Topic: November Movie Marathon: Classic Comedy Greats

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As most here know I am way behind on watching the old black and white films. So I thought this month I should rectify that. At least for some comedy. So most these films I have never seen before. And some that I did... it has been so long since I seen them I remember nothing about them.

So I am hoping to watch a nice selection of...

Abbott & Costello:
- Meet Frankenstein
- Meet the Mummy
- Africa Screams
- Buck Privates
- Jack and the Beanstalk

Bob Hope:
- The Cat and the Canary
- Caught in the Draft
- The Ghost Breakers
- Give Me a Sailor
- My Favorite Blonde
- Never Say Die
- Nothing But the Truth
- The Paleface
- Sorrowful Jones
- Thanks for the Memories
- The Big Broadcast of 1938 (with W.C. Fields)
- Road to Bali
- Road to Singapore
- Road to Morocco
- Road to Zanzibar

Buster Keaton:
- Stolen Jools
- The General

Charlie Chaplin:
- Modern Times
- Tillie's Punctured Romance
- Making a Living
- Kid  Auto Races at Venice
- Film Johnny
- The Rounders
- The New Janitor
- 20 Minutes of Love
- The Fatal Mallet
- The Kid
- Cruel, Cruel Love
- Recreation
- The Masquerader
- By the Sea
- Mabel's Strange Prediction
- Between Showers
- A Busy Day
- Shoulder Arms
- Triple Trouble
- Laffing Gas
- The Rival Mashers
- In the Park
- Mable's Married Life
- Face on the Ballroom Floor
- City Lights

Fatty Arbuckle:
- Fatty and Minnie-He-Haw
- Fatty Joins the Police
- Fatty's Spooning Days
- Fatty's Suitless Day

George Burns & Gracie Allen:
- Here Comes Cookie
- International House (with W.C.Fields)
- Love in Bloom
- Six of a Kind (with W.C.Fields)
- We're Not Dressed

Harold Lloyd:
- All Aboard
- Step Lively
- Ask Father
- Ring Up The Curtain
- Bumping Into Broadway
- Chop Suey & Co.
- Don't Shove

Jerry Lewis:
- The Disorderly Orderly
- At War with the Army
- The Nutty Professor

Laurel & Hardy:
- Flying Dueces
- Mud and Sand
- Utopia

Ma & Pa Kettle:
- The Egg and I
- Ma & Pa Kettle
- Ma & Pa Kettle Go To Town
- Ma & Pa Kettle Back on the Farm
- Ma & Pa Kettle At the Fair
- Ma & Pa Kettle On Vacation
- Ma & Pa Kettle At Home
- Ma & Pa Kettle At Waikiki

The Marx Brothers:
- Animal Crackers
- At the Circus
- The Coconuts
- A Day at the Races
- Duck Soup
- Horse Feathers
- Monkey Business
- A Night in Casablanca
- Room Service

The Three Stooges:
- Have Rocket Will Travel
- The Outlaw is Coming
- Rockin' in the Rockies
- The Three Stooges Goes Around the World in a Daze
- The Three Stooges Meet Hercules
- Time Out for Rhyme
- Complete Shorts Collection: 1934-1959

W.C. Fields:
- Alice in Wonderland
- The Bank Dick
- The Big Broadcast of 1938
- If I Had a Million
- International House
- It's a Gift
- Man on the Flying Trapez
- Million Dollar Legs
- Mississippi
- Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch
- My Little Chickadee
- Never Give a Sucker an Even Break
- The Old Fashioned Way
- Poppy
- Six of a Kind
- Tillie and Gus
- You Can't Cheat an Honest Man
- You're Telling Me!

The above is in my collection... plus I have access to Danae's collection, Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime to find others.

[addicted2dvd]

Found out I am getting some Ma and Pa Kettle films... so added them to the list.

Getting ready to go to work. So my horror movie marathon is officially over. If I have enough energy after work I may start this one when I get home (about 1am) though if I do will only be a short or two.

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The Egg and I (1947/United States) IMDb |Wikipedia |Trailer | Universal Studios Home Video (United States) Director: Chester Erskine, Charles Lamont Writing: Betty MacDonald (Original Material By), Chester Erskine (Screenwriter), Fred F. Finklehoffe (Screenwriter), Martin Ragaway (Story By), Leonard Stern (Story By), Martin Ragaway (Screenwriter), Leonard Stern (Screenwriter) Length: 108 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: Mono Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Stars:
Claudette Colbert as Betty
Fred MacMurray as Bob
Marjorie Main as Ma Kettle
Louise Allbritton as Harriett Putnam
Percy Kilbride as Pa Kettle

Plot:
On their wedding night Bob informs his new bride Betty that he has bought a chicken farm. An abandoned chicken farm, to be exact, which is obvious when the two move in. Betty endures Bob's enthusiasm for the rural life, rustic inconveniences, and battling nature, but her patience is severely tested when glamorous neighbor Harriet Putnam seems to set her sights on Bob.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Feature Trailers

My Thoughts:

This is a fun film. And a good introduction to the Ma & Pa Kettle characters. Though I do wish they had a little more screen time in it. But watching this film I can see how these characters got popular with their own films. The cast did a fine job. And I was happy to see Fred MacMurray in it as I have liked everything I seen him in so far. Definitely worth the time put in to watch it.

Rating:

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Fatty and Minnie He-Haw
Fatty is courted by an enormous Indian princess, who proposes marriage.

My Thoughts:
This is my first time seeing anything with Fatty Arbuckle. While not bad, I think I was expecting a little more from it. I think the scenes with him in the saloon in town were better then the scenes of him at the Indian camp.

The DVD I watched this on could have used a bit more cleaning up. But then again considering this film is more then 100 years old (1914) they probably did the best they could with it.

My Rating:

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The Further Adventures of Ma and Pa Kettle (1949/United States) IMDb | Universal Studios Home Video (United States) Director: Charles Lamont Writing: Herbert Margolis (Screenwriter), Louis Morheim (Screenwriter), Al Lewis (Screenwriter), Betty MacDonald (Original Characters By) Length: 76 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: Mono Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Stars:
Marjorie Main as Ma Kettle
Percy Kilbride as Pa Kettle
Richard Long (1927) as Tom Kettle
Meg Randall as Kim Parker
Patricia Alphin as Secretary

Plot:
When country bumpkin Pa Kettle (Percy Kilbride) enters a competition hoping to get a free tobacco pouch, he unexpectedly wins first prize: a brand-new modern house in the suburbs. Although Ma (Marjorie Main) quickly adapts to her new home's push-button conveniences, Pa is flummoxed by the newfangled technology.

Extras:

• Scene Access

My Thoughts:

Now this is more of what I was expecting going in. I like the fish out of water story line that is in this one. Though I must admit that it is pretty predictable. At least going by today's standards. There is several laugh out loud moments. And I liked how opened up for the next movie at the end of this one. Letting us know what the next film will be about. A well done fun comedy.

Rating:

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The Three Stooges: Men in Black
The stooges become doctors at a large hospital where they disrupt patients and staff alike.

My Thoughts:
A fun short. I liked the setting in the hospital with the stooges as doctors. I must say I do prefer these earlier shorts with Curly Howard instead of Shemp or Curly Joe.

My Rating:

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The Three Stooges: Three Little Pigskins
The stooges are mistaken by a gangster for the "Three Horsemen of Boulder Dam", famous football players.


My Thoughts:
While I didn't like this one as much as the previous one. It still was worth the time to watch it. While I can't say I recognized her... according to the credits this one has Lucille Ball playing a gun moll.

My Rating:

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Have Rocket, Will Travel (1959/United States) Wikipedia |IMDb |Trailer | Mill Creek Entertainment, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (United States) Director: David Lowell Rich Writing: Raphael Hayes (Writer) Length: 76 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: Mono Subtitles:

Stars:
The Three StoogesMoe Howard as Moe
Larry Fine as Larry
Joe DeRita as Curly-Joe


Plot:
When the Stooges accidently blast off to Venus, they encounter an alien computer who creates evil duplicates of them.

Extras:

• None

My Thoughts:

Not to bad for their first feature length film. I even enjoyed Curly-Joe more then I thought I would. He really does remind me a lot of Curly. The film has a few chuckles in it and a decent story line. I would say an average film... maybe slightly above.

Rating:

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The Bank Dick (1940/United States) IMDb |Wikipedia | Universal Studios Home Entertainment (United States) Director: Eddie Cline [Edward Cline] Writing: W. C. Fields [Mahatma Kane Jeeves] (Screenwriter) Length: 72 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: Mono Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Stars:
W. C. Fields as Egbert Sousé
Cora Witherspoon as Agatha Sousé
Una Merkel as Myrtle Sousé
Evelyn Del Rio as Elsie Mae Adele Brunch Sousé
Jessie Ralph as Mrs. Hermisillo Brunch

Plot:
Dividing his time between the Black Pussy Cafe and his dreaded family, lowly bank guard Egbert Souse (W.C. Fields) suddenly finds fate leading him to heroism, Hollywood and the good life.

Extras:

• Featurettes
• Closed Captioned

My Thoughts:

My first viewing of W.C. Fields. I must admit I was expecting a little more from it. Especially since I heard this was one of his better ones. Yes, I did get a few chuckles here and there. And I can see how the character he created became as likable as he did. I don't know... maybe I went in with too high of expectations. I would say worth the time put in to watch it but nothing spectacular.

Rating:

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Duck Soup (1933/United States) IMDb |Wikipedia |Trailer | Universal Studios Home Entertainment (United States) Director: Leo McCarey Writing: Bert Kalmar (Story By), Harry Ruby (Story By) Length: 69 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo Subtitles: French, Spanish

Stars:
Groucho Marx as Rufus T. Firefly
Harpo Marx as Pinky
Chico Marx as Chicolini
Zeppo Marx as Bob Roland
Margaret Dumont as Mrs. Teasdale

Plot:
This sharp political satire is considered by fans and critics alike to be the Marx Brothers' greatest movie. Groucho, Chico, Harpo and Zeppo do their best to defend Mrs. Teaside (Margaret Dumont) and Freedonia's honor. Contains the timeless and unforgettable mirror sequence, the hysterical peanut stand scene, and a climactic battle that is not to be missed.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Feature Trailers
• Closed Captioned

My Thoughts:

Now these guys are more like it. Their style and antics fits my tastes well. I like their rapid fire humor. I also like how they have a mixed of both slapstick and you have no idea what will come out of their mouths at any time. Well except Harpo... you have a pretty good idea what will come out of his mouth. Definitely a fun film I would recommend. I can't wait to see the rest in the collection.

Rating:

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The Three Stooges: Horses' Collars
The Stooges are detectives in the Old West. They have been sent out to recover an IOU from Double Deal Decker (Fred Kohler), a ruthless killer who plans to take possession of a ranch that is rightfully owned by Nell (Dorothy Kent).


My Thoughts:
This one is pretty good. I liked the setting for the story. And the gimmick with Curly and the mouse was fun.

My Rating:

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Modern Times: The Chaplin Collection (1936/United States) IMDb |Wikipedia |Trailer | (United States) Director: Charles Chaplin [Charlie Chaplin] Writing: Charles Chaplin [Charlie Chaplin] (Writer) Length: 83 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo, English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo Subtitles: Chinese, English, French, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Other

Stars:
Charles Chaplin [Charlie Chaplin] as A factory worker
Paulette Goddard as A gamin
Henry Bergman as Cafe propietor
Tiny Sandford [Stanley Sandford] as Big Bill and worker
Chester Conklin as Mechanic

Plot:
Man vs. machine! And the winner is every comedy fan when Charlie Chaplin's Tramp confronts assembly line woes in this classic chosen in 1998 as one of the American Film Institute's Top-100 American Films.

The Little Tramp punches in and wigs out inside a factory where gizmos like an employee-feeding machine may someday make the lunch hour last just 15 minutes. Bounced into the ranks of the umemployed, he teams with a street waif (Paulette Goddard) to pursue bliss and a paycheck, finding misadventures as a roller-skating night watchman, a singing waiter whose hilarious song is gibberish, a jailbird and more. In the end, as Tramp and waif walk arm and arm into an insecure future, we know they've found neither bliss nor a paycheck but, more importantly, each other. The times and satire remain timeless in 'Modern Times'.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Feature Trailers
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes
• Gallery
• Closed Captioned

My Thoughts:

I was really looking forward to checking out some Charlie Chaplin. And this one was very good. I liked the mixture of silent and non-silent filming. There was several spots I found myself literally laughing out loud. This is definitely one I would recommend.

Rating:

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The Three Stooges: Restless Knights
Set in Medieval times, the stooges learn they are of royal blood and vow to save the kingdom.


My Thoughts:
This one I found to be pretty average. The setting was only ok with this one... and found that the mixture of old English and modern to be a bit distracting.

My Rating:

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The Three Stooges: Pop Goes the Easle
The stooges are down and out. With a cop chasing them, they flee into an artists studio where they are mistaken for students.


My Thoughts:
This one is a fun one. Especially liked the way they decided to end it.

My Rating:

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Ma and Pa Kettle Go to Town (1950/United States) Universal Studios Home Video (United States) Director: Charles Lamont Writing: Martin Ragaway (Story By), Leonard Stern (Story By), Martin Ragaway (Screenwriter), Leonard Stern (Screenwriter) Length: 79 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: Mono Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Stars:
Marjorie Main as Ma Kettle
Percy Kilbride as Pa Kettle
Richard Long (1927) as Tom Kettle
Meg Randall as Kim Kettle
Gregg Martell as Louie

Plot:
When Pa wins a jingle-writing contest, he and Ma head for New York City. They they get in trouble with gangsters when they lose some stolen money which they had already agreed to deliver to one of the thugs.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Feature Trailers

My Thoughts:

This one, while entertaining, didn't impress me as much as the previous two. I don't think I cared for splitting up the time. Having someone watch the kids while they were in New York. I personally think it would have been more fun to see the kids running around New York. Though what they did with the story line wasn't bad either. I just think it could have been better.

Rating: