It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World Reviews

1963

Rated:
70
from 1460 members

When an auto-crash victim (Jimmy Durante) reveals that he's hidden a fortune of stolen cash, a star-studded traffic jam of motorists sets out ot uncover the money. The film features one of the largest collections of American comedians (and Brit Terry-Thomas) ever put together on celluloid, resulting in a wacky, far-out treasure .. Read more

Starring	Spencer Tracy, Milton Berle, Sid Caesar, Buddy Hackett
Director	Stanley Kramer
Genres	Comedy

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Critics' reviews (3) of It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
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Director/producer Stanley Kramer assembled the cream of Hollywood's comic talent for this monumental and mostly entertaining chase caper. Yet it's the ever-versatile Spencer Tracy — in his penultimate film and clearly unwell — who catches the eye as the henpecked detective at the front of the race to find a stash of stolen cash. It's also rather ironic that the film was nominated for an editing Oscar, for, while the plethora of breakneck stunts undeniably have pace and precision, the action badly needed cutting by at least 80 minutes. Eventually, the passing parade of cameos begins to offer fewer pleasant surprises and the slapstick descends from the comedic into the chaotic.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
Three hours of frantic chasing and violent slapstick is too much even when done on this scale and with this cast, but one must observe that scene for scene it is extremely well done and most of the players are in unusually good form though they all outsta
- Halliwell's Film Guide
- Posted 02 Mar 2006
Originally filmed in Ultra Panavision for showing in Cinerama (subsequent prints were cut to 154 minutes), Kramer's... read more on Time Out
- Time Out
- Posted 04 Nov 2008
Most helpful members' reviews (3) of It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
View all
16 out of 17 people found this review helpful

A must for any Simpsons fan

A brilliantly funny movie for a rainy afternoon. Slapstick at its best. Genre matches that of The Cannonball Run and The Wacky Races. A must for any Simpsons fan: the conclusion of series 1F09 - 'Homer the Vigilante' - makes over a dozen references to it!
- - Adam James from Leicestershire, England
  - Posted 17 Feb 2004 18:01
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

This is a riotous film from beginning to end. Not many movies stand the test of time; this one is absolutely timeless! The all star cast is a who's who of the classic comedy actors, and actress of the day. The plot has been re-used in movies such as 'Million Dollar Mystery', and 'Scavenger Hunt', but if you want to see the real thing (and have about three hours to spare) you'll see this one is the best of the best comedy films of all times! And the kids will love it too!
- - Ken#14 from WEST BROMWICH
  - Posted 27 May 2004 09:26
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

Its Funny , Funny, Funny

Yes, forget about Rat race (remake, very good, but different story), the original is so much fun. For those of us over 30 (and perhaps youngsters who stay up and watch TV late) you'll remember all the old faces that were funny men in the 60s 70s. Especially funny is the scene when the major from Sgt Bilko is trying to help 2 hapless men land a plane (keep looking out the window/background) and wait for your sides to start splitting.
- - Number7 from West Midlands
  - Posted 18 Jan 2004 19:26
Most recent members' reviews (2) of It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
View all
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

Its Funny , Funny, Funny

Yes, forget about Rat race (remake, very good, but different story), the original is so much fun. For those of us over 30 (and perhaps youngsters who stay up and watch TV late) you'll remember all the old faces that were funny men in the 60s 70s. Especially funny is the scene when the major from Sgt Bilko is trying to help 2 hapless men land a plane (keep looking out the window/background) and wait for your sides to start splitting.
- - Number7 from West Midlands
  - Posted 18 Jan 2004 19:26
EXCELLENT

This is the fuinniest film that I have ever seen. I must have watched this film at least 50 times and I still find new gags to laugh at! Absolutely Brilliant.
- - A customer from Essex. England
  - Posted 23 May 2005 12:21

16 out of 17 people found this review helpful

A must for any Simpsons fan

A brilliantly funny movie for a rainy afternoon. Slapstick at its best. Genre matches that of The Cannonball Run and The Wacky Races. A must for any Simpsons fan: the conclusion of series 1F09 - 'Homer the Vigilante' - makes over a dozen references to it!
- - Adam James from Leicestershire, England
  - Posted 17 Feb 2004 18:01
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

This is a riotous film from beginning to end. Not many movies stand the test of time; this one is absolutely timeless! The all star cast is a who's who of the classic comedy actors, and actress of the day. The plot has been re-used in movies such as 'Million Dollar Mystery', and 'Scavenger Hunt', but if you want to see the real thing (and have about three hours to spare) you'll see this one is the best of the best comedy films of all times! And the kids will love it too!
- - Ken#14 from WEST BROMWICH
  - Posted 27 May 2004 09:26
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

Its Funny , Funny, Funny

Yes, forget about Rat race (remake, very good, but different story), the original is so much fun. For those of us over 30 (and perhaps youngsters who stay up and watch TV late) you'll remember all the old faces that were funny men in the 60s 70s. Especially funny is the scene when the major from Sgt Bilko is trying to help 2 hapless men land a plane (keep looking out the window/background) and wait for your sides to start splitting.
- - Number7 from West Midlands
  - Posted 18 Jan 2004 19:26
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful

Classic oldie

Classic old stlye bedlam film
- - A customer from England
  - Posted 07 Dec 2004 11:12
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful

Memories are made of this!

This is one of those films that just sticks in your mind - I first watched it on video in the early 1980's - I was ill at the time with flu and feeling pretty run down, this has nothing to do with the film but it always reminds me of that time of my life.

I'm about to add it to my 'rent' list and I am really looking forward to watching it with my 6 and 7 year old girls who just love a bit of slapstick - if you've not seen it DO SO!
- - Mark Rowley from Nuneaton - England
  - Posted 16 Dec 2004 16:50
brilliant

Loved the film, we could watch it again and again, and still notice something new about it. Highly recommended.
- - A customer from glasgow scotland
  - Posted 18 Mar 2005 20:36
Good Fun

I remember watching this as a child and wanted my children to see it . It remains as good as I remembered it. A great film to watch on a rainy Saturday afternoon.
- - A customer from London
  - Posted 06 May 2005 09:46
Comic ensemble masterpiece

There is no gag out of place in this great comedy.The acting is superb and the plot convulated enough to maintain interest but not too complex to follow with several glasses of wine.

A genuine comedy classic with a fantastic cast.
- - A customer from Aberdeenshire,Scotland
  - Posted 16 May 2005 11:44
EXCELLENT

This is the fuinniest film that I have ever seen. I must have watched this film at least 50 times and I still find new gags to laugh at! Absolutely Brilliant.
- - A customer from Essex. England
  - Posted 23 May 2005 12:21
'Laugh-out-Loud'

I saw this film when it was first released, ( as a young man ). It is as funny now as it was then.

It has a 'beginning-a middle-and end'.

If this film doesn't make you 'LAUGH-OUT-LOUD'then I feel sorry for you.
- - A customer from Exeter Devon
  - Posted 25 Jun 2005 16:24

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Critics' reviews (3)
Director/producer Stanley Kramer assembled the cream of Hollywood's comic talent for this monumental and mostly entertaining chase caper. Yet it's the ever-versatile Spencer Tracy — in his penultimate film and clearly unwell — who catches the eye as the henpecked detective at the front of the race to find a stash of stolen cash. It's also rather ironic that the film was nominated for an editing Oscar, for, while the plethora of breakneck stunts undeniably have pace and precision, the action badly needed cutting by at least 80 minutes. Eventually, the passing parade of cameos begins to offer fewer pleasant surprises and the slapstick descends from the comedic into the chaotic.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
Three hours of frantic chasing and violent slapstick is too much even when done on this scale and with this cast, but one must observe that scene for scene it is extremely well done and most of the players are in unusually good form though they all outsta
- Halliwell's Film Guide
- Posted 02 Mar 2006
Originally filmed in Ultra Panavision for showing in Cinerama (subsequent prints were cut to 154 minutes), Kramer's... read more on Time Out
- Time Out
- Posted 04 Nov 2008