# Physical but non-slapstick comedy **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 23, 2015, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-but-non-slapstick-comedy/720652 "2015-05-23T14:23:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2015, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-but-non-slapstick-comedy/720652/1 "2015-05-23T14:23:20Z")
I’ve seen several early movies and tv shows. One thing I’ve noticed is how the silent era had an influence for several decades afterward. In silent films, the comedy was much more physical (for obvious reasons)–not just slapstick, but also the actors used more and bigger gestures, etc. There were also things like unsuspecting proximity to some dangerous object; impersonations of various things; and so forth. In my opinion, Dick van Dyke is the last of that school, although Ben Stiller shows elements of it. I can’t find any good clips, but on the Dick van Dyke show, there were times when he impersonated various objects–one time a lost airplane, another time a stolen car. Another example of his talents is the version of the opening credits where he avoids tripping over the foot stool. Here’s a clip from the Carol Burnett show, where he guests as an encyclopedia salesman. There are very, very few actors today who would even try such a stunt. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AN0MwT6ZTc0) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2015, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-but-non-slapstick-comedy/720652/2 "2015-05-23T14:35:41Z")
For what it’s worth, IIRC Dick Van Dyke is avowedly a _huuuuge_ fan of Stan Laurel. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2015, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-but-non-slapstick-comedy/720652/3 "2015-05-23T14:40:34Z")
Have look at Buster Keaton’s films-- the man was a master of non-slapstick physical comedy, performing truly incredible stunts, but also doing witty physical actions that one of my professors termed “grace” THe tradition of large-expansive gestures is as old as theater itself – you had to make your actions obvious to the audience, especially when they were far away from you on the sage. Television an movies reduced he need fr this, of course,bu it continued on. I’m sure there are plnty of practitioner of it tody. ---
**Author:** ![CheshireKat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheshirekat/32/1207_2.png) [@CheshireKat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheshireKat)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2015, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-but-non-slapstick-comedy/720652/4 "2015-05-23T14:53:10Z")
Michael Richards’ Kramer from _Seinfeld_ immediately came to my mind. The over-the-top gestures and reactions he used for that character were hilarious. He was also very talented in using small (or no) facial gestures, which played well in close-ups. I’m thinking of the scene where George pulls out the golfball that harmed the whale. Richards’ expressions were priceless. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2015, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-but-non-slapstick-comedy/720652/5 "2015-05-23T15:06:11Z")
As I mentioned just now in a thread about comedy duos, Frank Woodley of _Lano and Woodley_ is a rightfully acclaimed physical comedian. There is plenty of his work on youtube. Here is a bit I hadn’t seen before tonight: [Stairs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuslVRZtRwA) ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2015, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-but-non-slapstick-comedy/720652/6 "2015-05-23T15:16:13Z")
Before I opened the thread I thought of Dick van Dyke. On an episode of his eponymous show, he did a bit, practicing for getting up in the middle of the night (when Laura was due), that just slays me. Most of what Charlie Chaplin did doesn’t fit well under the ‘slapstick’ label. He made any action funny - running, skating, dancing, boxing, eating, cutting someone’s hair… I guess Rowan Atkinson deserves a mention. A whole lot of his humor is him \*selling \*an action. Ryan Stiles does pretty well without dialogue, too. ---
**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:** [May 23, 2015, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-but-non-slapstick-comedy/720652/7 "2015-05-23T15:22:24Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Have look at Buster Keaton’s films-- the man was a master of non-slapstick physical comedy, performing truly incredible stunts, but also doing witty physical actions that one of my professors termed “grace” That’s what I came into say when I saw the thread title. While I am a bigger fan of Chaplin than Keaton, he’s amazing in The General. Another movie you might want to watch is [Noises Off…](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105017/combined) It’s been quite a while since I’ve seen it, but I recall it being very physically demanding. Perhaps the movie wasn’t (with cuts and breaks for the actors). But when you watch the movie you can tell it’s very clearly based on a play and it’s they keep it that way. The actors are constantly running around, back and forth, room to room, set to set, up the stairs, back down the stairs and it all plays into the show. [Here’s a short clip](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7ZGyUwse2s), but it’s a pretty good representation of the movie. Not what I’d call slap stick, but definitely physical comedy. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2015, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-but-non-slapstick-comedy/720652/8 "2015-05-23T15:42:55Z")
> [@CheshireKat](#): > > Michael Richards’ Kramer from _Seinfeld_ immediately came to my mind. The over-the-top gestures and reactions he used for that character were hilarious. > > He was also very talented in using small (or no) facial gestures, which played well in close-ups. I’m thinking of the scene where George pulls out the golfball that harmed the whale. Richards’ expressions were priceless. This for sure. While a lot of his actions where over the top, there was plenty of subtlety too. I actually want to give a nod to Matthew Perry (known as Chandler from Friends). His work in the movie ‘The Whole Nine Yards’ is great. Amanda Peet plays a great capable klutz in the movie too. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2015, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-but-non-slapstick-comedy/720652/9 "2015-05-23T15:48:39Z")
I can’t find any good clips, but Colin Ferguson’s style of comedy is pretty physical (including some slap-stick). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2015, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-but-non-slapstick-comedy/720652/10 "2015-05-23T16:02:07Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Another movie you might want to watch is [Noises Off…](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105017/combined) > It’s been quite a while since I’ve seen it, but I recall it being very physically demanding. Perhaps the movie wasn’t (with cuts and breaks for the actors). But when you watch the movie you can tell it’s very clearly based on a play and it’s they keep it that way. The actors are constantly running around, back and forth, room to room, set to set, up the stairs, back down the stairs and it all plays into the show. [Here’s a short clip](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7ZGyUwse2s), but it’s a pretty good representation of the movie. Not what I’d call slap stick, but definitely physical comedy. I’m amazed you wrote all of that without stopping to mention John Ritter in particular; slapstick was his specific go-to-move, but he had general physical comedy down too. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2015, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-but-non-slapstick-comedy/720652/11 "2015-05-23T17:14:14Z")
The Farrelly brothers movies are full of broad physical comedy. Kingpin, Dumb and Dumber, Me, Myself, and Irene, There’s Something About Mary. Jim Carey pulls it off very well. . ---
**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 23, 2015, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-but-non-slapstick-comedy/720652/12 "2015-05-23T17:14:47Z")
Have to mention John Cleese and his classic [Ministry of Silly Walks](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqhlQfXUk7w) sketch. ---
**Author:** ![Reno\_Nevada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Reno\_Nevada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reno_Nevada)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2015, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-but-non-slapstick-comedy/720652/13 "2015-05-23T18:05:38Z")
Another one to mention is Jackie Chan. The movies that he directed in Hong Kong in the 80’s have a lot of physical humor in them. I don’t know that they are \*not \*slapstick, since it was all pretty broad. Watch [Project A](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085127/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1)for an example of his peak. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2015, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-but-non-slapstick-comedy/720652/14 "2015-05-24T04:01:51Z")
> [@bup](#): > > . . . I guess Rowan Atkinson deserves a mention. A whole lot of his humor is him \*selling \*an action. . . . There was a delightful skit where one guy is reading from a book, and Rowan is acting out the actions being described. “And he fell to his knees…” So he falls to his knees – and winces from the pain, because falling to your knees hurts. It was very “mime-ish” in ways, but with a lot of personal humor involved, as when he glares at the reading guy for what he’s making him do. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2015, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-but-non-slapstick-comedy/720652/15 "2015-05-24T04:06:44Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > There was a delightful skit where one guy is reading from a book, and Rowan is acting out the actions being described. “And he fell to his knees…” So he falls to his knees – and winces from the pain, because falling to your knees hurts. It was very “mime-ish” in ways, but with a lot of personal humor involved, as when he glares at the reading guy for what he’s making him do. The interesting thing about Rowan Atkinson is that if he had never done the tiniest bit of physical comedy in his whole career, he’d still be one of the top comedians in the world, via his stand-up, writing, and (non-Mr. Bean) acting. You’d swear that he’s two different comedians who take turns playing the part of “Rowan Atkinson”. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2015, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-but-non-slapstick-comedy/720652/16 "2015-05-24T05:07:08Z")
Carol Burnette, now that I think of it, was great at physical comedy. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2015, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-but-non-slapstick-comedy/720652/17 "2015-05-24T05:22:58Z")
And mentioned in the OP, it turns out. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2015, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-but-non-slapstick-comedy/720652/18 "2015-05-24T12:45:53Z")
I give you [David Hyde Pierce ironing his pants](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6mWiPaQ872c). ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2015, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-but-non-slapstick-comedy/720652/19 "2015-05-24T16:26:07Z")
Edgar Wright’s films (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, The World’s End, Scott Pilgrim vs the World) all contain wonderful examples of physical comedy. Scott Pilgrim, in particular, is a goddamn masterpiece of fully utilizing the visual medium for a gag. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2015, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-but-non-slapstick-comedy/720652/20 "2015-05-24T17:33:42Z")
Melissa McCarthy does physical comedy. She’s always throwing herself around, moreso in movies but she even does it in her sitcom “Mike & Molly”. [Here’s a post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=405109) I made in 2007 on the topic of post-60s physical comedians. I was looking for suggestions for a blog post I was going to write. I did write the blog post and I did come up with 10 solid examples but I forget the name of the blog and can’t find it haha [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-but-non-slapstick-comedy/720652.md?page=2)