Stanley Kramer’s 1963 comedy epic It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World is not only perhaps the greatest assemblage of comedic talent on screen, it’s also one of the best car chase movies ever made. The movie features comedy legends Sid Ceasar, Milton Berle, Buddy Hackett, Mickey Rooney, and Jonathan Winters, along with a spate of comedic co-stars like an acerbic Ethel Merman, Phil Silvers, Terry Thomas, Spencer Tracy, Eddie ‘Rochester’ Anderson, William Demarest, Peter Falk, Dick Shwan, and (Growwll) Edie Adams. In fact, the cameos I’m leaving out of that list (spot Jerry Lewis in the film) could all have been above the title leads.
But it’s not just the comedians that make this film great. If you love late fifties/early sixties cars, then this movie is an orgy of autos. Chrysler is best represented, with a ’62 Imperial, Dart 440 and Plymouth Belvedere wagon featuring prominently. For the import crowd, there’s Rooney and Hackett’s Type 1 convertible which they abandon at one point for a twin-engine aircraft. Terry Thomas’ character is a cactus collector and as such drives a cool Arizona June Bug Green Jeep Station Wagon. Just like the actors, there are even more cool cars that make smaller appearances in the movie.
[youtube]https://youtu.be/Sla845GW9YM[/youtube]
It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World is available on a couple of the premium services, or for cheapies on the rental services. Clocking in at over 205 minutes, it’s probably the best comedy bang for your buck you could find.
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“The Duuuuuble-UUUUUUUU!”
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My first car was a ’62 Dodge Dart 440 hardtop. When I first watched this movie in ’72, aside from laughing until I nearly cried, (or as its said nowadays “ROTFLMAO”!). At that same time, my Dart had been hit by a hit and run driver and was awaiting repairs (finding the necessary fender/hood/grille/bumper) it was Iike a spike through my heart to see Sylvester’s Polara, and Lt. Culpepper’s Dart get wrecked. Lt. Culpepper’s Dart was almost IDENTICAL to mine (excepting that his was not a 440/hardtop!) Memories!! 🙂
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I have fond memories of watching this movie, many, many, times with my pops. We laughed until we cried every time. Thanks for the memories.
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“Whamdoodle, humdinger” is underused today.
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For every classic movie that hasn’t aged so well, I offer you this and The Gods Must Be Crazy.
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I first saw this movie when I was about 12 and didn’t even know who most of the amazing cast (Buster Keaton! Jack Benny! The Three Stooges! …) were. It’s been on my personal top 10 list ever since. I was living in the boring (to me) small-town midwest at the time and was fascinated by the exotic southern California show-biz desert locale. I bought it on DVD a few years ago and have watched it at least 10 times, discovering something or someone new each time. It’s a must-see for fans of cars of the ’50s – ’60s and classic comedy.
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