It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) (Checkpoint; Sensormatic; Widescreen)

Mad,Mad,Mad, Mad everything!!!!!!!!!!

By PeterH  Jan 11, 2002 | 4 out of 4 found this It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) review helpful

This movie is a timeless classic with more comedy stars assmebled than ever will be again. I first saw this movie in 1963 with my father and never laughed harder (with the possible exception of Airplane). The one image that always remained in my mind... for years afterward was Ethel Merman's classic pratfall at the very end of the film. To those people who find this boring, dated or otherwise unacceptable, then consider this: not a single obscenity or for sexual inuendo is in this film. It is the epic film the whole family can watch, enjoy and not feel awkaward about watching with a different generation.Stanley Kramer's sprawling 1963 comedy about a search for buried treasure by at least a dozen people--all played by well-known entertainers of their day--is the kind of mass comedy that Hollywood hasn't made in many years. (Another example from around the same time is Blake Edwards's The Great Race.) After a number of strangers (including Milton Berle, Jonathan Winters, Sid Caesar, Phil Silvers, and others) witness a dying stranger (Jimmy Durante) identify the location of hidden money, a conflict-ridden hunt begins, watched over carefully by a suspicious cop (Spencer Tracy). The ensuing two and a half hours of mayhem has its ups and downs--some bits and performers are certainly funnier than others. But Kramer, who is better known for socially conscious, serious cinema (Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?), is in a mood for broad comic characterization, and some of his jokes are so intentionally obvious (Durante literally kicks a bucket when he dies), they'd have a place in Airplane! Watch for lots of cameo appearances, including Jerry Lewis (who had called Kramer and asked him why he hadn't been invited to participate). Read more Less