There are movies aplenty that will induce hearty laughs the first time you watch them. A second viewing is often disappointing because all the punch lines and surprises are well remembered. However there are those rare comic masterpieces that are funny with each and every viewing.
You can pop the DVD in every year or two and once again find yourself slapping your knees, rolling on the floor and wiping away the tears as your sides split.
I recently read an online discussion on what makes a good comedy funny. Folks, it was dreadfully boring reading. There are some things I just don't feel the need to analyze, like why a strawberry tastes good or why Groucho Marx makes me laugh. So I will spare you any analysis of why the 12 films below continue to tickle my funny bones. They just do. Of course a quick gander at the list will reveal some familiar names like the afore mentioned Groucho and Woody Allen, Bill Murray and Steve Martin. Oddly there are some among you might not find one of these gents particularly amusing. Just as I am left yawning by many supposed funny men that are otherwise popular. Much of what makes us laugh is a matter of personal tastes that often relates to our age and thus our early comic influences. That's as much analysis as I care to indulge in.
Here are a dozen films that are guaranteed to leave me in stitches. When you've finished perusing the list I invite you to offer a film or two that always leave you rolling in the aisles.
The Movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) The Directors Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones The Stars Michael Palin, Eric Idle, John Cleese, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, Graham Chapman The Line I didn't know we had a king. I thought we were an autonomous collective. The Comment Yuk yuk yuk yuk yuk yuk yuk yuk yuk yuk yuk yuk.
The Movie Some Like it Hot (1959) The Director Billy Wilder The Stars Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, Marylin Monroe The Line Real diamonds! They must be worth their weight in gold. The Comment Chuckle chuckle chuckle chuckle chuckle chuckle chuckle chuckle chuckle chuckle chuckle.
The Movie The Lady Eve (1941) The Director Preston Sturges The Stars Barbara Stanwyck, Henry Fonda The Line Postively the same dame. The Comment Haw haw haw haw haw haw haw haw haw haw.
The Movie Manhattan (1979) The Director Woody Allen The Stars Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Mariel Hemingway The Line They probably sit around on the floor with wine and cheese, and mispronounce allegorical and didacticism. The Comment Guffaw guffaw guffaw guffaw guffaw guffaw guffaw.
The Movie Arthur (1981) The Director Steve Gordon The Stars Dudley Moore, Liza Minelli John Gielgud The Line Thank you for a memorable afternoon, usually one must go to a bowling alley to meet a woman of your stature. The Comment Chortle chortle chortle chortle chortle chortle chortle chortle chortle chortle chortle chortle chortle.
The Movie Bananas (1971) The Director Woody Allen The Stars Woody Allen, Louise Lasser The Line I once stole a pornographic book that was printed in braille. I used to rub the dirty parts. The Comment Giggle giggle giggle giggle giggle giggle giggle giggle giggle giggle giggle giggle giggle.
The Movie A Night at the Opera (1935) The Director Sam Wood The Stars The Marx Brothers The Line I have here an accident policy that will absolutely protect you no matter what happens. If you lose a leg, we'll help you look for it. The Comment Titter, titter titter titter titter titter titter titter titter titter titter titter titter.
The Movie The Jerk (1979) The Director Carl Reiner The Star Steve Martin The Line I was born a poor black child. The Comment Hardy har har har hardy har har har hardy har har har.
The Movie Animal House (1978) The Director John Landis The Stars John Belushi, Tom Hulce, Peter Reigert The Line Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no! The Comment Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.
The Movie Stripes (1981) The Director Ivan Reitman The Stars Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, John Candy The Line C'mon, it's Czechoslovakia. We zip in, we pick 'em up, we zip right out again. We're not going to Moscow. It's Czechoslovakia. It's like going into Wisconsin.
The Comment Ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho.
The Movie Duck Soup (1933) The Director Leo McCarey The Stars The Marx Brothers The Line Nobody calls a Firefly an upstart! The Comment He he he he he he he he he he he he he he.
The Movie To Be Or Not To Be (1942) The Director Ernest Lubitsch The Stars Jack Benny, Carole Lombard, Robert Stack The Line So they call me Concentration Camp Ehrardt, do they? The Comment Har har har har har har har har har har har har har.
The Movie Stripes (1981) The Director Ivan Reitman The Stars Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, John Candy The Line C'mon, it's Czechoslovakia. We zip in, we pick 'em up, we zip right out again. We're not going to Moscow. It's Czechoslovakia. It's like going into Wisconsin.
The Comment Ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho.
The Movie Duck Soup (1933) The Director Leo McCarey The Stars The Marx Brothers The Line Nobody calls a Firefly an upstart! The Comment He he he he he he he he he he he he he he.
The Movie To Be Or Not To Be (1942) The Director Ernest Lubitsch The Stars Jack Benny, Carole Lombard, Robert Stack The Line So they call me Concentration Camp Ehrardt, do they? The Comment Har har har har har har har har har har har har har.
The Movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) The Directors Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones The Stars Michael Palin, Eric Idle, John Cleese, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, Graham Chapman The Line I didn't know we had a king. I thought we were an autonomous collective. The Comment Yuk yuk yuk yuk yuk yuk yuk yuk yuk yuk yuk yuk.
The Movie Some Like it Hot (1959) The Director Billy Wilder The Stars Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, Marylin Monroe The Line Real diamonds! They must be worth their weight in gold. The Comment Chuckle chuckle chuckle chuckle chuckle chuckle chuckle chuckle chuckle chuckle chuckle.
The Movie The Lady Eve (1941) The Director Preston Sturges The Stars Barbara Stanwyck, Henry Fonda The Line Postively the same dame. The Comment Haw haw haw haw haw haw haw haw haw haw.
The Movie Manhattan (1979) The Director Woody Allen The Stars Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Mariel Hemingway The Line They probably sit around on the floor with wine and cheese, and mispronounce allegorical and didacticism. The Comment Guffaw guffaw guffaw guffaw guffaw guffaw guffaw.
The Movie Arthur (1981) The Director Steve Gordon The Stars Dudley Moore, Liza Minelli John Gielgud The Line Thank you for a memorable afternoon, usually one must go to a bowling alley to meet a woman of your stature. The Comment Chortle chortle chortle chortle chortle chortle chortle chortle chortle chortle chortle chortle chortle.
The Movie Bananas (1971) The Director Woody Allen The Stars Woody Allen, Louise Lasser The Line I once stole a pornographic book that was printed in braille. I used to rub the dirty parts. The Comment Giggle giggle giggle giggle giggle giggle giggle giggle giggle giggle giggle giggle giggle.
The Movie A Night at the Opera (1935) The Director Sam Wood The Stars The Marx Brothers The Line I have here an accident policy that will absolutely protect you no matter what happens. If you lose a leg, we'll help you look for it. The Comment Titter, titter titter titter titter titter titter titter titter titter titter titter titter.
The Movie The Jerk (1979) The Director Carl Reiner The Star Steve Martin The Line I was born a poor black child. The Comment Hardy har har har hardy har har har hardy har har har.
Now remember to submit your own cinematic comedy gold.
3 comments:
For me it is Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein. The Line: Abby Normal.
Groundhog Day
DIr. Harold Ramis.
Bill Murray is pitch-perfect.
Phil: "Well, what if there is no tomorrow? There wasn't one today."
Phil: "Do you ever have déjà vu, Mrs. Lancaster?"
Mrs. Lancaster: "I don't think so, but I could check with the kitchen."
Did you know the original idea was to begin with him already trapped in time, and the audience wondering how he could predict events?
Those are all great films (including the one in the comments section).
So I'm going to go with one from a somewhat forgotten film with perhaps my favorite line ever:
Inspector Milo Perrier: "Since we cannot call for a doctor, I will need a cold compress for my chauffeur and a cup of hot chocolate for me...n'est ce pas?
Jamesir Bensonmum: "I don't think we have any Nespa sir. Just Hershey's."
Murder By Death
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