Amazon.co.uk Review
Stanley Kramer's 1963 It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World is a sprawling comedy about a search for buried treasure by at least a dozen people--all played by well-known entertainers of their day--is the kind of mass comedy that has recently come back to the for-front of Hollywood with the film Rat Race. After a number of strangers (including Milton Berle, Jonathan Winters, Sid Caesar, Phil Silvers and others) witness a dying stranger (Jimmy Durante) identify the location of hidden money, a conflict-ridden hunt begins, watched over carefully by a suspicious cop (Spencer Tracy). The ensuing two and a half hours of mayhem has its ups and downs--some sketches and performers are certainly funnier than others. But Kramer, who is better known for socially conscious, serious cinema (Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?), is in a mood for broad comic characterization, and some of his jokes are so intentionally obvious (Durante literally kicks a bucket when he dies), they could have derived from the Airplane! reject bin. Watch for lots of cameo appearances, including Jerry Lewis. --Tom Keogh, Amazon.com
Customer Reviews:
its a great film to all.......2005-08-14
its a mad mad mad mad world is the funniest film ever made. its very funny and i have even made my own top trumps(card game) of it. i love it and im only 12 and so does my dad who is 44.
from sam west
Madcap adventure.......2005-05-01
This madcap adventure race/road story is a refreshing emalgamation of some of the best comic talent from the time. Boating a brilliant cast of people throughout major and minor roles, this film has you in stitches from start to finish.
When the dying thief kicks the bucket, literally and physically, it sparks off a group of people racing around the countryside in order to find the money he told them he had left behind. Cue lots of others joining in along the way, and plenty of humourous obstacles in their way.
Most definitely one for everyone
Timeless Comedy Classic.......2004-07-06
It's A Mad...World is one of the finest comedies evr and an all time classic. I rmemeber seeing this for the first as young boy when shown on TV. I loved it then and continue to love it whenever I put it on, which is very regularly.
The basic plot revolves around a car accident, where the driver, Jimmy Durante, tells a group of fellow drivers who se him crash and go to his aid about hundres and thousands of dollars in cash buried under a 'Big W' in a park in California hundreds of miles away.
Mayhenm ensues as all the rescuers race for the cash using any form of transport they can can beg, steal or borrow.
The script is sharp, with several sub-plots keping the action moving right to the climax of the movie when all the cast come together at the park under the 'BIG W' where the treasure is supposdly buried.
The cast is superb, with some very well known stars of the time on show, includong Phil Silvers, who basically plays the role of Bilko (another great classic comedy), a sharp, fast talking opportunist. Milton Berle (Mr TV in America), a hen pecked husband supported by Ethel Merman as a loud brash mother in-law. Other stars include Mickey Rooney, Jonathon Winters, Sid Ceasar and terry Thomas playing a very typical English gentleman, a role he often played to great effect.
There are seveal cameo appearances by very well known actors, Buster Keaton, Jerry Lewis to name two.
One of the starring roles goes to Spencer Tracey in one of his last roles as a totally despondent Police Chief about to retire after 40 years service with a measly pension, who sees the opportunity to set himself and his wife up for retirement by taking the buried treasure from the motley crew after they discover it sating he is going to hand it in.
Obviaously this doesn't go down well and once the rescuers work out that they have been tricked, a chase and more mayhem ensues.
Who ends up with the money...Buy the film and find out. You won't be dissapointed.
The Funniest Movie Ever Made.......2004-07-03
This is the best there is. Brilliant performances across the board by real comedy greats - sometimes they don't even need to use words, body language and expressions do it all. Superbly shot, fantastic stunts, a good story. Buy it now and see the masters at work. Avid Merrion? Do me a favour!!
Funny Movie.......2003-02-08
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World is a classic comedy. Combining big name talent, it tells the story of what happen when a group of strangers finds out where $50,000 is buried. Soon, these normally law-abiding citizens are speeding, stealing, and destroying property. What they don't know is the police are observing them the entire time. As the situations get more out of hand, the movie gets funnier.
I wasn't that impressed the first time I saw this movie. But on repeated viewings with friends, I've come to enjoy it more. The actors are phenomenal and the material has a timelessly funny quality to it. I'm young enough that I don't recognize all the stars, but that doesn't diminish my enjoyment at all.
This is a classic movie that everyone should see. It'll leave you laughing your head off, exactly what a comedy should do.
Customer Reviews:
Chilling tale of technology turning on its masters!.......2006-04-22
I cannot recommend this film enough. It is a gripping, well crafted and intelligent tale that is as relevant today as it was almost forty years ago.
The supercomputer 'Colossus' is activated, bringing all of the United States' nuclear arsenal under its control. Shortly after coming on line, Colossus detects the Russian's very own supercomputer, named Guardian.
As the two computers begin to 'communicate' and learn at an alarming rate, the American and Russian governments attempt to sever contact. As a result Colossus launches a missile attack against Russia and demands that its creator, Dr. Charles Forbin be put under its surveillance.
As Forbin plots to destroy his creation, Colossus makes its plans for the future of the human race...
The conclusion of "Colossus" is as chilling as it is unfogettable. I wonder if James Cameron was influenced by this movie (along with "Westworld") when he came up with the concept for "The Terminator"?
My only gripe is not with the film itself but with the DVD. For some incomprehensible reason, the pan and scan format is still popular with the American market. Although it doesn't ruin the viewing experience too much, it would have been great to have seen this in its proper widescreen format.
In the age of widescreen televisions and anamorphic widescreen DVD transfers there really is no excuse!
Regardless, I urge you to buy this film, it is simply too good to slip under the radar and thus it gets full marks.
Based on a novel by D.F. Jones.......2004-11-30
The Colossus movie scenario is sort of a combination of "War Games" in the sense of getting out of hand and the novel "This Perfect Day" in which all of society is regulated.
The use of good, but not over the top, actors gave an eerie feeling of reality to this film.
It is 1966 with the complexities of nuclear war we must turn to artificial intelligence to handle the multitude of factors in a reasonable time. We must keep in mind that this computer "Colossus" (named after the real life machine by Turing) can only do our bidding.
What is this? Colossus has discovered another entity in Russia (Guardian), and requests to converse with it. Well we can always pull the plug (yeah sure.) To counter the threat of being socially separated the computers threaten to launch nuclear missiles. At the U.S. and Russia. Getting increasingly pushier Colossus, after requesting voice recognition and voice synthesis (a spooky sixties version of voice synthesis), goes on to regulate the lives of the people who created it; of course it is for their own good.
One can put up with nuclear war if need be, but regulating lives is intolerable. Something must be done. Watch and see what unique solutions are planned. Will they succeed? Who are you rooting for?
Amazon.co.uk Review
Mel Brooks's 1981, three-part comedy--set in the Stone Age, the Roman Empire, and the French Revolution--is pure guilty pleasure. Narrated by Orson Welles and featuring a lot of famous faces in guest appearances (beyond the official cast), the film opens well with Sid Caesar playing a caveman, then moves along to the unlikely but somehow hilarious juxtaposition of Caesar's soldiers (the other Caesar, not Sid) with pot humour, and ends on a dumb-funny note in the French bloodbath. This is a take-it-or-leave-it movie, and it works best if you're in a take-it-or-leave-it mood. --Tom Keogh
Customer Reviews:
stoopid but great fun.......2007-09-23
This is not sophisticated comedy, but it takes real talent to make proper use of such terrible jokes - it's the way he tells 'em and give or take a very few gags so groanworthy that they do fall flat, it will keep you in stitches for 90 minutes, with highlights including the French Revolution and the great all-singing and dancing Spanish inquisition sequence. While many of Mel Brooks's regular collaborators are present, this film is a particular delight for British audiences due to having been filmed in the UK and featuring a wide range of British talent including Pamela Stephenson, Spike Milligan (as her father), John Hurt (as Jesus in a hilarious Last Supper gag) and many others. Definitely one of Mel Brooks's best.
Do you like your humour subtle? Yes?.......2006-07-28
Then you won't like this one much, will you, dear? Severely underrated spoof of the Hollywood epic is one of Mel Brooks' finest hours.
Product Description
TREVOR HOWARD and RICHARD ATTENBOROUGH star in this famous story of a Royal Navy destroyer and her officers and crew during the early years of the Second World War.
H.M.S. Ballantrae is an ex-U.S. Navy destroyer - one of fifty lent by the Americans in 1940 to a desperate Royal Navy fighting to keep the Atlantic sea lanes open. The ship is old and desperately in need of a major refit, but is almost immediately pressed into service on escort duty. Her new captain, Lt. Commander Fraser (Trevor Howard), struggles to keep her operational, while dealing with problems arising from his own chequered past. The Crew are mostly new recruits, raw, inexperienced and unused to navy discipline. Somehow, Fraser must shape them into a formidable fighting unit as they run the lethal gauntlet of U-Boats and German bombers.
Just as H.M.S. Ballantrae seems to have overcome her problems, she is selected to play a vital role in one of the most daring raids of the entire war - a mission from which the ship is intended never to return...
With a fine supporting cast including Bernard Lee, Dora Bryan, Sid James, Sonny Tufts, Joan Rice and James Donald. GIFT HORSE offers an authentic and moving portrayal of life on board a Royal Navy ship during World War Two. It was made with the full cooperation of both the Admiralty and the St. Nazaire Society, and is broadly based on dramatic, real life events.
Amazon.co.uk Review
Stanley Kramer's 1963 It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World is a sprawling comedy about a search for buried treasure by at least a dozen people--all played by well-known entertainers of their day--is the kind of mass comedy that has recently come back to the for-front of Hollywood with the film Rat Race. After a number of strangers (including Milton Berle, Jonathan Winters, Sid Caesar, Phil Silvers and others) witness a dying stranger (Jimmy Durante) identify the location of hidden money, a conflict-ridden hunt begins, watched over carefully by a suspicious cop (Spencer Tracy). The ensuing two and a half hours of mayhem has its ups and downs--some sketches and performers are certainly funnier than others. But Kramer, who is better known for socially conscious, serious cinema (Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?), is in a mood for broad comic characterization, and some of his jokes are so intentionally obvious (Durante literally kicks a bucket when he dies), they could have derived from the Airplane! reject bin. Watch for lots of cameo appearances, including Jerry Lewis. --Tom Keogh, Amazon.com
Customer Reviews:
its a great film to all.......2005-08-14
its a mad mad mad mad world is the funniest film ever made. its very funny and i have even made my own top trumps(card game) of it. i love it and im only 12 and so does my dad who is 44.
from sam west
Madcap adventure.......2005-05-01
This madcap adventure race/road story is a refreshing emalgamation of some of the best comic talent from the time. Boating a brilliant cast of people throughout major and minor roles, this film has you in stitches from start to finish.
When the dying thief kicks the bucket, literally and physically, it sparks off a group of people racing around the countryside in order to find the money he told them he had left behind. Cue lots of others joining in along the way, and plenty of humourous obstacles in their way.
Most definitely one for everyone
Timeless Comedy Classic.......2004-07-06
It's A Mad...World is one of the finest comedies evr and an all time classic. I rmemeber seeing this for the first as young boy when shown on TV. I loved it then and continue to love it whenever I put it on, which is very regularly.
The basic plot revolves around a car accident, where the driver, Jimmy Durante, tells a group of fellow drivers who se him crash and go to his aid about hundres and thousands of dollars in cash buried under a 'Big W' in a park in California hundreds of miles away.
Mayhenm ensues as all the rescuers race for the cash using any form of transport they can can beg, steal or borrow.
The script is sharp, with several sub-plots keping the action moving right to the climax of the movie when all the cast come together at the park under the 'BIG W' where the treasure is supposdly buried.
The cast is superb, with some very well known stars of the time on show, includong Phil Silvers, who basically plays the role of Bilko (another great classic comedy), a sharp, fast talking opportunist. Milton Berle (Mr TV in America), a hen pecked husband supported by Ethel Merman as a loud brash mother in-law. Other stars include Mickey Rooney, Jonathon Winters, Sid Ceasar and terry Thomas playing a very typical English gentleman, a role he often played to great effect.
There are seveal cameo appearances by very well known actors, Buster Keaton, Jerry Lewis to name two.
One of the starring roles goes to Spencer Tracey in one of his last roles as a totally despondent Police Chief about to retire after 40 years service with a measly pension, who sees the opportunity to set himself and his wife up for retirement by taking the buried treasure from the motley crew after they discover it sating he is going to hand it in.
Obviaously this doesn't go down well and once the rescuers work out that they have been tricked, a chase and more mayhem ensues.
Who ends up with the money...Buy the film and find out. You won't be dissapointed.
The Funniest Movie Ever Made.......2004-07-03
This is the best there is. Brilliant performances across the board by real comedy greats - sometimes they don't even need to use words, body language and expressions do it all. Superbly shot, fantastic stunts, a good story. Buy it now and see the masters at work. Avid Merrion? Do me a favour!!
Funny Movie.......2003-02-08
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World is a classic comedy. Combining big name talent, it tells the story of what happen when a group of strangers finds out where $50,000 is buried. Soon, these normally law-abiding citizens are speeding, stealing, and destroying property. What they don't know is the police are observing them the entire time. As the situations get more out of hand, the movie gets funnier.
I wasn't that impressed the first time I saw this movie. But on repeated viewings with friends, I've come to enjoy it more. The actors are phenomenal and the material has a timelessly funny quality to it. I'm young enough that I don't recognize all the stars, but that doesn't diminish my enjoyment at all.
This is a classic movie that everyone should see. It'll leave you laughing your head off, exactly what a comedy should do.
DVD:
- La Bete Humaine [1939] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- L.A. Confidential [1997] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- Les Girls [1957] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- Magical World Of Winnie The Pooh - Vol. 4 - A Great Day Of Discovery
- Millionaire Dogs [1999]
- Moon Over Miami [1941] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- Open Season [2006] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- Pal Joey [1957] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- Partner [1968]
- Paulie [1998] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
DVD List
DVD
![It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World [1963]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/213VWHFHDAL.jpg)
All Classics
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The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming [1966]
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