Product description

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum [DVD] [1966]

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Average customer rating: 4.5

Binding : DVD
EAN : 5050070020137
Label : MGM Entertainment
Manufacturer : MGM Entertainment
Publisher : MGM Entertainment
Release date : 2004-01-12
Title : A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum [DVD] [1966]
Actor : Array
Audience rating : Parental Guidance
Format : PAL
Languages : Array
Number of items : 1
Original release date : 1966-01-01
Region code : 2
Running time : 93
Studio : MGM Entertainment
Theatrical releaseDate : 1966-10-16
Number of discs : 1

Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
The words of the opening song pretty much describe the menu in IA Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum/I--"Something familiar, something peculiar, something for everyone: a comedy tonight!"--a frantic adaptation of the stage musical by Larry Gelbart and Burt Shevelove. The wild story, based on the Latin comedies of Plautus and set in ancient Rome, follows a slave named Pseudolus (Zero Mostel, snorting and gibbering) as he tries to extricate himself from an increasingly farcical situation; Mostel and a bevy of inspired clowns, including Phil Silvers, Jack Gilford and Buster Keaton, keep the slapstick and the patter perking. The cast also includes the young Michael Crawford as a love-struck innocent. p This project landed in the lap of Richard Lester, then one of the hottest directors in the world after his success with the Beatles' films. Lester telescoped the material through his own joke-a-second sensibility, and also ripped out some of the songs from Stephen Sondheim's Broadway score. The result is very close to the vaudeville spirit suggested by the title--though anyone with a low tolerance for Zero Mostel's overbearing buffoonery may be in trouble. Oddly enough, amid all the frenzy, Lester creates a grungy, earthy Rome that seems closer to the real thing than countless respectable historical films on the subject. Frankie Howerd, who played Pseudolus on the London stage, kept the tradition going with his IUp Pompeii/I TV series. --IRobert Horton/I

Customer reviews

review by: date: 2009-06-17 rating:

The Best!
I was a little girl when I first saw this film in 1966. I loved it then and still do now. Zero Mostel was magic! br /One of the things I like about this DVD is the variety of soundtracks on it. You can listen to the dialogue and songs in five languages. It's great fun changing tracks to compare "Everybody ought to have a maid" in English and Spanish, for example. Or, "I come to claim my bride" in German and French. br /Would this be a good way to learn languages?

review by: Piran date: 2009-05-20 rating:

Something for everyone
A cast of naional treasures bring a brilliant Broadway show to the big screen, in one of the most fun filled musicals ever created. Stephen Sondheim's music and lyrics are used to great effect with the sets and choreography. Particularly brilliant numbers are the title song "Comedy Tonight" and "Lovely". br / br /Phil Silvers, Jack Gilford and Michael Crawford give us plenty of laughs but the true star is the enormously talented Zero Mostel who has us on the floor in every scene he appears in as Pseudolus, the freedom seeking slave, a witty, lazy, lying character who discovers he may be able to get freedom after discovering his masters love for the girl next door. Buster Keaton's appearance as Erronius a man searching for his children is greatly appreciated and he steals any scenes he's in. br / br /When Pseudolus (Zero Mostel) a slave finds out Hero (Michael Crawford) is pining for the girl next door, he sees an opportunity to help him win her heart in exchange for freedom. Of course the road to love is blocked by other people seeking their own best interests out. Could it all end happily? br / br /Locations in Rome are beautifully recreated to make every set believable, as if out of ancient times. There are wonderful costumes, continuing the genuine Roman look, from the slaves to the Roman soldiers. Every building, chariot and extra has been decorated for a brilliant authenticity. br / br /A particularly brilliant moment occurs in the Chariot chase while many characters are chasing and running away from each other. It's difficult to follow who is who the first time you see this scene and even more confusing for the characters as the people they chase down turn out to be men dressed up as women or alleged lepers. br / br /No special features to speak of on this release, just the original theatrical trailer. The soundtrack's available in English, German, French, Italian and Spanish. It also has subtitles in French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian, Danish and Greek. br / br /Superb songs, romance, comedy and a cast that will glue you to the screen, this truly has something for everyone. Though this movie may seem too ancient for some people it has aged without change, every joke, song and tall story are still as enjoyable as they were yesteryear. Take time out of your day to watch this film a quote should help. br /Pseudolus: An honest virgin! What a terrible combination!

review by: date: 2009-05-10 rating:

A Fine Blend
Firstly, you cannot fail to be pleased at the price! br / br /Sad as it seems, I bought this because I remembered being smitten by the 'love interest' girl when I first saw this film aged 9!! br / br /However, I would describe this as a classic farce. It is a light, humorous film (with songs) and a blend of comedy from three different eras. br /Zero Mostel was the established comedian of the sixties, with Buster Keaton in there from the twenties and Michael Crawford who was to become so big in the seventies. br / br /This is 'Up Pompeii' on acid and I recommend it whole-heartedly.

review by: film maven date: 2009-02-07 rating:

It is still funny after all these years.
This is a classic with many of the cast members long gone and some of them in their last film. I had seen the Broadway show and the movie version seems to have cut out alot of the numbers and highlighted more on the cast instead. All in all, it is still wonderful to watch.

review by: date: 2007-07-26 rating:

Fantastic film
Worth watching for Zero Mostel alone. Great gags as usual from Phil Silvers and Jack Gilford too. One song a bit corny but still very good film. Don't be put off by the Micheal Crawford, he doesn't play a Frank Spencer - apart from the stunts.

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