# Great moments in physical comedy **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 28, 2010, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-physical-comedy/534129 "2010-03-28T19:12:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Enuma\_Elish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5e9695/32.png) [@Enuma\_Elish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enuma_Elish)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-physical-comedy/534129/21 "2010-03-29T01:05:43Z")
Basil Fawlty (to Polly): “Oh, its my fault, is it? I thought it was your fault for falling asleep or Manuel’s fault for not waking you, and all the while it was my fault. Oh, its so obvious now I’ve seen the light! Well, I must be punished then, mustn’t I?” [Basil spanks himself…] ---
**Author:** ![Chef\_Troy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Chef\_Troy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chef_Troy)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-physical-comedy/534129/22 "2010-03-29T01:39:54Z")
In her short-lived sitcom, Ellen Degeneres once did an opening scene where she went to get a drink from a water cooler in her kitchen and it was empty, so she struggled to lift a new bottle of water into place. She staggered all over the kitchen, spraying water everywhere, and finally got the bottle into place with maybe ten percent of the water remaining in the bottle; she then got herself a glass of water and squelched out of the kitchen. Comedy GOLD. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-physical-comedy/534129/23 "2010-03-29T01:53:21Z")
The famous “mirror scene” in _Duck Soup_ has to be one of the most imitated physical comedy bits. There are way too many in _The General_ to count, but I _love_ the basic structure of the movie - they go somewhere and then they come back. So every single set piece in the first half pays off in the second. God, it’s funny. If you don’t think you like silents, give it a try. For another silent masterpiece, the dance scene with the behind the scenes tailor in _The Freshman._ ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-physical-comedy/534129/24 "2010-03-29T01:57:16Z")
Ab Fab: Patsy drunk and falling into the open grave at the cemetery. Peter Sellers on the parallel bars, then dismounting down the stairwell. Peter Sellers trying to control his hand (as Dr. Strangelove). Clouseau and Cato fighting in his apartment. Peter Boyle as the monster, dancing to Puttin’ On The Ritz. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-physical-comedy/534129/25 "2010-03-29T02:01:42Z")
Jackie Gleason had his moments on **The Honeymooners**. My favorite bit of physical comedy was in the episode where he has a really bad backache. He’s all hunched over, and trying to hide it from Alice, but the slightest touch sends him into agony. He finally gets himself more or less under control, when his uncle drops by to see him. You can see it coming, but it’s still priceless when Uncle Leo bellows, “It’s GOOD to see you Ralph!” And slaps him on the back. EDIT: Found a [link](http://www.youtube.com/user/THOUSANDAlRE#p/u/5/SfMXtuA2hvA). That’s part 2 of the episode, and probably should be watched from the beginning. But the moment I’ve referred to begins around 7:40. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-physical-comedy/534129/26 "2010-03-29T02:06:53Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Peter Sellers on the parallel bars, then dismounting down the stairwell. And smashing the piano with the flail attached to the armor gauntlet. “That’s a priceless Steinway!” “Nut anymore.” ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-physical-comedy/534129/27 "2010-03-29T02:27:55Z")
Easily missed: The background antics of the court reporter in the courtroom scene in _Kentucky Fried Movie._ " " _Airplane._ " " _Airplane II._ ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-physical-comedy/534129/28 "2010-03-29T02:31:08Z")
[Sam Peckinpah’s _Salad Days._](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vd3jGkxw0c&NR=1) ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-physical-comedy/534129/29 "2010-03-29T03:08:00Z")
Curly gets the worst of a pie fight [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwirWWnzJKM#t=2m45s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwirWWnzJKM#t=2m45s) The very end of _Hoi Polloi_ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvjvYA5zAfA#t=7m41s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvjvYA5zAfA#t=7m41s) (colorized really well IMHO) And I think the original Ministry of Silly Walks is just as funny as the Fawlty Towers goose step. In fact, contrary to what Cleese thinks, him doing the silly walk is inherently hilarious. > [@NDP](#): > > Yes, Kovacs’ “Nairobi Trio” represents one of the earliest examples of surreal dadaist humor in mainstream American culture. Firesign Theater, Andy Kaufman, early SNL, and a good chunk of comedy from the last 40 or so years has its roots here. Beyond that, however, it’s a waste of time to explain it. It either strikes you as funny or it doesn’t. I disagree. The setting and most of the action is exactly as you say. But surely the ape using the timpani mallets on the other ape in sync with the music is pure physical comedy, made funnier by the setting. It’d work in a cartoon, for example. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-physical-comedy/534129/30 "2010-03-29T03:26:44Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > There are way too many in _The General_ to count, but I _love_ the basic structure of the movie - they go somewhere and then they come back. So every single set piece in the first half pays off in the second. God, it’s funny. If you don’t think you like silents, give it a try. I came in to mention _The General_. Another Buster Keaton favorite of mine that is chockful of physical comedy is _Seven Chances_ (1925). Wonderful stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-physical-comedy/534129/31 "2010-03-29T03:32:13Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > When it’s bad, it’s unwatchable, but when it’s good, you never forget it. > > In a car ride earlier today, “Foxy Lady” came on the radio, and my brain automatically went to [this awesome scene in Wayne’s World](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62SqSIOBxeg). I cannot hear that song without picturing the sleeves on the flannel tied around Garth’s waist bouncing up and down in conjunction with his pelvic thrusts. The first time I saw it, I was laughing so hard I could barely breathe. > > There are a lot of classics in physical comedy–what are some of your favorites? When I think of Wayne’s World, I always think of the [Hi Wayne](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT_NEcUFmf8) scene. Cracks me up every time. ---
**Author:** ![Pyper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pyper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pyper)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-physical-comedy/534129/32 "2010-03-29T04:18:44Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > There are way too many in _The General_ to count, but I _love_ the basic structure of the movie - they go somewhere and then they come back. So every single set piece in the first half pays off in the second. God, it’s funny. If you don’t think you like silents, give it a try. There is a scene in _The General_ where Buster Keaton is chasing the stolen train across a bridge. He leaps to catch the end of the train, misses…and falls right off the bottom of the screen (turns out there was a hole in the tracks). That scene made me laugh out loud in astonishment. I don’t I’ve before or since seen a film that had the actor actually vanish off the bottom of the screen. It’s amazingly funny! ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-physical-comedy/534129/33 "2010-03-29T04:27:40Z")
BTW for _The General_: The destruction of the bridge with the train on it toward the end was the most expensive movie stunt up to that date. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-physical-comedy/534129.md?page=1)