I'm an old man (75 years old) and saw It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World for the first time when I was 13 year old, at a high end theater with a big screen. It was sponsored by our church as a fundraiser but I was never sure how much money was involved. Mom and dad took me to this movie at the same time and mom said she enjoyed it, and dad said it was the stupidest movie he'd ever seen, since most of his movie money went to hunting and fishing. He was still a good guy! On a Saturday, 2+ weeks after I saw it first time, I took the bus downtown, about 12 miles from home (and I watched it twice that day.) The internet tells me the price of movie ticket in 1963 was 85 cents. Not sure that was everyone, or just adults. I seem to remember everyone liking it. As I got older, I saw it in theaters as often as possible and the summer after it was in theaters I got to see it in a drive-in. Not sure who I was with since I didn't drive yet. When the world of VHS tapes and DVDs were available yet, I've owned both many times as I got older. I was married in 1973 and my new wife thought it was funny but she didn't like it was as much I did. I like to make sure that any one I watch 161 minutes of it. Plus, being a lifetime car geek and make sure I know the name of every car on the screen. I have just one DVD now and don't think I'll be buying any others. Thanks for reading; apologies for the length.
I saw this movie at the age of 12 on an old black and white TV for the first time in 1974. My two older brothers, my dad and me watched it in our old farm house, and we laughed ourselves silly from beginning to end through the haze of dad's cigarette smoke. Over the years I have owned multiple copies of that movie from VHS to DVD, and I still watch it with family and friends.
I was about 14 at the time my buddy Jim and I went to see this movie in our local theater. We sat through it 4 times and enjoyed each time as we saw things that we had missed in earlier screenings. Got in so much trouble when I wandered home about 5 hours late, but it was worth it. But, at 75 I don't consider my self an old man, more of a seasoned man of leisure. . . They will never make a movie this good again. Also, Edie Adams was and remains the most beautiful women ever, except for maybe Barbara Feldon and Diana Rigg.
When I was a teenager living in Los Angeles, I watched this movie in a triple feature with Cleopatra, and Flight of the Phoenix. It was an all nighter and the sun was coming up when I left the theatre.
In about 1980, at the end of the drive in Era, a drive in near me played a quadruple feature: Pete 'n Tilly Harold and Maude Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice John and Mary
@@N2YTA Glad you think so. For me, Ruthless People is the funniest. And The Producers -- with Zero Mostel -- is funnier than It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World. But IaMMMMW has one of the two greatest stunts ever filmed: The Beech 18 flew through the billboard! Frank Tallman flew that stunt. Only Chuck Yeager rates higher with pilots than Tallman. Tallman lost an engine flying that stunt.
@@hlynnkeith9334 Frank Tallman said he almost died hitting that billboard, because instead of paper the billboard was actually balsa wood, and almost tore the plane apart. He said it caused him a scary landing after going through it, unknown before that it wasn't made of cheap paper! A helicopter policeman (uncredited) who was reporting on the contestants, was the first to die of the film's many actors. Don Harvey, only 51, a veteran Western and character actor, died on April 23. 1963, over 6 months before its release, approximately 4 months after the last filming in Dec. 1962. Mickey Rooney was the last major credited actor to die on April 6, 2014, at 93. Sylvester's girlfriend and dancing partner in that awesome black bikini, Barrie Chase (then 29 when filming in the Spring-Winter '62), is the last survivor of the entire cast, celebrated her 90th birthday last Oct. 20 (2023).
When i saw it in theater in the mid 60s my dad was the only one that got the "kicked the bucket" joke and only one that laughed, that spot always reminds me about my dad 😂
This movie came on every year for as long as I can remember, and my family and I NEVER missed it. I NEVER out grew it... matter o' fact I have it in "My Favorites" list.
A very popular film in Australia. It ran for over a year in the Melbourne Plaza Cinerama theatre. When my entire family of five attended I would say I have never heard such strength of laughter at the ending with all 900 or so filling the theatre still laughing filing out and most with tears of laughter. After a year odd of mostly filling the 900 seats for three sessions a day, it went to the drive ins. My schoolmate said when his family went to the local suburban drive in session the roads were clogged for a mile with many missing out when the drive in filled up. The success of this film spurred similar comedy epics a bit later in the sixties. To Australian eyes just about all the cars looked rare and exotic.
5:09 Jim Backus was better known as the voice for a cartoon character named, Mr Magoo. Gilligan's Island had not yet aired when "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World" was released.
In my Army basic at Ft. Bliss, TX, there was a guy in my company who was a stuntman on this movie. He enjoyed the cameo appearing 3 Stooges. He was in great shape, a DI drops him for 50 push-ups, he does 50 one arms with each arm, does 100 with both arms, then does a backflip. The DI never dropped him for push-ups again.
He wouldn't happn 2b one of the two guys walking down that alley when Culpepper & the 2 taxis come roaring towards him, and he steps aside with INCHES to spare?! That wz an astonishing stunt! (Prob wouldnt be allowed 2b done in today's litigious society).
This reminds me of how whenever I watch an old movie, I have to rewind several scenes, either because I missed some key dialogue because I was paying attention to an interesting car that was in-frame at the moment, or because I was paying attention to the plot and barely noticed the interesting car that was in-frame at the moment.
Excellent review/movie, would love to see the deleted scenes. Of all cars here I'd take the imperial driven by Milton Berle or the Chrysler driven by Jerry Lewis.
It's very funny and it's got all those big stars, but for all-time funniest I'll take the original "The In-Laws", with, coincidentally, Peter Falk and Alan Arkin, followed by the Coen Brothers' "Raising Arizona".
Born in 1950, these cars are very reminiscent of my formative car years. I love every one of them. On a side note, it took me a lifetime to realize that Ethel Merman was HOT!
I worked at a local theater & it was probably 1964 when we got this picture after a long premier in downtown Detroit. We had it for at least a Month, & all that worked at our show were SICK of it....except ME! I could not get enough of those crazy car scenes! I thought Dick Shawn stole the show driving the red convertible screaming for his "" MA-MA""! Ha! Talk about a MANIAC!!! For a movie that's 60 years old it still hold's it's OWN as a real CLASSIC ___ GOD Bless the ENTIRE CAST! ( All LEGENDS!!! )___
The movie is a great snapshot of that transitional era in automotive history when cars were becoming more streamlined and boxy, but still had a lot of styling excesses. The Chrysler vehicles, in particular, reflect the waning days of Virgil Exner's over-the-top styling queues.
One of my all-time favorite films growing up I was born in 62 I think I first seen this film at the age of 10 and I thought I was in heaven with all the cars. Was right up my alley. And the laughs were a great Bonus. I knew all the cars and the actors and watch this film at least 15 times and of course I bought it. Live and Let Die was another Favorite and my First James Bond Film.
My all-time favorite film. I was born in 1966. I was about 9 or 10 when my older brother made me watch it with him. I have every format made. Posters, lobby cards and original 1966 movie trailer!! LOVE. Thanks for sharing.
I knew a guy like you back when I lived near Berkeley. He had memorabilia of "Mad World" out the wazoo. Then I semi-dated a girl, I gave her a synopsis of this movie, and she crinkled her nose and said "That's funny?" Oh well, to each their own. Personally, I love the time capsule aspect. "Mad World" was filmed mostly on location, so it shows what SoCal was really like in the early 1960s. And, naturally, 6:00, where you hear Phil Silvers say "THIS IS NO PLACE FOR A CONVERTIBLE!!!"
I grew up in Long Beach and many of the buildings were still there when I was in high school (20 years after the movie was made) My friends and I would reenact the scenes in the various locations. Silly, but fun! Thanks for telling me about the cars - my 84-year old mom was right on nearly every one!
The actual car survived for decades after as a studio service truck, they turned it into a flatbed pickup. Buddy Hackett recognised it on a backlot years later.
This movie is so funny, so brilliant, that I'm laughing even at your description of it. Have watched it many times, love it. May have to watch it today... Stanley Kramer's masterpiece 🏆👏🎥🌴🚓
I love how they used so many different makes of cars and trucks. In the movies and tv shows back then one company usually sponsored the show so that make was usually all that was used.
One of our channels used to play this at least once every xmas holiday when i was a kid. Now I have the dvd and can take a walk down memory lane anytime i want. A must see movie for a Mopar fan.
@@thehopelesscarguy in Australia at xmas we have 6 weeks break and back then TV was a god and a decent babysitter with such greats as Abbott and Costello, Ma and Pa Kettle and all the war movies and cowboy movies , too. None of them were Xmas shows either.
Some of the rarer cars seen (besides the Imperial): Fiat Multipla (gas station scene w/Knott's & Silvers); Borgward or Simca, & Fiat 500 (background, after Culpeppers Dart is rearended @ bldg); Corvair Rampside (Silvers hitch-hiking scene); Metropolitan (stops runaway fire hydrant from hitting bystander!).
I believe the airport Buick ambulance ended up as Hartson Ambulance Service, Inc.'s Unit #77 in San Diego. Mr. Hartson bought #77 from a movie prop company circa 1972 or '73.
What a fantastic observation, from an unexpected angle--"It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World" and all of those out of control vehicles! One of my all-time favorite movies. 🖤👏🏽
Reading the comments below by themselves had got me tears, especially comment about Sylvester manages to get hus car airborn!! As a kid growing up during the 70s,I watched this on PBS in Syracuse NY on Sundays. Thank you, thank you for this especially myself a 70s car collector. I even have an Imperial, although mine is a Gold 4 dr Imperial LeBaron, that 413 wedge engine under hood is no joke 350 hp and great torque. This movie always takes me back to such a better time for all of us whom lived through those great years. My all time favorite Comedy. Sorry my Imperial is a 1961 vehicle.
Thanks for making sense of all the vehicles in this classic movie! It's awfully difficult to keep track of all of them by make and model. Not to mention all the comedian characters. Bless you!
Thank you for the car education and the actors too! This was a great film just for the stars that were in it alone! The list of them being so long, probably would have been easier to just list who WASN'T in the film. Thanks again for this.
I am 74 years old . I watched this movie first time in Lahore, Pakistan in 1968 .I still remember the House was full and i purchased the ticket in Black( over priced) three times more then the actual price .Spend all of my pocket money but no regret the movie was worth watching .
I first saw it when I was in the navy in San Diego back in '66, I almost had to leave the theater from the pain in my jaws from laughing so hard...JW tearing the gas station apart almost killed me.
Dorothy Provine is pronounced with a long "I", "Prov-eyne" as is her characters' name, Emeline. Algernon is pronounced as "Aljernon" Sylvester's convertible actually belongs to his girlfriend (deleted scene).
What a GREAT movie !!!! It's a Mel Brooks film that came out 3 years before I was born, so I got to see Cannonball Run, instead !!! the big W.... Then in the 90's we had Scavenger Hunt...
This is a very funny movie. They said a movie like this could never be made. So they wrote it and made it. Showing that it could be done. Now it's a classic.
If you haven’t seen his movie, you must watch!!!! I believe it’s free on RU-vid. When Spencer actually kicked the bucket, well it can’t get better than that!!!
That was done very well. 8 like no talking as i feel ok with pausing to read. Also, not only your format of the actor stats but including the " on the cutting room floor" in your review was very thoughtful and thorough.
Always thought the Dodge Darts (Sylvester's and Culpepper's jet black one) were sharp looking cars. My Dad told me that his very first car was a '59 Dodge Royal with swiveling front chairs. Grandpa was a an old 'Dodge Brothers' guy while my Dad was a Chevrolet/GM guy that rubbed off onto me.
The first car I owned was a 1957 Ford Fairlane 500. This was in 1972. I bought it off my great aunt Alma. It had the original book in the glove box and plastic covered the back seat. I've seen the same car in 3 films. Thunder Road with Robert Mitchim Dr, No with Sean Connery and this movie driven by Jimmy Durante. Each time the car was Trashed. Each time it broke my heart. The scene in the film with the 2 officers stop to talk together I enjoy because both actors often played cops and since they look similar I'm sure it was to show the audience that they were not the same guy.
This was a great movie and frequently available on cable TV today. Loved the cars, celebrities and action. The storyline is perfect and many of the cars are classics today. Wish i had Sylvester's '62 Dodge convertible. I recall going to Chevy and Dodge showrooms in the 60's with my dad to view the new cars on display. That was the day when cars were made out of metal, had powerful engines, rich upholstery, and a smooth, velvet, ride. Disappointed of the plastic, tin, cars of today.
My family watched this movie and we laughed together so hard ....what a great country we were ....now No one laughs as it is " POLITICALLY INCORRECT " to have real humor . My country is so Sad now ....but then ... We shown brightly .. . 🇺🇸☺
