Reviews

A very funny fast dialogue comedy that spoofs the films of Humphrey Bogart. Peter Falk stars along with a talented cast of leading ladies. They spoof the ladies of the films such as Lauren Bacall who to me was always a great actress but a copy of Ann Sheridan in mannerisms and Veronica Lake in looks. Mary Astor is also another actress as well as Ingrid Bergman to be spoofed. The films leading ladies are Louise Fletcher, Marsha Mason, Stockard Channing, Eileen Brennan, Ann-Margaret and Madeline Kahn who once again steals the spotlight. She has as many as 16 names and looks to go with them. Dom DeLuise, John Houseman, James Coco, Sid Caeser, Fernando Lamas, Paul Williams, Nicol Williamson and Phil Silvers also appear. Its by Neil Simon and he wrote such clever one liners for this film noir comedy classic. Set in 1940 San Francisco, but filmed on a Hollywood sound stage. The 1970's gave us so many spoof films than any other era. Since then its been a trademark. I mean they have been spoofs for decades but the 70's started it big. Today they still make these films by the dozen but to have such a remarkable cast of pros. A lot of them are really dramatic actors but a lot of them are comedy legends. Every genre has its king and queen of that period and in the 1970's the queen was definitely Madeline Kahn a true comic legend.

Won Ton Ton, The Dog Who Saved Hollywood is by far a comedy masterpiece, but it stars the lovely Madeline Kahn in a truly hysterical performance. She rises so above the material. She possesses the same kind of movie magic of the screwball comediennes of the 30's and 40's and even comes off much better. I think if Madeline Kahn were a star in those days we would have had at least 100 films starring her. But when she made her film debut in 1972 she was a true Hollywood find. After all her first four movies are all now classics and two considered masterpieces. Not to mention two Oscar nominations. But with all that greatness the movie studios offered her parts in so-so comedies. I mean she made some more very good films, but not up to her first four. She was as beautiful and extremely talented as all her peers of the day. I always felt she was one day going to get her Academy Award in her older years, but unfortunately she died much too soon. Bruce Dern, Art Carney, Teri Garr, Phil Silvers, Ron Liebman, Nancy Walker and so many stars from the past appear in this take off on Rin Tin Tin. Paramount has yet to release it on DVD. 2006 is here today and its the films 30th anniversary. I wish they would release it for us all to enjoy and cherish a underrated performance from Madeline Kahn.

Judy Berlin is a unique independent film and stands out also because it was the final film of the late and great Madeline Kahn.

Filmed in black and white and directed by Eric Mendelson, I was actually an extra in the diner scene with Edie Falco and Aaron Harnick. You don't actually see me, because Iam far off from the scene. I met Edie and she was very nice. A good friend of mine is her first cousin. I was hoping to finally meet Madeline Kahn, but she wasn't in the scene they were filming that day. Even Edie was disappointed she didn't have any scenes with her in the whole movie. The rest of the cast is so great. Bob Dishy, Barbara Barrie, Julie Kavner, Anne Meara and the rest all are a pleasure to watch. It was filmed here in New York, all over Long Island. The film is funny and so bittersweet. It played all the film festivals in 1999 and was officially released in 2000. Madeline Kahn passed away in December of 1999, so it was released 2 months after. Even though she didn't live to see the year 2000 she has this one remarkable film for her only movie of the 21st century. If she had lived, she may have won an academy award for her outstanding performance. Watch it and you see if she wasn't Oscar worthy.

The DVD has some great deleted scenes too. If you haven't seen this movie yet, you should really give it a try. Its not a big budget comedy or drama, just a small independent film with a big name cast of pros. I have to say though this is the perfect film for us to remember the wonderful and beautiful and the very multi-talented star Madeline Kahn.

Betsy's Wedding in my opinion is one of the funniest comedy movies of all time. True I do love Madeline Kahn, but thats not the only reason. The whole cast is perfect. Alan Alda wrote, directed and stars along with Joe Pesci, Catherine O'Hara, Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy, Anthony LaPaglia, Joey Bishop, Dylan Walsh, Burt Young, Nicholas Coaster, Bibi Besch, Julie Bovasso and Camille Savilla, but its Madeline Kahn who steals the show once again. The reason is because she plays a normal character for once. I mean Ilove her larger than life roles, but its great to see her in a straight role for once and getting the biggest laughs with her deadpan delivery. Why this picture wasn't as successful as it was is puzzling. It had as many laughs than any other films of the 80's or 90's. It is on DVD and gets played often on cable channels. I wish they could re-release it on DVD though with deleted scenes. I am sure there are plenty as well as outtakes too. It is worth viewing if you haven't seen it yet. Why not watch and post your opinion in a review.

Clue as we all know is one of the most famous board games ever created. So when it came time to finally do a screen version of it, they decided to make it a comedy/mystery. Half screwball comedy and half spoof. When released in 1985 it was met with mixed reviews and a mild box office. I went to see it three times just to see all of the different endings. I was young and also in love with Madeline Kahn. Director Jonathan Lynn got a great cast of comedy actors for this film. Tim Curry as the Butler and Colleen Camp as the maid are not in the board game but are a great to have aboard. The famous characters are fleshed out by these comedy greats. Martin MUll as Colonel Mustard, Christopher Lloyd as Proferssor Plum, Michael McKean as Mr. Greene, Eileen Brennan as Mrs. Peacock, Lesley-Ann Warren as Miss Scarlett and Madeline Kahn as Mrs. White. The lines are fast and funny and though it is very silly, it is most enjoyable. It stands the test of time along side of the comedies of the 80's. In fact 20 years after its release people on this site love and cherish the film. They keep saying it may get remade, that may or not be true. If they do another version of Clue the script would be far from this one. I am sure it would be more of a thriller mystery with comedy in it. Madeline Kahn steals the film as always she has some of the funniest lines I ever heard. They should re-release it on DVD for a 20th anniversary but haven't so far. Maybe for its 25th anniversary they will gives us deleted scenes and outtakes. They must have plenty from this movie. So if any of you have not seen this picture give it a try and have a good laugh and rediscover the great Madeline Kahn.

First Family is a waste of time. It has a couple of funny moments, but thats about it. Buck Henry directs Bob Newhart, Harvey Korman, Rip Torn, Richard Benjamin, Fred Willard, Bob Dishy and two of the funniest ladies who ever lived Gilda Radner and my personal favorite movie actress of comedy Madeline Kahn. Ironically they play mother and daughter and in real life were only 5 years apart in age. Another sad thing is they were also very good friends and died of the same disease ovarian cancer just ten years apart. They deserved to be given a better script worth their extraordinary talents. On Saturday night live they were given better scripts. The only reason to watch this is because its the only film they ever made together. They could and should have been a female comedy team. But this is all we have.

Happy Birthday, Gemini is by far a great comedy/drama, but it has some very funny moments. Based on the off-Broadway smash of the 1970's, it loses its magic on the big screen. Robert Viharo, Alan Rosenberg, David Marshall Grant, Timothy Jenkins and Sarah Holcomb are all mostly unknowns and the real stars are the legendary ladies Rita Moreno and Madeline Kahn in her first and last top billed role. She gives an over the top hysterically funny and sad performance. If this film had had a better director it could have been a much better film. I wish it could be released on DVD being it 25 years since its theatrical release. I remember seeing it in 1980 and it was out one week and gone the next. It is sure worth a look. It drags at times I will admit, but to see the 2 leading ladies together is a real treat.

I think this is one of the funniest comedies ever made. This film should be considered a masterpiece. James Cagney, Ann Sheridan, Pat O'Brien, Helen Vinson, Jerome Cowan, Andy Devine, George Tobias and George Reeves star in this fast-paced action comedy. The dialog is very very fast and so funny. Why this film isn't on DVD is a crying shame. The real star of the movie is the legendary movie star and sex goddess Ann Sheridan. She steals every scene she is in. Its not easy to steal a film from James Cagney, but Ann Sheridan does in this one. I remember when the American Film Institute picked the 100 funniest films of all time, this was missing, but it was in their top 500 for the voting category. It should have been in the top 100 as far as I am concerned. If you never saw the film, please look for it on Turner Classic Movies they play it often. Why they don't release this movie as part of an Ann Sheridan box set is beyond me, she is an incredible actress and even a better comedienne. I won't give anything away. Just sit back and enjoy a bunch of pros do it for you.

In my opinion What's Up, Doc? is one of the funniest screwball comedies ever made. Madeline Kahn steals the show in her film debut as Eunice Burns. Don't get me wrong, Barbra Streisand, Ryan O'Neal, Kenneth Mars, Austin Pendelton, Michael Murphy, Sorrel Booke and Mabel Albertson all shine as well. Its utter nonsense from beginning to end and its so much like the comedies of the 30's and 40's it takes off from. The chase scene at the end of the film is hilarious. The dialog is crisp and clever and goes at fast speed. Love the San Francisco locations in the movie. Peter Bogdonavich is a very good comedy director. His third film and it should have gotten Oscar nods for some of the cast. I think its a great DVD to own and for todays audiences to discover the late and great Madeline Kahn who should have gotten an academy award nomination for her brilliant work. A true Hollywood comedy classic of the 70's.