# Its a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 3, 2017, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-mad-mad-mad-mad-world/785767 "2017-05-03T09:31:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-mad-mad-mad-mad-world/785767/41 "2017-05-03T19:02:32Z")
> [@Wilson](#): > > Barrie Chase (Marcus’s girlfriend) is still alive. From IMDB: > [@](#): > > With the death of Mickey Rooney on April 6, 2014, there are no surviving members of the main cast left. Since the passing of Marvin Kaplan on August 25, 2016, Carl Reiner, Nicholas Georgiade, Barrie Chase, John Clarke and Jerry Lewisare the only surviving members of the complete cast. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-mad-mad-mad-mad-world/785767/42 "2017-05-03T19:08:22Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Also the moment when Edie Adams’s skirt splits up to her hip. One of the greatest moments in cinematic history. We park our cars in the same garage. :o ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-mad-mad-mad-mad-world/785767/43 "2017-05-03T19:27:45Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > \*\*Mickey \*\*Rooney. The guy who was in all those “Let’s put on a show!” movies with Judy Garland. > > Andy Rooney was the geezer who did those witty commentaries at the end of each episode of _ **60 Minutes** _. D’oh! ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-mad-mad-mad-mad-world/785767/44 "2017-05-03T19:33:03Z")
In addition to the cast members listed above, editor Robert Jones is still alive at 81. He got an Oscar nomination for his work on this movie. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-mad-mad-mad-mad-world/785767/45 "2017-05-03T19:33:14Z")
I’ve mentioned this before, but there was an obscure B movie called Won Ton Ton, The Dog who Saved Hollywood which had cameos from dozens of famous '30’s movie stars. It’s not bad, but honestly though the only reason to watch it is to see how many stars you recognize. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-mad-mad-mad-mad-world/785767/46 "2017-05-03T19:38:00Z")
My opinion of \*\*IAM⁴W \*\*has fluctuated over time. It was the greatest movie ever when I was eight but not so much when I was 20. My estimate of the film has gone up since then even though I think it’s greatly flawed and, in terms of comic talent involved, doesn’t give you as much bang for the buck laugh-wise as, for example, **Young Frankenstein**. Still, it does succeed despite the fact director Stanley Kramer was out of his element directing a broad cynical comedy. I’ve said this before but Billy Wilder would’ve been the ideal director for this movie. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-mad-mad-mad-mad-world/785767/47 "2017-05-03T19:38:35Z")
> [@nofloyd](#): > > Murder by Death - not a huge cast, but nearly all well known names. > > Written by Neil Simon > Starring > Eileen Brennan > Truman Capote > James Coco > Peter Falk > Alec Guinness > Elsa Lanchester > David Niven > Peter Sellers > Maggie Smith > Nancy Walker > Estelle Winwood > > Richard Narita - only non-big name at the time > The screaming doorbell is even Fay Wray from an archive. You forgot future Oscar-nominee James Cromwell (_Babe_’s Farmer Hoggett)! ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-mad-mad-mad-mad-world/785767/48 "2017-05-03T19:40:25Z")
Well, there’s always _Who Framed Roger Rabbit?_ ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-mad-mad-mad-mad-world/785767/49 "2017-05-03T19:41:09Z")
> [@nofloyd](#): > > Murder by Death - not a huge cast, but nearly all well known names. > > Written by Neil Simon > Starring > Eileen Brennan > Truman Capote > James Coco > Peter Falk > Alec Guinness > Elsa Lanchester > David Niven > Peter Sellers > Maggie Smith > Nancy Walker > Estelle Winwood > > Richard Narita - only non-big name at the time > The screaming doorbell is even Fay Wray from an archive. James Cromwell wouldn’t have been terribly famous at the time, but went on to a pretty good career. And Maggie Smith is totally brilliant in it. > [@beowulff](#): > > That stunt almost killed him: Yeah, I’ve read that before. I don’t know if they’d try a stunt like that these days; whoever did it had guts and talent. > [@terentii](#): > > The guy who comes out of the hardware store and says “We’re closed!” made a series of comedy shorts and was one of Art Carney’s henchmen on _ **Batman** _. Name him. Name his niece. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-mad-mad-mad-mad-world/785767/50 "2017-05-03T19:44:33Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > And - Apologies **Uke Ike** - I just tried to rewatch A Night at the Opera last weekend. Remind me again which were the funny parts? :dubious: I would’ve sworn myself to be a HUGE Marx Bros fan, but when I rewatch, I just don’t see it. Perhaps the initial watching is qualitatively different than once you know every joke. YMMV. I think the entire film (except for the Allan Jones songs) continues to be a riot, while very little about IAMMMMW remains funny that doesn’t involve Dick Shawn or Ethel Merman to these eyes. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-mad-mad-mad-mad-world/785767/51 "2017-05-03T19:46:19Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > [The 10 Commandments](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049833/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast) had a cast that was loaded with stars who were already big plus some who would later make it big, if only on tv. It had a huge budget, too, as befits such a spectacle. The results are rather lackluster despite all that. Even worse (because it’s less campy and more preachy) is the even more star-studded sword & sandal **The Greatest Story Ever Told** nine years later. And of course **Spartacus** is littered with names as well. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-mad-mad-mad-mad-world/785767/52 "2017-05-03T19:55:14Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Name his niece. Whoa! You have me there! Assuming this is no whoosh, I’d guess she’s someone famous in the world of TV and movies?\* 😕 Looking over the cast list, I was quite surprised to see that Leo Gorcey was another of the taxi drivers. I either (a) failed to recognize him entirely when I was eight years old (which is unlikely, since I grew up watching the Bowery Boys on TV) or (b) I had completely forgotten he was in the movie! :smack: \*Toss me a lifeline here, please! ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-mad-mad-mad-mad-world/785767/53 "2017-05-03T20:00:24Z")
> [@MovieMogul](#): > > Even worse (because it’s less campy and more preachy) is the even more star-studded sword & sandal **The Greatest Story Ever Told** nine years later. And of course **Spartacus** is littered with names as well. “Sword and sandal”? Overblown Biblical epic, yes, but hardly a gladiator or a Hercules movie! :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-mad-mad-mad-mad-world/785767/54 "2017-05-03T20:00:31Z")
> [@MovieMogul](#): > > And of course **Spartacus** is littered with names as well. Really? I thought everyone was Spartacus. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-mad-mad-mad-mad-world/785767/55 "2017-05-03T20:06:05Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > And Maggie Smith is totally brilliant in it. Maggie Smith is totally brilliant in EVERYTHING! Miss Jean Brodie, mmmmmmmmmm! :o ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-mad-mad-mad-mad-world/785767/56 "2017-05-03T20:09:02Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Really? I thought everyone was Spartacus. No, I’M Spartacus! ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-mad-mad-mad-mad-world/785767/57 "2017-05-03T20:15:15Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Name his niece. > [@terentii](#): > > Whoa! You have me there! Assuming this is no whoosh, I’d guess she’s someone famous in the world of TV and movies?\* 😕 Quite famous. Has the same last name. [spoiler]Assuming you’re talking about Winstead Sheffield Glenndenning Dixon “Doodles” Weaver, his brother was Sylvester Laflin “Pat” Weaver, Jr., president of NBC for a couple years in the 1950s, and Pat’s daughter is Sigourney Weaver. Doodles is probably best known around here for his work with Spike Jones and His City Slickers. I should say that I don’t know all this from memory. In fact, I saw Doodles’s name when I was browsing around IMDb earlier in the thread. But I’ve always thought the Spike-Jones-vocalist/president-of-NBC/three-time-Oscar-nominee connection was a nice bit of trivia.[/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-mad-mad-mad-mad-world/785767/58 "2017-05-03T20:19:23Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Maggie Smith is totally brilliant in EVERYTHING! Oh, absolutely, but in a cast like that she still stands out. Which reminds me of another comedy movie with an amazing cast, _California Suite_. Jane Fonda Alan Alda Maggie Smith Michael Caine Walter Matthau Elaine May Richard Pryor Bill Cosby ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-mad-mad-mad-mad-world/785767/59 "2017-05-03T20:22:25Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Quite famous. Has the same last name. I got it without looking at the spoiler, though it shouldn’t even have taken that long. Never would have thought there was a connection! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Mixolydian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-mad-mad-mad-mad-world/785767/60 "2017-05-03T20:23:09Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > How the West was Won? > > IAMMMMW is one of the CLASSIC comedies I subjected my young kids to - much to their boredom and my amazement that it was nowhere near as hilarious as I remembered. > [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > My kids loved it. We still sing “Doubleyewww…” to each other when something amazing happens. I tried subjecting my kids about 2 years ago, when they were 11 and 9. They lasted about 10 minutes, yet loved **Rat Race** about 6 months ago. Maybe worth another shot now? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-mad-mad-mad-mad-world/785767.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-mad-mad-mad-mad-world/785767.md?page=4)