sprite writes
broodings from the burrow

May 8, 2012


ten on tuesday: favorite comedy movies
posted by soe 10:55 pm

This week’s Ten on Tuesday topic is 10 Favorite Comedy Movies. She personally opted to discard romantic comedies from her list, but as I see them as a sub-genre, I’m keeping them in. Plus, screwball comedies are the best comedies ever written!

  1. The Thin Man — This lives on my iPod, in case I am someday stuck on a train or just need a quick pick-me-up. I like to describe this film as screwball noir, much to the frustration of my friend Michael, who once said in exasperation, “It’s not film noir just because it’s filmed in black and white!”
  2. The Princess Bride — This may well be my favorite movie and is definitely the movie I can quote the most lines from. It has something for everyone.
  3. My Man Godfrey — William Powell and Carole Lombard, whose on-screen chemistry lasted long past their off-screen marriage.
  4. Duck Soup — The incomparable Marx Brothers at their best. In case you are under the surprisingly common misconception, The Marx Brothers are nothing like The Three Stooges or Abbot and Costello. The Marx Brothers are smart and funny and you should watch this film.
  5. It Happened One Night — Cary Grant and Claudette Colbert on a road trip.
  6. The Pink Panther — Karen knew, despite our disagreements on some other key films, that I would love Peter Sellers. Once I understood this wasn’t remotely like the cartoon, I was all in.
  7. A Grand Day Out — The funniest of the Wallace & Gromit films. Another series I once refused to watch because I confused it with another (in this case, Gumby).
  8. L’Auberge Espagnole — The comedy of living abroad.
  9. Pirates of the Caribbean — Pirates are hysterical. Especially when they’re modeled after 1960s rockers.
  10. Little Miss Sunshine — Quirky family comedy.
Category: arts. There is/are 2 Comments.



Oh my gosh – I can’t believe anyone else has seen and loved My Man Godfrey! Paul had to watch it for a class in college and I loved it so much I got the VHS..and then the dvd!

Comment by jenn 05.09.12 @ 6:16 am

@jenn: Interestingly, I also was introduced to it via a class, although in grad school, rather than at Conn. But, honestly, it’s such a well done comedy (and with such still-relevant social overtones), I’m surprised it’s not better known than it is in this day and age.

Comment by soe 05.09.12 @ 8:06 am