It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963)

Director:

Stanley Kramer

Writers:

William Rose (story) &
Tania Rose (story)

Release Date:

7 November 1963 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

If ever this mad, mad, mad, mad world needed "It's a mad, mad, mad, mad world" it's now! (1970 re-release)

Plot:

The dying words of a thief spark a madcap cross-country rush to find some treasure.

Plot Keywords:

Car Damage | Big W | Stolen Car | Sweat | Money

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 2 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Spencer Tracy	...	Capt. C. G. Culpepper
Milton Berle	...	J. Russell Finch
Sid Caesar	...	Melville Crump, DDS
Buddy Hackett	...	Benjy Benjamin
Ethel Merman	...	Mrs. Marcus
Mickey Rooney	...	Ding 'Dingy' Bell
Dick Shawn	...	Sylvester Marcus
Phil Silvers	...	Otto Meyer
Terry-Thomas	...	Lt.Col. J. Algernon Hawthorne
Jonathan Winters	...	Lennie Pike
Edie Adams	...	Monica Crump
Dorothy Provine	...	Emeline Marcus-Finch
Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson	...	Second cab driver (as Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson)
Jim Backus	...	Tyler Fitzgerald
Ben Blue	...	Biplane pilot

Runtime:

USA:174 min (restored video version) | 182 min (Laserdisc version) (extended re-edit) | USA:154 min (edited version) | USA:192 min (original version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (Westrex Recording System) (70 mm prints) | 4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System) (35mm prints)

Certification:

USA:G (1970) | Iceland:L | Portugal:M/6 (re-rating) (uncut) | Portugal:M/12 (edited version) | Australia:G | Canada:G (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Finland:K-8 | Spain:T | UK:U | Canada:PG (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Agoura, California, USA

Company:

Casey Productions

Trivia:

Most of the "chase" scenes--the sequences with the cars--were filmed near what is now Palm Desert, California. If you look closely, you will see a road sign for Highway 74, which runs south from the heart of the city of Palm Desert. The vast open spaces are now largely residential country clubs with golf courses.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the scene at Ray and Irwin's garage where Pike is smashing his fists through the outdoor restroom doors, 4 yellow and blue barrels are seen stacked nearby. But when Pike completely topples over the restrooms a moment later, the top right hand barrel is now orange and black. This "target" barrel, is the only one Pike purposely knocks over as he chases after Ray and Irwin, but it wasn't there before.

Quotes:

Ding Bell: Ah, this is hopeless. We're gonna get *noplace* if we're gonna continue listening to *this* old bag.
Benjy Benjamin: What are you trying to do, lady? You trying to split us up so it becomes every man for *himself*?
Ding Bell: ...And every woman for HIMself?
Mrs. Marcus: One more funny remark from you, buster...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "What's My Line?: (1964-01-26)" (1964)

Soundtrack:

It's a mad mad mad mad world overture

Personifies everything I hate in movies yet oh how I laughed.

Well-so far I haven't read one good review of this movie on here. I don't have a lot to add except growing up, this was one of my favorite comedies. This is totally slapstick, lots of chases and things breaking-silly and almost plot less-but oh how I laughed. I'm not quite sure WHY I did but I have never been able to view this movie without breaking out into Gales of laughter. Since I'm writing a review, I'd like to try to give a specific reason Why this off the wall, completely silly movie appealed to me so much but I can't because there is no reason. This movie is ridiculous in it's way, but it knows it, and doesn't Take itself at all seriously. It's like Seinfeld-a movie about nothing.(Except Chases, things falling, breaking etc). That's it. But It's funny. It's mindless and it's entertaining and I loved it! Since, I haven't seen it in quite awhile, maybe I wouldn't love it now and I can see how it wouldn't be for everybody but all I know is this is one of the few comedies that rendered me absolutely hysterical through most of it and I'm not the only person who had that reaction. This is coming from someone who isn't particularly fond of slapstick. There's not much else to say about it-it's certainly a mad, mad movie and one that gave me numerous laughs many a time.