It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World

[Dixon Carter Lee]

Is this a great movie, or what?

So I rented the DVD last night to see some of the extended scenes, and watch it again with a big giant bowl of popcorn. No, it's not a brilliant comedy. But it is a good comedy, and there's something so "right" about the cast, and watching them work is a blast.

Every time I see it I spot someone new. I remember when I first spotted Buster Keaton (as the guy at the marina) and Joe E. Brown (giving a dedication speech at the end). Later I found people like Doodles Weaver (outside a store) and whatshisname who did the voice for Winnie the Pooh (as a Fireman on the big ladder). But last night I was reading the credits and was surprised to see the name "Leo Gorcey".

Now, I love Leo Gorcey. I know I'm dating myself here, but if any of you grew up watching Sunday afternoon TV in the 60s and 70s, you know who Leo Gorcey is. If you can't remember, how about this character name: Terence Aloysius Mahoney. Not ringing a bell yet? How about "Slip" Mahoney? "Oh Chiefy! Oh Chiefy!" "Routine 5, boys!" Who's with me here? That's it, you've got it now. Leo Gorcey, the leader of the Bowery Boys and the Dead End Kids.

Don't worry. Leo Gorcey references were dated when Robin Williams did an impression of him in the late 1970s on SCTV. Still, if you grew up watching weekend TV movies, like I did, you saw every film the Boys did, and loved Leo Gorcey.

So, I'm reading the credits, and there's his name, but I can't find him anywhere in the film. I read on the Internet later tha he played "the third cabbie", which is more confusing, because I only remember two cabbies (Peter Falk and Rochester).

Ah well. I've got to leave something for the next time I rent the flick.

(By the) way, as good as everyone is in the film, no one's better than Phil Sivlers.

Jonathan Winters: "Now when I tell you this story, well, you're just not gonna' believe it."

Phil Silvers: "Try me. I'm pretty gullible."

 

[TonyG]

Now you've done it.

This is one of my all time favorite movies. Yes, I know who Leo Gorcey is and I also can not picture him in the movie. So, it is off to the video rental store tonight to watch it for about the 100th time.

I think Rochester was a great cabbie and Buster Keaton was also terrific in bit parts.

The best two scenes of the whole movie to me is when the 'gang' realizes who is stealing the money and in the brginning when they all slowly sneak back to their cars after the death.

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

If they made that movie today (and they have) it would have to include tits, fart jokes, a spaceship, a CGI cow (or something equally unfunny and expensive), a rock soundtrack with a song by Britney Spears, and Gene Hackman, who's in fucking everything. And everyone would be falling over themselves to be funny. Can't you just picture a movie with people like Sinbad, Chris Rock, Chris Tucker, Jim Carrey and that "Titus" dude sweating buckets with the exertion of being screechingly "funny"?

 

[Jersey Citizen]

Sterling Holloway . . .

was the "sandpaper voice" in lot's of Disney pix, Winnie-the-Pooh, the stork in Dumbo, the grown-up Thumper, many others.

Dead End Kids? How about Huntz Hall, as Horace DuBussy Jones?

(That was Phil Silvers? I thought it was the Dalai Lama.)

BTW, they did remake this movie, just last year. It was so bad, I can't even remember the name--I think it went straight to video.

Okay, found it, the remake was called "Rat Race." Directed by Jerry Zucker, with Whoopi Goldberg · Cuba Gooding · Jon Lovitz · John Cleese (and many others).

 

[TonyG]

How true, how very true.

I bet Mariah Carey would want the part of Ethel Merman.

 

[EvilBrat74]

This is all either before my time or ya'll are from a different planet

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

"Did you see the way he went sailing right out there?"
Milton Berle

Name Dropping Alert:

Well, sorta, since I'm not actually going to give up the name. But I know one of the B-list character actors in the flick (he's a member of my theatre company), and he's always said how much fun he had shooting the pic.

There's a short documentary on the DVD that's fun, too.

 

[SimplySouthern]

Attention Old People.

Please report to this thread immediately.

DCL thanks you for your support.

 

[Marxist]

SS, I'm not old (I'm only 5 years older than you), but I've seen this movie in a couple of different formats. It's far from great, but interesting if you like to star hunt.

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

Pshaw. The movie was "old" when I was a kid. Do you have to be the same age as Mozart to like the music? You can't like "Gone with the Wind" cause it was made in 1936? Dumb-bell broad.

The funniest moment is the pan to the Three Stooges as Fireman. They don't do anything, or say anything. Just the whole idea that these three are going to be in charge of an "emergency" is hystercial.

 

[Rubyfruit]

I always wondered how to spell pshaw. Thanks Dixon.

I have not seen this movie, but now I want to rent it.

 

[TigerClaw]

Yes, this is one of the all time great comedy movies.

To this day I can not stand the charactor of the hip beatnick. This movie is a classic. The beginning scene is still hysterical when he kicks the bucket. This movie is so full of laughs, gags and comedy it should be worth its weight in gold.

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

*bump* to get rid of "Unregistered's" threads

 

[seXieleXie]

anyone see rat race? that's the latest version of this flick. i saw a press screening of it this summer. it sucked hardcore. the original is pretty funny thought.

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

Rat Race stunk. So did both Cannonball Runs. Sticking stars into every corner doesn't make for a good flick. Unless you're Gossford Park.

 

[SimplySouthern]

Let it die, Dixon

All the old people have gone to bed.

Start a thread about porn. People will flock to it.

People of ALL ages that is.