Show business traditionally favours drama over comedy as a significant art form when dishing out awards. So it is refreshing to know The American Film Institute offered to present awards for: 100 Years: Honouring the funniest 100 movies.
"AFI's 100 Years: 100 Laughs" genre included clowns with romantic comedy, satire, black comedy, musical comedy, sophisticated comedy, comedy of errors, baggy pants and slapstick that regaled and entertained people the world over."
Many a viewer will laugh 'till they cry. Some may simply weep nostalgically that so many hilariously funny men and women stars have passed from the scene, their movies providing a heritage from beyond the pale.
Ballots were mailed to 1,800 AFI members, scholars, the media and industry cognoscenti.
Movies only. No TV tripe. AFI limited its nominees to feature-length movies in English.
A pamphlet asked voters to ballot "Regardless of genre, the total comedic impact of a film's elements that creates an experience greater than the sum of it smiles."
It also asked voters to consider "Laughs that echo across time, enriching America's film heritage and inspiring artists and audiences today."
The winners of the American Film Institute list of the 100 funniest American movies, were:
Interesting to note that all winners could be classified under Classic Films - only four within the past 10 years got a mention. Even comedy greats such as: Jim Carrey or Steve Martin did make the winner's list. Robin Williams just made it at number 100, for Good Morning Vietnam.
However, Billy Wilder, Woody Allen, Cary Grant and the Marx Brothers were the big winners. Grant appeared in seven of the top 100 comedies, including Bringing Up Baby, The Philadelphia Story and His Girl Friday.
Wilder's Some Like it Hot was number one. (My personal favourite)Two other Wilder classics: The Apartment and The Seven Year Itch also made the list.
Woody Allen had 5 movies in the top 100. Annie Hall came in at number four. While Manhattan, Take the Money and Run, Bananas and Sleeper made the top 100.
Five Marx Brothers movies made the list: Duck Soup made number five. A Night at the Opera, A Day at the Races, Horse Feathers and Monkey Business.
Mel Brooks had three. Blazing Saddles at number six with The Producers and Young Frankenstein in the top 15 comedies.
Frequent co-stars Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn each appeared in four of the top 100 comedies.
