Rating: 
Summary: It's a grand, grand, grand, grand movie
Review: It's difficult to find anything not to like about this particular film. First effort at a comedy by Stanley Cramer, the film features almost every comedian available in the early 1960's. Cameo appearances by some of the most popular stars such as (a young) Jerry Lewis, the three stooges, Jack Benny, Joe E. Brown and others. Regular characters are played by such notables as Mickey Rooney, Sid Caesar, Ethel Merman, Buddy Hackett, Milton Berle, Don Knots, Phil Silvers, Terry Thomas and Jonathan Winters. It's fun just watching for who will appear next in the action.It's a classic race by four groups of contestants for a promise of buried money bequeathed them by a dying criminal. The fortune ($300,000 from a Tuna Factory robbery) is buried under a 'big W' in Santa Roseta Park -- a couple of hours away from their present location. It's a hoot watching the group trying to decide how to split up the money -- observing Sid Caesar and Dorthory Provine locked in the basement of a hardware store and trying to break out -- flying with Buddy Hackett and Mickey Rooney after their pilot (Jim Backus -- the voice of Mr. Magoo) becomes incapacitated -- driving with Milton Berle and Terry Thomas with their views of America (and the ensuing fist fight) ... and it goes on and on. Baby boomers will especially enjoy the flick because of the nostalgia the big names will recall. But the film will appeal to all ages since the humor is timeless. If you haven't seen the film and enjoy a good show -- be sure to watch this one. If you've seen it before and want to relive a fine movie, add it to your collection and relive the laughter. *** Highly Recommended for all age groups ** ~P~
Rating:
Summary: Director Stanley Kramer Works The Magic That Is Comedy
Review: It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World is one of those films that is one-of-a-kind. It will always be. Let me start with a ensemble cast of comedians and talent that will never be seen again: Milton Berle, Mickey Rooney, Spencer Tracey, Ethel Merman, Cid Cesar, Jonathan Winters, Peter Falk, Norman Fell, Jerry Lewis, The Three Stooges, Buddy Hackett, Don Knotts, terry Thomas, Jack Benny and Carl Reiner to name a few. Isn't that amazing enough? Technically Stanley Kramer - who is more noted for his dramatic works really took a chance and mad this movie not knowing how it would all come together. The adventurous of everyday people being pulled from heir everyday lives in a chase for $350,000 is hysterical. This movie is a comedy galore. Everyone shines and everyone moves the story along and intertwines with each other. There are amazing stunts, matt photography and special effects that were done the hard way back then. THE DVD extras has a great documentary on the beginnings and production of the films. Most of the original stars can be seen talking about how much fun and craziness went on the set. There are also deleted and reedited scenes that didn't make the final print. Those are really interesting. This is a fantastic classic comedy film and if you have never seen it - buy this one sight unseen! It will make you laugh and wonder in amazement at how they did what they did without today's computers and technology! 7-30-02
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: Definitely enjoyed this movie. The negative reviews are very dumb. Comedy films of today are garbage compared to this classic. I guess many people can not laugh at a film unless it has something nasty in it or uses the f word in it's jokes. Everyone was great in this picture. I particularly liked the Englishman, he was a riot. Ethel Merman was great too. Really the whole cast is very funny - you will love this movie!
Rating:
Summary: Madness is Genius
Review: Eight traveling vacationers witness the sudden car-crash and slow final death of con-man Smiler Grogan in the hills above Palm Desert, Cal.. Grogan's dying words reveal the secret location of $350,000 hidden in Santa Rosita Park, near San Diego. This sparks a wild, hectic race for the dough. Pure greed,buried treasure, and car crashes. It's all here. "It's a Mad,Mad,Mad, Mad World" was the most successful movie directed by ace Stanley Kramer. All of the famous television and film comics from 1963 appear in this wild comedy. Only Bob Hope is missing. The cast includes Milton Berle, Sid Caesar, Phil Silvers, Jerry Lewis, Joe E. Brown, The Three Stooges, Buster Keaton, Jimmy Durante, Jack Benny, Jonathan Winters, and Spencer Tracy. Ernest Gold composed an original booming, wonderful soundtrack you'll be humming for days. At two hours and 41 minutes, "Mad World" is too long, but an incredible cast and mad-cap action propel the story along. This new MGM DVD is presented in widescreen anamorphic 2.35:1 aspect. The colors are crisp and vibrant. The "Mad World" DVD includes an excellent 1991 documentary with all the major surviving cast members. There's also 1 hour of "out-takes", faded and damaged, from the original Cinerama 70mm release. And there's two trailers. The year 2001 produced an obvious remake of "Mad World" called "Rat Race", a modest hit. Stanley Kramer and Spencer Tracy made 4 classic films together. The last was the inspiring "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" in 1967. In ill health, sadly, Tracy died just days after shooting ended. Stanley Kramer himself died in Feb. 2001. His genius is now gone. His legacy lies before you.
Rating:
Summary: Comedy For All Eternity
Review: It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World is a comedy for all eternity. This is one of those big box, big budget, long-running-time, cameo-loaded, expensive, broad-canvas farces of the 60's that I love so much. Released in 1962, this was one of Stanley Kramer's greatest and last movies. This award-winning movie is a timeless masterpiece for the whole family. After a bouncy, splashy Saul Bass animated title sequence, the story begins with a brief car chase in the California desert. Bank robber Smiler Grogan (Jimmy Durante) wrecks his car, and with his dying words reveals a secret about buried treasure to the seven strangers who stopped on the roadside. 'Look for the big W' in Santa Rosita, he says, and then he kicks the bucket. After a brief attempt at cooperation, the treasure hunt is on and it's every man for himself, in four teams. Mickey Rooney and Buddy Hackett decide to take to the air but their pilot, Jim Backus, gets hammered on Old Fashioneds. Husband-and-wife Sid Caesar and Edie Adams can only find a biplane cropduster. The lone truck driver, Jonathan Winters, can't get gas. And his mother-in-law Ethel Merman fatally hampers Milton Berle, with his wife Dorothy Provine. So all four teams scamper across the landscape, across the broad canvas of this movie, wound tight by desperate greed and calmly monitored by a Sergeant Culpepper, Spencer Tracy. This is the framing story for an amazing string of billed appearances and unbilled cameos so many that at last your senses are sort of dulled. Oh, it's Carl Reiner in the control tower. Oh, look, it's Stan Freberg, yeah. The best cameo, hands down, is Jerry Lewis, who comes barreling down Long Beach Boulevard in a moment of exuberant stupidity and runs over Spencer Tracy's hat. Probably my favorite, I have so many, co-star was Terry Thomas who plays a vacationing Englishman in a rattling station wagon, who picks up Milton Berle. He's talkative. He prattles away (accurately) about why it is that the American male is positively preoccupied with booo-sums, and says things like, "I'll wager you anything you like, if American women stopped wearing brassieres, your whole national economy would collapse overnight!" This sequence, within the context of the movie so far, has a single funny moment when this whole vast farce might come alive, find its voice, and this circus might make sense - Terry-Thomas finds the tone for the rest of the movie. I find it compelling that the aesthetic success of all this footage, all these appearances, all this thoroughly American spectacle, suddenly pivots around a few fussy syllables about breasts. But once the moment passes, Terry-Thomas is efficiently neutralized and dismissed by Ethel Merman, and on we go. The array of challengers eventually reach Santa Rosita, and several unexplainably humorous events occur. These I will not reveal to you and allow you to view the movie on your own time. I must add though, that if you do see this movie, reserve several hours. Like most from its decade its LONG... VERY LONG... But allow me to assure you, you wont be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Best Comedy Film Ever
Review: "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World" is simply the best comedy film ever made. I have yet to come across any other movie which is as enjoyable and timeless. I have watched it when I was a kid and I have watched it with my kids - it was enjoyable then and as enjoyable for me and my kids now! It is a pity, it cannot be watched in theaters now as I have seen people stand up with joy and fall down rolling in laughter. From the first scene, until the last one - it is one big string of hilarious situations and action. Each comedian (there are dozens of famous ones) seems committed to the ultimate goal - the booty of 350Gs and relentlessly pursues it in the most natural way - greedily! It is to be watched to be experienced. Go - get one and watch with all your friends and loved ones!
Rating:
Summary: Mad but Funny
Review: More than 200 reviews of this film already so it's obviously pretty popular. My two cents: Jonathan Winters and Dick Shawn were the best of a great cast. This was the only time either man was allowed to create a full comic characterization on film and both demonstrated that they were fine actors, not just clowns. The desert scenery was great and for some reason it adds to the enjoyment of this treasure hunt; just made a cleaner stage, I guess. The only drawback: poor Spencer Tracy, one of America's greatest actors, was so out of it by this stage he could barely get through his scenes. Check out "Northwest Passage" to see him at the height of his powers.
Rating:
Summary: Endless laughter! The funniest film in the world!!
Review: "It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World", in my opinion, is the funniest film ever created. I don't see why anyone would want to refuse watching this film. Over 30 years worth of comedians and top movies stars are in it including Spencer Tracy, Milton Berle, Sid Caesar, Buddy Hackett, Ethel Merman, Mickey Rooney, Phil Silvers, Dick Shawn, Terry-Thomas, Johnathan Winters, Edie Adams, Dorothy Provine, Peter Falk, Jimmy Durante and so many others. This is a quintessential motion picture comedy masterpiece about a police chief (Spencer Tracy) chasing after a group of crazed vacationers on a wacky and loony search for buried treasure of $350,000. This is something that you'd want to watch again and again. It's a very productive way to kill 3 hours. If you are a movie fan or you just love to laugh, this is it. "It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Rating:
Summary: Best Comedy Film Ever
Review: "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World" is simply the best comedy film ever made. I have yet to come across any other movie which is as enjoyable and timeless. I have watched it when I was a kid and I have watched it with my kids - it was enjoyable then and as enjoyable for me and my kids now! It is a pity, it cannot be watched in theaters now as I have seen people stand up with joy and fall down rolling in laughter. From the first scene, until the last one - it is one big string of hilarious situations and action. Each comedian (there are dozens of famous ones) seems committed to the ultimate goal - the booty of 350Gs and relentlessly pursues it in the most natural way - greedily! It is to be watched to be experienced. Go - get one and watch with all your friends and loved ones!
Rating:
Summary: This is one fun movie
Review: With non-stop action and laughter throughout, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World is one of the best movies for getting a laugh. Starting in the Desert above the cochella valley and ending in Santa Monica, you will be taken on the ride of your life with great actor/comedians. These were the best of their day, like Rat Race, it featured the funniest people of the time. Even had great straight men in Spencer Tracy, to name the best. The scene's of the police office, the race to the Big dubya and all made this the funniest movie of the 60s. Clean language, great comedy for the whole family. I prefer the VHS because of the full length. When the DVD goe full length, watch out...it will sell big. This is a video to definately have in your library.....the treasure is under the W, the big W.....who will get there first?
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