My November Movie Marathon: Classic Comedy Greats (1 Viewer)

[Pete Battista]

International House (1933/United States)

Universal Home Entertainment (United States)
Director: Edward Sutherland
Writing: Francis Martin (Screenwriter), Walter DeLeon (Screenwriter), Neil Brant (Original Material By), Louis E. Heifetz (Original Material By)
Length: 68 min.
Video: Full Frame 1.33:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
Stars:
Peggy Hopkins Joyce as Peggy Hopkins Joyce
W. C. Fields as Professor Quail
Stuart Erwin as Tommy Nash
Sari Maritza as Carol Fortescue
George Burns as Doctor Burns

Plot:
After a scientist creates the first television, a cast of characters from around the world (including W.C. Fields, George Burns, Gracie Allen and Bela Lugosi) clamour to purchase the rights at the International House Hotel in China.

Extras:

• None

My Thoughts:

This one I liked quite a bit. Unfortunately not so much because of W.C. Fields. More because of George Burns and Gracie Allen. After watching three of his movies recently I found I just not much of a fan of W.C. Fields. I mean he seems ok at best... but I just haven't found him all that funny so far. But then maybe I just haven't hit on any of them where he shines.

Rating:

 

[Pete Battista]

Million Dollar Legs (1932/United States)

Universal Home Entertainment (United States)
Director: Edward Cline
Writing: Joseph L. Mankiewicz (Screenwriter), Henry Myers (Screenwriter)
Length: 61 min.
Video: Full Frame 1.33:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: Mono
Subtitles:
Stars:
Jack Oakie as Migg Tweeny
W. C. Fields as The President
Andy Clyde as The Major-domo
Lyda Roberti as Mata Machree
Susan Fleming as Angela

Plot:
On the verge of Bankruptcy, the president of the faraway country of Klapstokia (W.C. Fields) is persuaded to enter his country in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics as a means to raise money.

Extras:

• None

My Thoughts:

This one I just couldn't get into. While it a decent scene here and there. For the most part I found it unfunny. While this one is barely over an hour I found myself watching the clock for it to end. I started to wonder if I would make it till the end... but I did.

Rating:

 

[Pete Battista]

A Day at the Races (1937/United States)

Warner Home Video, Turner Entertainment (United States)
Director: Sam Wood
Writing: Robert Pirosh (Screenwriter), George Seaton (Screenwriter), George Oppenheimer (Screenwriter), Robert Pirosh (Story By), George Seaton (Story By)
Length: 109 min.
Video: Full Frame 1.33:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: Mono, Commentary: Dolby Digital: Mono
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
Stars:
Groucho Marx [Groucho] as Dr. Hackenbush
Chico Marx [Chico] as Tony
Harpo Marx [Harpo] as Stuffy
Allan Jones as Gil
Maureen O'Sullivan as Judy

Plot:
It's a perscription of laughteras the Marxes skewer the medical profession and bring home a racetrack winner. On your Marx for tootsie-frootsie ice cream, madcap medical exams, wallpaper wackiness and more.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Audio Commentary
• Feature Trailers
• Featurettes
• Closed Captioned
• Vintage Shorts & Cartoons

My Thoughts:

Another good addition to my collection. I got a lot of laughs out of this one. One of my favorite scenes must be Groucho as a doctor giving Harpo a medical exam. I have found I really like The Marx Brothers. For me they are right up there with Abbott and Costello as favorite classic comedy teams.

Rating:

 

[Pete Battista]

A Night in Casablanca (1946/United States)

Warner Home Video (United States)
Director: Archie L. Mayo
Writing: Joseph Fields (Screenwriter), Roland Kibbee (Screenwriter)
Length: 85 min.
Video: Full Frame 1.33:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: Mono
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
Stars:
Groucho Marx as Kornblow
Harpo Marx as Rusty
Chico Marx as Corbaccio
Charles Drake as Pierre
Lois Collier as Annette

Plot:
It's the Nazis vs. the nutsies when the brotherly trio foils Axis criminal activity at a hotel swirling in intrigue and whirling with nonstop nonsense.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Vintage Short, Classic Cartoon

My Thoughts:

Another fine film from The Marx Brothers. I think I liked the previous one I watched a little better but this one still has plenty of good laughs. I especially liked the packing gimmick in this one. Recommended... well worth the time put in to watch it.

Rating:

 

[Pete Battista]

Step Lively
Simple-minded Harold foils a robbery with the help of his new-found friend, a vicious dog.

My Thoughts:
I realize this film is 100 years old (made in 1917)... and I imagine they did what they could but this one was hard to watch what with all the film scratches and even the audio was filled with static. The story itself wasn't bad. It started off a little slow but was worth the watch.

My Rating:

 

[Pete Battista]

Our Gang: Party Fever
Some of the boys compete in the Mayor for a Day contest and the winner gets to take Darla to the strawberry festival.

My Thoughts:
Alfalfa vs. Butch for Darla's attention. Not a bad short... but was very predictable.

My Rating:

 

[Pete Battista]

Room Service (1938/United States)

Warner Home Video (United States)
Director: William A. Seiter
Writing: Morrie Ryskind (Screenwriter), John Murray (Original Material By), Allan Boretz (Original Material By)
Length: 79 min.
Video: Full Frame 1.33:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: Mono
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
Stars:
Groucho Marx as Gordon Miller
Chico Marx as Harry Binelli
Harpo Marx as Faker
Lucille Ball as Christine
Ann Miller as Hilda

Plot:
Lucille Ball and Ann Miller co-star with the boys in a riotous romp about a cash-strapped theatrical troupe trying to nail down a backer for their new broadway venture.

Extras:


My Thoughts:

Lucille Ball joins the guys in this one. While it is not my favorite Marx Brothers film so far I did enjoy it quite a bit. This shows one heck of a difference between back in the '30s and now. I don't believe there is any way a hotel would let you get behind on the bill now a day... let alone be forced to keep you there if you are sick. Not that I get to stay in a hotel frequently enough to know. Either way... a fun film... worth the time put in to watch it.

Rating:

 

[Pete Battista]

The Nutty Professor (1963/United States)

Paramount Home Entertainment (United States)
Director: Jerry Lewis
Writing: Jerry Lewis (Writer), Bill Richmond (Writer)
Length: 107 min.
Video: Widescreen 1.85:1
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio: 5.1, English: Dolby Digital: Mono, French: Dolby Digital: Mono, Spanish: Dolby Digital: Mono, Commentary: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
Stars:
Jerry Lewis as Professor Julius Kelp/Buddy Love
Stella Stevens as Stella Purdy
Del Moore as Dr. Hamius R. Warfield
Kathleen Freeman as Millie Lemmon
Med Flory as Football Player

Plot:
The title's eponymous professor is Julius F. Kelp (Lewis), a shy, bumbling chemistry teacher who has a mad crush on his student Stella Purdy (Stella Stevens). When he tires of being made fun of, Kelp develops a magic potion that turs him into smooth and smarmy nightclub singer Buddy Love. Stella is drawn to Buddy but, unfortunately, the potion's formula is unstable and Buddy keeps slipping back into Julius at the most embarrassing moments.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Audio Commentary
• Feature Trailers
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes

My Thoughts:

A fun film... but I somehow remember it being better. Jerry Lewis used to be a favorite of mine but I guess my taste in comedy must have matured since then. Or maybe I haven't found the right film... though I do think this is one of his bigger hits.

Rating:

 

[Pete Battista]

The Three Stooges Meet Hercules (1961/United States)

Mill Creek Entertainment, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (United States)
Director: Edward Bernds
Writing: Norman Maurer (Writer), Elwood Ullman (Writer)
Length: 89 min.
Video: Full Frame 1.33:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: Mono
Subtitles:
Stars:
The Three StoogesMoe Howard as Moe
Larry Fine as Larry
Joe DeRita as Curly Joe


Plot:
Comical chaos ensues when the trio flicks the switch of a time-machine that transports them to ancient Greece.

Extras:

• NONE

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed this one more then I thought I would. I feel they did a good job with the story. This is one I thought I never heard of before... but some of the scenes really seemed familiar to me so I wonder if maybe I seen it as a kid.

Rating:

 

[Pete Battista]

The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze (1963/United States)

Mill Creek Entertainment, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (United States)
Director: Norman Maurer
Writing: Elwood Ullman (Screenwriter), Norman Maurer (Story By)
Length: 93 min.
Video: Full Frame 1.33:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: Mono
Subtitles:
Stars:
The Three StoogesMoe Howard as Moe
Larry Fine as Larry
Joe DeRita as Curly-Joe


Plot:
The Stooges set sail for a globe-hopping trip, after being enlisted by a con man that needs to win a bet.

Extras:

• None

My Thoughts:

Not as good as the last one... but a fun film. They had Curly Joe doing one of Curly's old skits. Going nuts when he hears the tune Pop goes the Weasel. While I never liked Curly Joe as a kid I found I have been able to enjoy him more now. Though I still prefer Curly.

Rating:

 

[Pete Battista]

Time out for Rhythm (1941/United States)

Mill Creek Entertainment, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (United States)
Director: Sidney Salkow
Writing: Edmund L. Hartmann (Screenwriter), Bert Lawrence (Screenwriter), Bert Granet (Story By), Alex Ruben (Original Material By)
Length: 75 min.
Video: Full Frame 1.33:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: Mono
Subtitles:
Stars:
Ann Miller as Kitty Brown
Rudy Vallee as Daniel Collins
Rosemary Lane as Frances Lewis
Allen Jenkins as Off-Beat Davis
Joan Merrill as Joan

Plot:
Musical hilarity ensues when three out-of-work-actors, Moe, Larry and Curry, find jobs through a talent agency.

Extras:

• None

My Thoughts:

This one I had a hard time keeping my interest in. I found I didn't care about the characters or the story line. The best thing about this one was the Three Stooges. Unfortunately they are only side characters in this one so they really don't have that much screen time. I doubt I will be giving this one a second view. No big deal if you miss this one.

Rating:

 

[Pete Battista]

The Three Stooges: Grips, Grunts and Groans
When the Stooges get a prizefighter drunk, Curly has no choice but to step in and take his place inside the ring.

My Thoughts:
This was a really fun short The Stooges are slapstick at it's best. Sure they did the basic same thing with boxing (this time with wrestling) but I found I really didn't mind. After a few of the Stooges full length movies it is good to see some early stuff with Curly.

My Rating:

 

[Pete Battista]

The Three Stooges: Dizzy Doctors
The Stooges' wives have issued a warning: you snooze, you lose. So they get a job selling a miracle medicine, but it'll be a miracle if they can sell it.

My Thoughts:
I enjoyed this one quite a bit. I do think it is the first time I ever seen the Stooges have wives. This one not only had the slapstick they are famous for... but lots of chase scenes that I enjoyed as well.

My Rating:

 

[Pete Battista]

The Three Stooges: Three Dumb Clucks
Their father's plan to marry prompts the Stooges to break out of jail to save him from himself...and, it turns out, from his intended's dangerous posse.

My Thoughts:
There is some fun here. But not quite as good as the last couple I watched. Though I must say I did like the duel role for Curly.

My Rating:

 

[Pete Battista]

The Three Stooges: Back to the Woods
The Stooges get sentenced to fifty.five years in a British jail but are instead sent to America to protect the colonists from the Indians.

My Thoughts:
There wasn't much to this one. I didn't care much for the setting for this one and I found their old English speaking to be more annoying then anything else. A couple decent gags but over all not impressed.

My Rating:

 

[Pete Battista]

The Three Stooges: Goofs and Saddles
The stakes are higher then ever when the Stooges ante up to play poker with General Muster's nemesis, Longhorn Pete.

My Thoughts:
As soon as I read the plot for this short I felt it had potential and was expecting a good short. While it was definitely better then the last one... I was expecting better.

My Rating:

 

[Pete Battista]

Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948/United States)
IMDb |Trailer |

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (United States)
Director: Charles T. Barton
Writing: Robert Lees (Screenwriter), Frederic I. Rinaldo (Screenwriter), John Grant (Screenwriter)
Length: 83 min.
Video: Full Frame 1.33:1
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio: Mono, Commentary: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
Stars:
Bud Abbott as Chick
Lou Costello as Wilbur
Lon Chaney (1906) as Lawrence Talbot
Bela Lugosi as Dracula
Glenn Strange as Monster

Plot:
Comedy meets horror when Bud and Lou encounter Frankenstein's Monster, Dracula and the Wolf Man.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Audio Commentary
• Feature Trailers
• Featurettes

My Thoughts:

This is one of my all time favorites. I have watched this film countless times over the years. I just think this film is fantastic! Even the opening credits couldn't be done any better. Whether you are a fan of horror or comedy... this is a must see. You just can't go wrong with this classic comedy team. Not only do you get the genius of Abbott and Costello... you get the likes of Lon Chaney, Jr. and Bela Lugosi recurring their famous monster roles. And I just loved the surprise cameo done by Vincent Price! This film is just so much fun... more then worth the time put in to watch it. A must see! I can not recommend this film higher!

Rating:

 

[Pete Battista]

I been a little busy with work lately. While I got a few more films watched... I haven't had the chance to do the write-ups yet. I am off today so will try to get them done later today.

A little off topic for this thread... but my roommate is so happy I am finally catching up on the classics... she brought me a ton of DVDs home from the store she works at. Now I really have a classic film collection to work through!

She brought me....

The Women

Possessed

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

The Band Wagon

Giant

Easter Parade

McLintock

Down Argentine Way

Pillow Talk

Guys and Dolls

The Lion in Winter

The Best Picture Collection: Columbia Pictures

Includes:

1. All the King's Men
2. The Bridge on the River Kwai
3. From Here to Eternity
4. Ghandi
5. It Happened One Night
6. Kramer vs. Kramer
7. Lawrence of Arabia
8. A Man for All Seasons
9. On the Waterfront
10. You Can't Take it with You

Top Hat

Shall We Dance

The Lemon Drop Kid

The Audrey Hepburn DVD Collection

Includes:

1. Breakfast at Tiffany's
2. Funny Face
3. Paris when it Sizzles
4. Roman Holiday
5. Sabrina

Tracy & Hepburn: The Definitive Collection

Includes:

1. Adam's Rib
2. Desk Set
3. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
4. Keeper of the Flame
5. Pat and Mike
6. The Sea of Grass
7. The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katherine Hepburn
8. State of the Union
9. Without Love
10. Woman of the Year

 

[Pete Battista]

Caught in the Draft (1941/United States)

Universal Studios (United States)
Director: David Butler
Writing: Harry Tugend (Story By), Harry Tugend (Screenwriter)
Length: 81 min.
Video: Full Frame 1.33:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: Mono
Subtitles:
Stars:
Bob Hope as Don Bolton
Dorothy Lamour as Tony Fairbanks
Lynne Overman as Steve
Eddie Bracken as Bert
Clarence Kolb as Col. Peter Fairbanks

Plot:
Don Bolton (Bob Hope) is a movie star with a phobia about loud noises. Not wanting to give up his career and his easy life, he plans to dodge the military draft by getting married. Don meets the lovely Tony Fairbanks (Dorothy Lamour) when she visits his set with her father, Peter (Clarence Kolb), a colonel, and the two are soon engaged. In an effort to boost Tony's opinion of him, Don pretends to join the army. The ruse backfires, however, and he finds himself actually enlisted.

Extras:

• None

My Thoughts:

A fun film. Lots of funny situations in this one. Caught in the Draft has 2 of the 3 stars of the "Road to" films. Only Bing Crosby missing. Bob Hope's character here is a lot of fun to watch. The things you will get yourself into for a girl you like!

Rating:

 

[Pete Battista]

The Cat and the Canary (1939/United States)

Universal Studios (United States)
Director: Elliott Nugent
Writing: Walter DeLeon (Screenwriter), Lynn Starling (Screenwriter), John Willard (Original Material By)
Length: 74 min.
Video: Full Frame 1.33:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: Mono
Subtitles:
Stars:
Bob Hope as Wally Campbell
Paulette Goddard as Joyce Norman
John Beal as Fred Blythe
Douglass Montgomery as Charlie Wilder
Gale Sondergaard as Miss Lu

Plot:
Ten years after the death of millionaire Cyrus Norman, his will is to be read out to his six relatives, including Joyce Norman (Paulette Goddard) and Wally Campbell (Bob Hope). Organized by Norman's lawyer, Crosby (George Zucco), the six meet at Norman's eerie New Orleans Gothic mansion. During the reading, the superstitious housekeeper declares that someone will be dead by midnight.

Extras:

• None

My Thoughts:

This is a bit different of a Bob Hope film then I have seen before. While there is a little comedy here... this is much more a suspense/thriller. And a really good one at that. Bob Hope was better then I was expecting acting in a more serious roll. I am also getting to like the actress Paulette Goddard. I am going to have to look into more of her films.

Rating: