"Except you lady, may you just drop dead!"
It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963) depending on the version it is anywhere between 154-192 minutes
They don't make comedies like this anymore (although the remake was pretty good, see "Rat Race"). This is the ultimate chase/treasure hunt film. About 15 years before the film, Smiler Grogan (Jimmy Durante) stole $350,000 and is on his way to retrieve said money when he wrecks his car. The four cars which are following him pull over and five men make their way to the crash site to check on Smiler. When they get there Smiler tells them about the treasure he was going to dig up, and tells them to get to the money before the cops do. His final advice is that it's buried under a "Big W", and then he kicks the bucket (literally). After much deliberation,
So it's a race. Just to make it easier for you to follow here are the major breakdowns...
Captain Culpepper (Tracy) is the police detective who has been tracking Smiler for the past 15 years. He has his men tailing each of the cars and recording their progress. This is his big break, he can retire and take his wife on a nice long vacation, which sparks new family drama.
Then there's Melville (Sid Caesar), the rational dentist, and his pretty wife Monica (Edie Adams) who are going on their second honeymoon...but this race is testing their marital bliss, "Why can't you have a little confidence in me?"
Followed by Dingy (Mickey Rooney) and his pal Benji (Buddy Hackett), who run into trouble at every turn...including a frightening plane ride, "What, am I supposed to everything? You want me to fly the airplane, you want me to work the radio, what are you gonna... What are you, the hostess?"
And the neurotic Russel (Milton Berle), wife Emeline (Dorothy Provine), and her high maintenance mother, Mrs. Marcus (Ethel Merman)...who are later joined by her crazy son Sylvester (Dick Shawn) and the anti-America, Englishman Hawthorne (Terry Thomas). They make up the most remarkable team (when they aren't trying to kill one another), "Why couldn't you listen? Why couldn't you shut up when I was trying to tell you to listen?"
And finally the truck driver Pike (Jonathan Winters), who just can't get a break...and when he finally tells someone his secret, he tells the wrong man, the swindler Otto (Phil Silvers).
Also, watch out for some fabulous cameos by the top comedians of the time: Jerry Lewis, Don Knotts, Buster Keaton, Jack Benny, and the 3 Stooges (just to name a few).
The lines are funny...the story is funny...the cast is great...what could be better??
Dude, it's quotable: with that many comedians how could it not be quotable?
Buy it without seeing it: you won't regret it (unless you have no sense of humor...in which case, why are you watching comedy?)
"We've figured it seventeen different ways, and each time we figured it, it was no good, because no matter how we figured it, somebody don't like the way we figured it! So now, there's only one way to figure it. And that is, every man, including the old bag, for himself!"
So it's a race. Just to make it easier for you to follow here are the major breakdowns...
Captain Culpepper (Tracy) is the police detective who has been tracking Smiler for the past 15 years. He has his men tailing each of the cars and recording their progress. This is his big break, he can retire and take his wife on a nice long vacation, which sparks new family drama.
Then there's Melville (Sid Caesar), the rational dentist, and his pretty wife Monica (Edie Adams) who are going on their second honeymoon...but this race is testing their marital bliss, "Why can't you have a little confidence in me?"
Followed by Dingy (Mickey Rooney) and his pal Benji (Buddy Hackett), who run into trouble at every turn...including a frightening plane ride, "What, am I supposed to everything? You want me to fly the airplane, you want me to work the radio, what are you gonna... What are you, the hostess?"
And the neurotic Russel (Milton Berle), wife Emeline (Dorothy Provine), and her high maintenance mother, Mrs. Marcus (Ethel Merman)...who are later joined by her crazy son Sylvester (Dick Shawn) and the anti-America, Englishman Hawthorne (Terry Thomas). They make up the most remarkable team (when they aren't trying to kill one another), "Why couldn't you listen? Why couldn't you shut up when I was trying to tell you to listen?"
And finally the truck driver Pike (Jonathan Winters), who just can't get a break...and when he finally tells someone his secret, he tells the wrong man, the swindler Otto (Phil Silvers).
Also, watch out for some fabulous cameos by the top comedians of the time: Jerry Lewis, Don Knotts, Buster Keaton, Jack Benny, and the 3 Stooges (just to name a few).
The lines are funny...the story is funny...the cast is great...what could be better??
Dude, it's quotable: with that many comedians how could it not be quotable?
Buy it without seeing it: you won't regret it (unless you have no sense of humor...in which case, why are you watching comedy?)
Director: Stanley Kramer
Starring: Spencer Tracy as Captain Culpepper
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