Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Some comedies are too topical for their own good. Tied to the culture of the day, they sparkle and fade because they lack the timeless qualities that keep audiences laughing decades later.
This is not to say that great movies can’t be topical. Films like “Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb” are jam-packed with scathing political satire. Some of their jokes may be lost on audiences of new generations, but their comedy core is timeless. You don’t have to know a lot about the Cold War to see the humor in “Dr. Strangelove.”
Great comedies provide an escape, which is why they’ll never go out of style. They offer a safe vantage point that makes even heavy themes more accessible. Addressing this divide, Aldous Huxley once observed, “We participate in a tragedy; at a comedy we only look.”
The nature of comedy even allows us to laugh at the misery and mistakes of others, which is why films like “Meet the Parents” are so popular. We can watch the pratfalls, thankful that it’s not happening to us. “Tragedy is when I cut my finger,” said Mel Brooks. “Comedy is when you fall into an open sewer and die.”
Regardless of the themes, the best films continue to deliver. Here are seven comedies that have stood the test of time.
"It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" G
1963
There are ensemble films, and then there’s “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.” Stuffed to the gills with cameos, it can barely fit them all into its 192-minute running time. Where else would you see the Three Stooges appearing in a film with Spencer Tracy?
The movie follows an eclectic group of greedy folks as they traverse the land in search of a bandit’s buried loot. Spencer Tracy, playing a police captain, is the calm presence amidst the storm of lunacy around him. But can he resist the temptation of the money?
1955
Danny Kaye was one of the most expressive comedians of all time, and “The Court Jester” puts his skills on full display. Kaye plays a wannabe Robin Hood drawn into a plot against the oppressive king. The all-star cast also includes Glynis Johns, Basil Rathbone, Angela Lansbury and Cecil Parker.
With a production cost of $4 million, “The Court Jester” made news in 1955 for being the most expensive comedy ever made. In 2004, it was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.
1967
Lighthearted and silly, this classic film follows the adventures of Millie Dillmount during the Roaring Twenties. Mary Tyler Moore, James Fox and Carol Channing all appear in supporting roles. In fact, speaking of supporting roles, “Thoroughly Modern Millie” marked the film debut of Pat Morita (Mr. Miyagi in the “Karate Kid” movies).
The movie opened to positive reviews and strong box office. It received seven Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actress for Julie Andrews and Best Supporting Actress for Channing.
1938
This groundbreaking romantic comedy was the second of four films pairing Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn. It was one of Hepburn’s first comedies, and she initially struggled with the role. The director brought in legendary comedians to coach her along, and this training, combined with her chemistry with Grant, yielded hilarious results.
The movie begins with Grant as a straight-laced paleontologist who is awaiting a special dinosaur bone from Utah. He is also trying to procure a large donation for his museum. When Hepburn enters the picture as a nutty heiress with a leopard, his careful plans fly out the window.
"Raising Arizona" PG-13
1987
The Coen brothers have created several unforgettable comedies, but it’s their sophomore effort that shines through as an utterly original take on Western folklore. The story follows babynappers H.I. and Ed McDunnough as they elude detectives, escaped convicts, and the lone biker of the apocalypse.
While “Raising Arizona” is set in the Reagan years, it remains relevant today. The film does an excellent job of showing how even good people are only inches away from the dark side at any given time. All it takes a few bad decisions under duress to unleash mayhem.
"Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb" PG
1964
Kubrick’s most accessible film, “Dr. Strangelove” features Peter Sellers playing three hilarious roles. Steeped in Cold War themes, this legendary comedy still packs a satirical punch. The story focuses on the chaos that ensues after a renegade general initiates a nuclear strike on the Soviet Union.
It was nominated for four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor for Peter Sellers. It was added to the National Film Registry in 1989 and currently has a 100 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
1934
“It Happened One Night” is a pioneering film that established a delightful template that other screwball comedies have followed for decades. The story picks up when a desperate heiress jumps off a ship to escape her lousy husband and overbearing father. She soon joins company with a roguish newspaperman who must decide between his feelings for her and turning his relationship with her into a blockbuster story.
Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert made an unbeatable comedy team, and the film was the first to sweep all five major Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Actress, and Screenplay. Oddly enough, some biographers even claim that “It Happened One Night” was Adolf Hitler’s favorite movie.
So what is your take? What comedies go on your list of films that stand the test of time?
Grant Olsen joined the ksl.com team in 2012. He covers travel, outdoor adventures, and other interesting things. Contact him at grant@thegatsbys.com.
