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

 Stanley Kramer's "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World"


The very first thing I noticed about the 1963 comedy "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" wasn't its expansive and explosive cast. Rather, it was the impeccable crispness of its color formatting and its incredible use of widescreen. This feat wasn't too shocking, given its director, Stanley Kramer, was more attuned to social dramas and not comedies. 

The film has an enormous cast, with innumerable comedic icons appearing. It centers on a group of strangers who are in a desperate hurry to acquire a mysterious briefcase of cash after the death of its owner. During their race to get there first, they encounter many comedic and slapstick situations.

Despite Kramer wanting the film to be over 3 hours in length, the 2 1/2 hour version I watched was still a tad too long for my taste. It would've been more suitable if the comedy was a tad stronger. I'm not saying the film wasn't funny. I just wasn't laughing out loud the whole time. The comedy is far more internally humorous and amusing.

However, I do recognize one key aspect to the film's overarching theme: that everyone is out for themselves. This simple premise fuels every aspect of the film and its humor. Through this lens, the film is far more enjoyable experience than a simple one-dimensional comedy.



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