It's a Mad Mad World -- the movie

[Abilene Slim SASS 81783]

One of my sons gave me the DVD for my birthday -- one of the most hilarious movies ever. The DVD is from Criterion which does an awesome job of film restoration and integrating scenes that didn't make it into original theatrical releases. One of the fun things was to include the intermission (remember those?) which is a blank screen and audio of police radio traffic from the film. I had forgotten about that.

 

I saw the original in 1963 with my parents at the Martin Cinerama in St. Louis. Does anyone remember those theaters?

 

Sid Ceasar, Milton Berle, Edie Adams, Dorothy Provine, Buddy Hackett, Mickey Rooney, Spencer Tracy, Jonathan Winters, Jim Backus, and many more. What a cast.

 

This movie is basically just one big chase scene -- 197 glorious minutes of it.

[Dawg Hair, SASS #29557]

_{A true madcap backed up by real (long gone) movie land genius.}

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

You're missing at least two Mads. Maybe you have the short version.

[Shooting Bull]

You're missing at least two Mads. Maybe you have the short version.

 

Mike has them.

[Dusty Balz, SASS#46599]

Greatest movie EVER! BTW the Beech 18 that Frank Talman flew the billboard is now owned AOPA Mike Baker and sits on FLOATS! it summers in MN and winters in FL.

 

 

one of my favorite scenes (use that line anytime I have a right seater

 

 

[Warden Callaway]

I've watched the movie a couple of times over the many years. A few months back I spotted the DVD in the $5.00 bin at Wally-World and brought it home. Last weekend we had our oldest granddaughter go through the DVD collection and put them in order. That evening I asked if she found one she wanted to watch. She had pulled out "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World". She said she had heard us talk about the movie. Sometimes a 17 year old will surprise you.

 

We talked about many of the actors in the movie. She could recognize Andy Devine from the Frier Tuck character in Robin Hood. She was shocked to see Mackey Rooney at near middle age. She remembered him in Night at the Museum when he was 83! We talked about Zasu Pitts who had a small cameo part (telephone operator in police station) and how she was considered the inspiration for the comic book character Olive Oil. The next day I found a short made by Hal Roach with Zasu Pitts. She could see the similarities.

[Abilene Slim SASS 81783]

Greatest movie EVER! BTW the Beech 18 that Frank Talman flew the billboard is now owned AOPA Mike Baker and sits on FLOATS! it summers in MN and winters in FL.

 

 

one of my favorite scenes (use that line anytime I have a right seater

No kidding! I didn't realize it had been rebuilt after wrecking it in the billboard stunt.

[Dusty Balz, SASS#46599]

http://www.prweb.com/releases/Key-West-Seaplanes-AOPA/Seaplane-Beech-18-KeyWest/prweb11341480.htm

 

 

AOPA did a story on her a few months ago, she was re built and certified and went back into service as a corp transport, then a skeeter fogger.

[Abilene Slim SASS 81783]

http://www.prweb.com/releases/Key-West-Seaplanes-AOPA/Seaplane-Beech-18-KeyWest/prweb11341480.htm

 

 

AOPA did a story on her a few months ago, she was re built and certified and went back into service as a corp transport, then a skeeter fogger.

Classy bird!

[J-BAR #18287]

I saw It's A Mad Mad World at the Cinerama in Denver about the same time you saw it in St. Louis. A few years later I took my bride of a few days to the Denver Cinerama to see Paint Your Wagon.

 

Those were great theaters!

[Loco Louie]

Love that movie! My favorite scene is the kid talking Phil Silvers into crossing the creek in his car.