Rating: 
Summary: An absolute riot
Review: It should be no suprise that a film featuring Zero Mostel, Phil Silvers, Jack Gilford and Buster Keaton should be a laugh riot. It should also be no suprise that a play as funny as this one is adapts to the screen well. What is a suprise is how much film adds to the play rather than subtracts from it. The loss of the songs "Free" and "That dirty old man" are a very small price to pay for this spectacle that is and should be ultimate proof that a movie can be made or broken in the editing room. The editing of this film increases the manic pace as Pseudolus (Mostel) strives on his quest for freedom. The cuts are well timed but so frequent if you turn your head you're bound to miss something awesome. The supporting cast from Hordern to Greene shine. You will not stop laughing. Get it.
Rating: 
Summary: As Funny as the title suggests!
Review: I'll admit that the CD has a lot more orchestration than song, and if you didn't see the movie it might not make much sense, but I thought the movie was a riot! Michael Crawford is absolutely amazing, Zero Mostel is an incredible actor, and there's nothing funnier than Phil Silvers singing "Lovely". If you haven't seen the movie, I highly suggest it.
Rating:
Summary: How can you not?
Review: Okay, so the film violates the imaginative world and lyrical/dramatic balance of the original, it incorporates slapstick, vulgar sight gags, vaudeville shtick, visual details like flies and garbage, and it's irreverent to the great Buster Keaton (who was probably elated to get the gig). Plain and simple, the combination of Lester and Mostel is as explosive a comical mix as anything since the Marx Brothers. Not as heady, perhaps, but viscerally undeniable. This is the last film that had me in the aisle--and I didn't feel guilty afterward. In fact, the film is a nice complement to "Troilus and Criseyde," Chaucer's incredibly virtuosic epic poem, at once a mirthful parody and a serious psychological study. Mostel and Crawford are Pandarus and Troilus when seen at their best (or worst).
Rating: 
Summary: Don't buy this version
Review: Sadly, this CD fails to live up to expectations. A film of an enormously sucessful Broadway and West End musical must have sounded like a good idea at the time, but as this CD testifies, it was not well executed. Many of the songs have been cut, and those that remain are poorly orchestrated. The highlight of the disc, and the reason for two stars is the instumental 'Chase' and playoff at the end, as well the signature number 'Comedy Tonight!', which are nice to listen to.While the performances are not bad, neither are they particularly good, which means that the recording lacks the particular feeling of farce that is necessary for the show to work as a recording. If you want a recording, then get either the OBC or the recent Broadway revival cast: both of which are superior in almost every respect.
Rating:
Summary: Cheesy 60s Humor
Review: If you can get past the horrible 60's humor, this is a hilarious show. Me and my dad watched it, and half the time we were scorning at the corny acting, the other half we were laughing at the hilarious jokes.... It's all in the eye of the beholder. I give it 4 stars for leaving out some of the original Broadway songs.
Rating: 
Summary: Only Fair
Review: Sure, most the songs from the original play were lost in the film version, but as a film it is enjoyable on it's own terms. After all, the ratio of faithful transitions from Broadway to Hollywood is about 100 to 1. However, this soundtrack is not all that great due to poor mixing and a negligent transfer to disc.
Rating:
Summary: My Review
Review: I came across this movie in my 1st period english class. My teacher played this for a week for our study on the Roman culture. It has the look of a detailed production of Rome and culture. But something didn't quite get my approval. This joke-a-minute comedy doesnt quite add up to my teachers review. Of course there is comedy here. But I only counted three worth-mentioning scenes. But for the rest seems to drag on for longer than the movie. It feels kinda forced on comedy. This movie was an adaptation from the stage. What I am wondering is how they managed to do a chariot chase on stage? The movie is about. . . oh you know how it goes. "Street smart" slave bumps into guy for a deal for his freedom. Guy finds true love. True love turns out to be a virgin for a house of prostitution. Plot gets messed up into a weird twist and turn story. And ends in a charriot race and they all live hapily ever after with everone getting what they wanted. I find this movie to be a parody. But what kind of parody? I like parodys. Naked Gun was one of my favorites. But this movie doesnt quite make it. Its missing something. In the end, I give this movie a 2 and 1/2 star rating, which is a marginal thumbs up for me. Although my rating sysytem for movies only goes to four stars. A fine movie for a teacher to keep students busy while you grade tests or catch up on some much needed rest.
Rating: 
Summary: DON'T BOTHER!
Review: The score was reduced to 5 songs - all of them poorly sung (and badly orchestrated!) The sound on the CD is just as bad as the old U.A. Lp editions .... which is to say just awful! There is no need for this album to have been released on CD at all! If you want the score of FORUM go for either the original cast (Zero Mostel) or the 1996 revival cast (Nathan Lane.) Either version is much more enjoyable listening! (The British cast led by Frankie Howard was out on EMI's West End Angel label, but it is now out of print. While not as good as the 2 Broadway casts it is still miles ahead of this recording!) I can't stress stongly enough... DON'T BUY THIS VERSION!!!!
Rating:
Summary: WOW!
Review: I had a version of this taped off of the television 12 years ago. I had all but forgot it exhisted until i stumbled across it the other day and sat down to watch it. This movie is extremely funny, that is if you like Zero mostel or old slapstick comedies(ex. Mad mad Mad Mad world,Great Race, producers etc.) This movie flows beautifully and contains a ton of comedic moments fantastically portrayed by zero mostel, phil silvers, buster keaton etc. I like it so much i bought the dvd. Let's just say i had to change my undies after poppin' that bad boy into the player. The image quality is very clean and looks great. The sound is just as good. Watching one of my favorite all time movies on dvd was well worth the 20 dollar price tag.
Rating:
Summary: Funny dialogue, great cast, terrible music
Review: Zero Mostel, Buster Keaton, Michael Crawford . . . the cast of this movie adaptation of the Broadway musical is phenomenal. It reads as a who's who of Old Hollywood comedy. And the comic dialogue (which is very clever) is delivered with impeccable timing and panache, and you will be surprised how many classic jokes you recognize. Mostel, the pudgy tenor, plays the delightfully self-loving slave, Pseudolys. Tossing around more one-liners than most stand-up comedians, Mostel runs from crisis to crisis as he tries to arrange a romance for his dim-witted master in exchange for his freedom. "Forum" is hysterically sexist in its depiction of its female characters, who are either voluptuous maidens or noxious harridans. Thankfully, "Forum" is a light-hearted comedy, and treats all of its characters with gentle humor. The sheer buffoonery of the male characters places them on equal footing with their vapid female counterparts. Michael Crawford delivers a charming performance as the conceited Captain, and the other supporting characters provide their own jokes with gusto. The major flaw of the movie is the music -- it stinks! Perhaps I heard too many people recommend this movie, but I was incredibly disappointed in the musical numbers. The lyrics of most of the songs are funny, but there are no songs that stick with you after the movie is over. "Lovely," a song that gently mocks the two twits who sing it, is enough to set teeth on edge. "Everybody Ought to Have a Maid" falls into the same category, as does the opening song, "Comedy Tonight." The musical numbers are also poorly choreographed: the director seems to have told the actors to lip-sync the songs and make up whatever dance moves they can. The rapid cuts and synchronized-swimming choreography would be fine in a film student production, but I expected more than that here. In a nutshell, none of the songs rise to either the comic or musical heights achieved by Les Miserables' "Master of the House." 'Nuff said. That being said, the movie remains funny. The cast acts as if they are having a great time making the movie, and, as the opening song states, this show is intended to be a silly musical comedy, nothing more. That's too bad, because even as a silly musical comedy, it could have been so much more. If you want a quick, cheap laugh, check it out. If you're looking for a great musical, go elsewhere.
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