Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group discussion

Screwball comedies from the 1930s and 1940s are some of the most enjoyable films I can remember. I'm wondering how many of the younger set have enjoyed these movies.

The following Wiki page provides "some notable examples of the genre from its classic period": ====>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screwbal...

To me, as I look back, one of the best screwball comedies was "My Man Godfrey" (1936) with William Powell and Carole Lombard. See IMDb page here: ====>
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028010/

Another good one was "Midnight" (1939) with Claudette Colbert and Don Ameche. ====>
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031647/

Of course the epitome of screwball comedies was "It Happened One Night" (1934) with Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert. ====>
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0025316/

The Wiki page above provides a listing of "Latter-day screwball comedies" which came after the "classic period".

Are there any screwball comedies which stand out in your mind as having brought you great enjoyment?

Or is the genre out of fashion today?

I generally don't watch many old films but Arsenic and Old Lace is hysterical. It's a movie I can watch over and over again.
I also like Bringing up Baby. I really like Cary Grant, that voice! But to see Katherine Hepburn acting so flighty and silly is a real treat. Until I watched this movie a few years ago with my husband, I had no idea KH was also a comedic actress. I only know her serious roles. I loved seeing her this way.

I was surprised that It's a Mad, Mad, Mad World wasn't on the list of latter day screwball comedies. That was a screwy silly movie but I liked it.

My personal favorite is Monthy Python and The Holy Grail. I've seen this more than 50 times, know every line and still I laugh when I see it.

No, they don't make them like this anymore. True comedy is pretty much gone. My son, a teenager, watches all the so-called comedies and I find them juvenile and ridiculous. It seems that every movie is situated around sex, sexual jokes, sexual leers and curse-words. I have nothing against it, but there's more to comedy than that. Mostly, I don't even watch them. I ask Eric two questions about the comedies he watches:
Did you like it? (Yes)
Will I like it? (No)
He knows my kind of humor. I require a bit of intelligence to it, some thought being put into it.
Saying curse-words isn't really funny. If it's put into an intelligent thought, then it can be. But curse words and sexual innuendos in themselves aren't funny, not after the millionth time. I think the problem is that these days nothing is original. On the rare occasion we get something original, then there's 100 movies in the same mold. I weakens the strength of the original, IMO and doesn't say much for the copies.

It's sad, because I love to laugh, and I don't seem to be able to find that in movies anymore.

Jackie wrote: "I generally don't watch many old films but Arsenic and Old Lace is hysterical. It's a movie I can watch over and over again.
I also like Bringing up Baby. I really like Cary Grant, that voice! B..."

Jackie-that is so funny about your son....our son is a college Sr & he suggests all these movies & we have rented a few & have actually hated them-their brand of humor & ours are 2 very different things.....I don't think I am much of a comedy person though....he now knows not to suggest certain movies to me....LOL

Jackie wrote: "... But curse words and sexual innuendos in themselves aren't funny, not after the millionth time. ..."

I feel the same way, Jackie. Well said.

Becky wrote: "...I don't think I am much of a comedy person though."

Becky, have you enjoyed any of the screwball comedies?

Becky,
I don't think it's that we're not comedy people, we just expect more from our comedies, we have a higher standard.
These silly comedies are what our kids have grown up with, and what they think is funny.
One evening my son and his friends wanted to watch something but they've seen most everything we have. I suggested Monty Python & H G. The reluctantly took into the room to watch, figuring it was better than nothing. Well, it was the hit of the summer! They kept watching it over and over, they really liked it. I told them, Now THAT'S what I call comedy!

Jackie wrote: "I suggested Monty Python & H G. ... I told them, Now THAT'S what I call comedy!"

It sure is!
Below is a link to the "Monty Python-Dead Parrot" sketch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vuW6t...

It's a family favorite. Our son knew it by memory. I guess everyone who ever watched MP remembers the Dead Parrot sketch.

Hello Polly!
When my sister and I call each other, we always Hello Polly and it's from that sketch and we laugh like crazy.
MP were very silly and yes, sometimes stupid, but it was a funny stupid.
I took my little sister to the theater to the MP The Meaning of Life, we laughed so loud and so hard, that people were actually getting up and moving away from us. In a crowded NYC theater! Yes, we think they are hilarous. Both of us love the British sense of humor.

I used to watch old screwball comedies with my parents all the time. My favorite one is Arsenic and Old Lace. That is also my mom's favorite. It is absolutely hysterical. There are so many good ones, but I can't think of them now.

Jackie wrote: ..."I took my little sister to the theater to the MP The Meaning of Life, we laughed so loud and so hard, that people were actually getting up and moving away from us. In a crowded NYC theater! ..."

It's so great to have someone to laugh with. My sister and I give each other giggle fits all the time. I think the ability to appreciate humor is in the genes. To appreciate humor, one has to have a heightened sense of the ridiculous. Although my husband has many fine qualities, he lacks the "humor" gene. His mom was the same way. I've always been interested in this phenomenon... the fact that some people lack the ability to catch the humor in things.

Another aspect of this same thing is the fact that we each recognize a sense of humor in another person. When we do, we start to "bounce" off the other person with humorous repartee. By the same token, if we sense that a person doesn't have a sense of humor, we automatically refrain from making humorous remarks and the conversation stays on a more serious level.

A good quote comes to mind:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"It is absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious."
— Oscar Wilde (Lady Windermere's Fan)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Not that serious conversation is tedious, but it can be, if not relieved by occasional lightnesss.
Of course, that's the reason for the expression, "comic relief".) :-)

Perpendicularandi wrote: "I used to watch old screwball comedies with my parents all the time. My favorite one is Arsenic and Old Lace. That is also my mom's favorite. It is absolutely hysterical. There are so many good..."

Hi Randi - I see you've changed your nickname from Operandi to Perpendicularandi.
How come? :)

About "Arsenic and Old Lace", our oldest son was in a high school version of that play back in the late 1970s. It was a great experience for the kids and the parents as well. He played Mortimer's brother Jonathan.

Wiki says:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Arsenic and Old Lace is a film (1944) directed by Frank Capra based on a play (1939) of the same name by Joseph Kesselring. The script was adapted by Julius J. Epstein."
Above from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arsenic_...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Below is a cover-link to the book (play in book form?): _Arsenic and Old Lace (1939):

Up to now, I had never heard of the author, Joseph Kesselring.
Imagine learning that after all these years!

Wiki says: "Of the twelve plays written by Kesselring, Arsenic and Old Lace is the only one to be successful."
Above from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arsenic_...

I wonder if any of you saw the movie( it would be an old movie to our younger members) 'Good Neighbor Sam?" I hope I would think it just as funny and Jack Lemon just as funny as I did years ago..nina

Joy H. (of Glens Falls) wrote: "Jackie wrote: ..."I took my little sister to the theater to the MP The Meaning of Life, we laughed so loud and so hard, that people were actually getting up and moving away from us. In a crowded NY..."Interesting that you qoute Oscar Wilde as my husband and I just finished watching a Netflix mini series titled, "Lille," the story of Lille Lantgtree, and Oscar W. played an important part. I loved the history and the interesting people that were portrayed; The Prince of Wales, James Whistler, to name a few..nina

Joy,

I change my moniker now and then, because I'm sick of it, or I want to keep you guys alert. You will notice that every moniker has a randi at the end of it. I look for words that end in r, ra, ran, rand, or randi. I mostly do it, because I'm bored with the old one. It keeps you on your toes, though, doesn't it?

Randi

Nina wrote: "I wonder if any of you saw the movie( it would be an old movie to our younger members) 'Good Neighbor Sam?" I hope I would think it just as funny and Jack Lemon just as funny as I did years ago..nina"

Nina, I never saw "Good Neighbor Sam", but here's the link to it: ====>
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058153/

FROM IMDb:
Good Neighbor Sam (1964) - Tagline:
"Slam! Bam! Here comes Sam!...Caught in the Middle of a Two-Woman Jam!"

Jack Lemmon is perfect for screwball comedies!
Too bad Netflix doesn't carry it.
There doesn't seem to be a way to suggest that they carry it.

I have never heard anything about Good Neighbor Sam. I agree, though, that Jack Lemmon is a great screwball comedy actor.

Nina wrote: "...my husband and I just finished watching a Netflix mini series titled, "Lille," the story of Lille Lantgtree, and Oscar W. played an important part. I loved the history and the interesting people that were portrayed; The Prince of Wales, James Whistler, to name a few."

Nina, that does sound like a good movie. Here are a couple of summaries of Lillie(1978):
====================================================
FROM NETFLIX:
"In order to escape her strict family, Lillie (Francesca Annis) marries the wealthy Edward Langtry (Anton Rodgers), who proves to be equally confining. She decides to take up acting and finds great success, becoming one of the most sought-after women in the world. Based on actual events, this British miniseries follows Lillie Langtry's sensational career and the incredible romances she had throughout her life."
----------------------------------------------------
FROM IMDb:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077042/
"Lillie Langtry, trapped in a loveless marriage, takes full advantage of her beauty, attracting many lovers and admirers including the Prince of Wales and Oscar Wilde. As her husband slowly drinks himself to death, Lillie embarks upon a sensational career as a somewhat talented yet beautiful actress in Britain and the United States. Throughout her life she attracts rich and sometimes brutal lovers, endures financial ruin and scandal, yet maintains her dignity, elegance, and a certain amount of her beauty until the end of her life."
====================================================
Lillie is a special name to me. My mom's name was Lilly.
Thanks for recommending this movie, Nina.

Perpendicularandi wrote: "Joy, I change my moniker now and then, because I'm sick of it, or I want to keep you guys alert. You will notice that every moniker has a randi at the end of it. I look for words that end in r..."

Thanks for explaining, Randi. It's great the way Goodreads can keep track of the changes.

The following web pages might give you some ideas: ====>
http://www.rhymezone.com/r/rhyme.cgi?...
http://www.onelook.com/?loc=rz4&w...

How about "Jimdandy"? :) ====>
http://www.onelook.com/?w=jimdandy&am...

Some of my favorite comedies are by Mel Brooks. "Young Frankenstein" is an all time favorite. Gene Wilder did some other good ones, especially with Richard Pryor.

Brooks did a short lived series about Robin Hood that I loved. Not "Men in Tights" but something like it. I still vividly Maid Marian arguing with her bottle of poison, disguised as perfume, the same way the Parkay/butter ad was done:
"Poison" she says.
"Perfume" it says as she cracks the lid.
"Poison" she says sternly.
"Perfume" it corrects her.
She sniffs & smiles, "Perfume!"
"Poison!" it says.
Gets me smiling just thinking about it.

"Dogma" is another great one, if you can get past Jay's cussing. George Carlin is wonderful as a Catholic Bishop.

Oh yes, Young Frankenstein is genius. I like Dogma but can't stand Jay, LOL
Mel Brooks' History of the World is pretty funny too.

"When Things Were Rotten" was the name of Brook's Robin Hood series. Apparently, it only lasted 13 episodes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_Thi...

Yeah, Jay's cussing was the big flaw in "Dogma". here's the actors. It was a wonderful cast.
Ben Affleck ... Bartleby
Matt Damon ... Loki
Linda Fiorentino... Bethany Sloane
Jason Mewes ... Jay
Chris Rock ... Rufus
Alan Rickman ... Metatron
Jason Lee ... Azrael
Salma Hayek ... Serendipity
Kevin Smith ... Silent Bob
Janeane Garofalo... Liz
George Carlin ... Cardinal Ignatius Glick
Alanis Morissette... God

I know, Jay was so nasty, so disgusting. He was the only part I didn't like. The rest of it was pretty funny.

I think that Mel Brooks is a genius. I have found that according to people I know, you either love Mel Brooks and hate Woody Allen, or the other way around. Few people like them both. I, personally, am a Mel Brooks fan. I agree that Young Frankenstein is a work of genius.

Hmmm... That works for me. I like Mel Brooks but Woody Allen leaves me cold. That's odd. I guess I have a low sense of humor - or at least something that passes for one.

Jim wrote: "Some of my favorite comedies are by Mel Brooks. "Young Frankenstein" is an all time favorite. Gene Wilder did some other good ones, especially with Richard Pryor."

I love Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder! They are both so clever!

I enjoyed reading Brook's bio: _It's Good to Be the King The Seriously Funny Life of Mel Brooks_ by James Robert Parish.

Also enjoyed Wilder's autobiography, _Kiss Me Like a Stranger My Search for Love and Art_ and his novel, _My French Whore_.

Thanks for reminding me of "Dogma". That's another movie I missed and was curious about. Now that you've mentioned it, I've put it on my Netflix queue.

Jim wrote: ""When Things Were Rotten" was the name of Brook's Robin Hood series. Apparently, it only lasted 13 episodes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_Thi...
"

Unfortunately, there's no DVD of WTWR at Netflix.:-(

At the Wiki link you gave, it says: "despite critical acclaim, the series failed to find an audience and was canceled after 13 episodes". At least it got critical acclaim.

I wonder if anyone will ever see it again.

Perpendicularandi wrote: "I think that Mel Brooks is a genius. I have found that according to people I know, you either love Mel Brooks and hate Woody Allen, or the other way around. Few people like them both..."

I'm one of the "few people" who like them both! (g)