'll say PG. I watched it as I was kid so it's for everybody really and I still watch it today and find something new to laugh at at my tender age of 25. It is long so make 2 things of popcorn (one at the start and one after the intermission- yes there is an intermission). So go out an rent this film from Blockbuster, Blockbuster Online, Movie Gallery, or Wild and Woolly because you won't regret this decision.

Well I hoped you enjoyed this first 'retrospect' of a post and I hope you take my suggestion. If you have seen this film what are your thoughts on "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World?" Same applies after you rent it of course.

-LouEx