This is topic It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World in forum Film Handlers' Movie Reviews at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.
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Posted by Evans A Criswell (Member # 381) on 07-22-2002, 10:07 AM:
I watched this movie for the first time last Friday night when I had a rather long night with nothing else to do. I saw the version that's on the DVD. Some people have told me they've loved the movie, while others say it wasn't very good. I enjoyed seeing it, and now I realize how much "Rat Race" borrowed from it. After seeing both, I feel that "Rat Race" was funnier. I'm sure that during it's time (1963), IAMMMMW was just as funny to audiences. The movie was very long, and I think the reason I feel that Rat Race was funnier is that the movie was shorter with a faster pace. I read a trivia item on imdb.com saying that the original director's cut was 5 1/2 hours!When I saw the Three Stooges as firemen in one scene, I was hoping they'd do something and play a part in a scene, but they were just there for a few seconds as the camera panned by them.
One time years ago, I saw the cartoon intro to this movie on TV, and the whole time, the image was having to scroll sideways to try to show all of the names in the credits. Thank goodness for widescreen anamorphic DVD!
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Evans A Criswell
Huntsville-Decatur Movie Theatre Information Site
Posted by Mitchell Cope (Member # 32) on 07-22-2002, 12:56 PM:
I'm an original fan of "It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World". I have owned the laser disc version (which was good) and the one on DVD. I found the DVD to be unwatchable as the picture does not appear to be as sharp as it should. I'm waiting for the next DVD special edition to come out. Note: I'm not saying there is one, but I'm waiting.
Posted by Ron Lacheur (Member # 1126) on 07-22-2002, 09:05 PM:
Mitchell, I was reading somewhere that Robert A. Harris is restoring the film to a run time of 187 mins I believe. But he is having problems finding good usable footage.
Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 07-22-2002, 11:40 PM:
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Robert Harris will succeed in restoring "IAMMMMW". While I don't consider the movie to be a truly great film, I still laughed out loud at a good number of scenes. Overall, it was pretty entertaining.And it would be really cool to see it presented in a new Ultra Panavision 70mm print.
Posted by Bob Maar (Member # 763) on 07-24-2002, 03:15 PM:
I attended the New York Premiere of IAMMMMW at the Warner Cinerama Theatre in New York in 1963. I sat in the first row of the balcony. People were hysterical with laughter including my date. I found nothing funny about the film. I could not wait for it to end.Six months later we were opening a newly renovated theatre in Detroit and the opening picture was IAMMMMW.I scheduled technical rehearsal for the film the morning of the opening.I laughed until it hurt.I could not believe how much I loved this film. There is a moral to this......
Do not attend a movie when you are tired. Go when you are not being rushed. It's a movie, escape reality and enjoy yourself.
Posted by Evans A Criswell (Member # 381) on 07-24-2002, 03:58 PM:
quote:
Do not attend a movie when you are tired. Go when you are not being rushed. It's a movie, escape reality and enjoy yourself.
AMEN! I've found I've enjoyed many movies much more on their second viewing because I was not feeling well, was upset, or was undeer stress at the time.
A long movie like IAMMMMW is definitely one to see when you're already in a good mood.
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Evans A Criswell
Huntsville-Decatur Movie Theatre Information Site
Posted by Hillary Charles (Member # 769) on 07-24-2002, 06:45 PM:
I liked the movie when I first saw it, but it has grown on me with repeated viewings. While the comedy comes primarily from excess, some of the performances are wonderful, but initially get lost in all that action. Dick Shawn is a riot!Some friends and I had the chance to see this in a revival house, but walked out after we became aware that the garage destruction sequence was missing! Shoulda stayed for the rest, but that bothered us so much we couldn't enjoy it anymore.
Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 08-02-2002, 12:49 AM:
This is one of the greatest films ever produced and certainly one of the most remarkable. One has to see it in a theatre with an audience, Never on TV in any format, especially if its your first time! I have personally owned several 35mm prints of this, and a friend had a runnable 70mm print till it went vinegar. It was alot of fun and the 70mm stuff was great and sharp as a tack. His print was red but definately was an anamorphic print. Just being able to see all those great comedians all together in one place is alot of fun and who but who could resist Hackett, Rooney and Backus in the Beachcraft plane, or the garage destruction sequence, or Winters peeking around the rock only to find everyone else waiting for him, or Durante kicking the bucket. I know there were several versions of this film that existed and it was one of Stanley Kramers favorite films to make. Those that are interested should read his autobiography, Its a Mad Mad Mad Mad World. There is alot of interesting stuff about many of his films that alot of people here would appreciate. Its truely sad that Stanley Kramer is no longer around to assist Bob Harris in his restoration efforts.........
Mark
Posted by Ray Brown (Member # 1449) on 01-30-2003, 07:58 PM: