Dullsville
- It’s a Mad, Mad,
Mad, Mad World (1963)
I find that unfortunately, I am a person who can be easily duped into watching a movie based on an impressive cast. It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World is loaded full of star leads and cameo appearances, but the comedic potential for the film must have been too great a burden because the attempt falls flat.
Although arriving two years prior to The Great Race, I felt as though I was watching a remake of that brilliant piece of comedy. Even the animated opening titles screamed of Blake Edwards. Like the Edwards’ film, Mad World involves teams of individuals racing toward an end point where riches are promised. Alliances change throughout the story, etc. Unlike The Great Race, however, this picture lacks all the charm, romance, and endearing characters that make the other movie work.
The film starts with a car flying off a windy, cliff-side road and five male motorists running to the accident victim’s aid. There, they hear a delirious Jimmy Durante spout off about $350,000 in stolen money buried beneath a W in a park at the southern end of the state. The original parties total eight people in four vehicles, who try to negotiate how they will split the money before giving up and fighting each other to the finish. Some drive, some fly, but all end up at the park at the same time, at which point 12 people are now involved. Meanwhile, Spencer Tracy, as a detective who has been tracking this case for many years, has been tracking the idiots during their entire plight. He knows generally where the “treasure” is buried, but not precisely.
Besides not being very funny, the greatest flaw Mad World boasts is thoroughly unlikable characters. Buddy Hackett was the best one for me because I generally like the goofy-voiced actor. Ethel Merman also makes quite an impression as an obnoxious mother/mother-in-law who gets the abuse she deserves. This is the first I’ve seen Merman on film, and I must say I prefer her acting to her singing. Mickey Rooney is in there also, but gives a greater impression by his rundown, aging look than by his performance.
The Great Race had heroes and villains, but Mad World has neither. You loved Professor Fate for his failure as an evil force and were overjoyed by the time The Great Leslie and Maggie get around to kissing. There is no such blossoming romance in this feature; in fact, relationships crumble more than develop. Add to that the more than 3-hour run time, and I’ll advise everyone take a pass on this flick.
Filed under: Action, Comedy | Tagged: Blake Edwards, Buddy Hackett, Buster Keaton, Dullsville, Ethel Merman, Mickey Rooney, Milton Berle, Phil Silvers, Sid Caesar, Spencer Tracy, Stanley Kramer |
MacGuffin Movies 
A little context: This movie was shot in Cinerama, about 180 degrees of screen in a wrap-a-round theater. It was not just a move; it was a visual and audio event. There were several of these. That explains much of the scene setups and the wide action shots. A part of the event was the wide cast of funny people. It didn’t work in the ways you describe, but it was a lot of fun to go to nevertheless. I saw it in Hollywood at the first such theater and I still remember it well.
I think your review is pretty spot on. It’s one of those movies I want to like more, primarily because of the cast. I saw it theatrically on a re-release in the 1970s and it was kinda fun then. But I tried to watch it on TV last summer and changed stations after a half-hour.