It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963)

Director:

Stanley Kramer

Writers:

William Rose (story) &
Tania Rose (story)

Release Date:

November 1963 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

If ever this mad, mad, mad, mad world needed "It's a mad, mad, mad, mad world" it's now! (1970 re-release)

Plot:

The dying words of a thief spark a madcap cross-country rush to find some treasure.

Plot Keywords:

Race | Desert | Bicycle | Chase | Road

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 2 wins & 9 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. Dec. 20

7:30 AM

AMC

Cast

Spencer Tracy	...	Capt. C. G. Culpepper
Milton Berle	...	J. Russell Finch
Sid Caesar	...	Melville Crump
Buddy Hackett	...	Benjy Benjamin
Ethel Merman	...	Mrs. Marcus
Mickey Rooney	...	Ding Bell
Dick Shawn	...	Sylvester Marcus
Phil Silvers	...	Otto Meyer
Terry-Thomas	...	J. Algernon Hawthorne
Jonathan Winters	...	Lennie Pike
Edie Adams	...	Monica Crump
Dorothy Provine	...	Emeline Marcus-Finch
Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson	...	Second Cab Driver
Jim Backus	...	Tyler Fitzgerald
Ben Blue	...	Biplane Pilot
Joe E. Brown	...	Union Official
Alan Carney	...	Police Sergeant
Chick Chandler	...	Detective Outside Chinese Laundromat
Barrie Chase	...	Sylvester's Girlfriend
Lloyd Corrigan	...	The Mayor
William Demarest	...	Police Chief Aloysius
Andy Devine	...	Sheriff of Crockett County
Selma Diamond	...	Ginger Culpepper (voice)
Peter Falk	...	Third Cab Driver
Norman Fell	...	Detective at Grogan's Crash Site
Paul Ford	...	Col. Wilberforce
Stan Freberg	...	Deputy Sheriff
Louise Glenn	...	Billie Sue Culpepper (voice)
Leo Gorcey	...	First Cab Driver
Sterling Holloway	...	Fire Chief
Marvin Kaplan	...	Irwin
Edward Everett Horton	...	Mr. Dinckler
Buster Keaton	...	Jimmy the Crook
Don Knotts	...	Nervous Motorist
Charles Lane	...	Airport Manager
Mike Mazurki	...	Miner
Charles McGraw	...	Lt. Matthews
Cliff Norton	...	Reporter
Zasu Pitts	...	Gertie - Switchboard Operator
Carl Reiner	...	Tower Controller at Rancho Conejo
Madlyn Rhue	...	Secretary Schwartz
Roy Roberts	...	Policeman Outside Irwin & Ray's Garage
Arnold Stang	...	Ray
Nick Stewart	...	Migrant Truck Driver
The Three Stooges	...	Firemen
Sammee Tong	...	Chinese Laundryman
Jesse White	...	Radio Tower Operator at Rancho Conejo
Jimmy Durante	...	Smiler Grogan
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jack Benny	...	Man in Car in Desert (uncredited)
Paul Birch	...	Policeman (uncredited)
John Clarke	...	Helicoper Pilot (uncredited)
Stanley Clements	...	Detective in Squad Room (uncredited)
Howard Da Silva	...	Airport Officer (uncredited)
Joe DeRita	...	Fireman - One of The Three Stooges (uncredited)
Minta Durfee	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Roy Engel	...	Patrolman / Police Radio Voice Unit F-14 (uncredited)
Larry Fine	...	Fireman - One of The Three Stooges (uncredited)
James Flavin	...	Patrolman (uncredited)
Nicholas Georgiade	...	Detective at Grogan's Crash Site (uncredited)
Stacy Harris	...	Police Radio Voice Unit F-7 (voice) (uncredited)
Don C. Harvey	...	Policeman in Helicopter (uncredited)
Bob Hope	...	Passerby in Car (uncredited)
Moe Howard	...	Fireman - One of The Three Stooges (uncredited)
Allen Jenkins	...	Police Officer (uncredited)
Robert Karnes	...	Police Officer Simmy (uncredited)
Tom Kennedy	...	Traffic Cop (uncredited)
Harry Lauter	...	Police Dispatcher (uncredited)
Ben Lessy	...	George - Steward (uncredited)
Bobo Lewis	...	Pilot's Wife (uncredited)
Jerry Lewis	...	Driver Who Runs Over Hat (uncredited)
Bob Mazurki	...	Eddie - Miner's Son (uncredited)
Barbara Pepper	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Eddie Ryder	...	Air traffic Control Tower Staffer (uncredited)
Charles Sherlock	...	Crowd Extra (uncredited)
Eddie Smith	...	Extra (uncredited)
Doodles Weaver	...	Hardware Store Clerk (uncredited)

Directed by
Stanley Kramer

Writing credits
William Rose		(story and screenplay) (as William) &
Tania Rose		(story and screenplay)

Produced by
Stanley Kramer	....	produced by

Original Music by
Ernest Gold		(music by)

Cinematography by
Ernest Laszlo		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Gene Fowler Jr.
Robert C. Jones
Frederic Knudtson

Production Design by
Rudolph Sternad

Art Direction by
Gordon Gurnee

Set Decoration by
Joseph Kish

Costume Design by
Bill Thomas		(costumes designed by)

Makeup Department
George Lane	....	make up
Connie Nichols	....	hairdresser
Lynn F. Reynolds	....	make up (as Lynn Reynolds)
Steven Clensos	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Rolf Miller	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Clem Beauchamp	....	production manager
Adrian Woolery	....	production manager: animation (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
George Batcheller	....	assistant director
Bert Chervin	....	assistant director
Charles Scott	....	assistant director
Carey Loftin	....	second unit director (uncredited)

Art Department
Art Cole	....	property master

Sound Department
Walter Elliott	....	sound editor
Roy Granville	....	re-recordist
John K. Kean	....	sound engineer (as John Kean)
Clem Portman	....	re-recordist
Vinton Vernon	....	re-recordist
Glenn E. Anderson	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Richard Portman	....	assistant foley artist (uncredited)
Gordon Sawyer	....	sound supervisor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Danny Lee	....	special effects
Chuck Gaspar	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Linwood G. Dunn	....	photographic effects
Farciot Edouart	....	process photography
James B. Gordon	....	photographic effects
Jim Danforth	....	miniature maker (uncredited)
Jim Danforth	....	stop-motion animator (uncredited)
Marcel Delgado	....	miniatures (uncredited)
Willis H. O'Brien	....	visual effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Carey Loftin	....	stunt supervisor
Max Balchowsky	....	stunts (uncredited)
Paul Baxley	....	stunts (uncredited)
May Boss	....	stunt double (uncredited)
May Boss	....	stunts (uncredited)
Richard E. Butler	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tap Canutt	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill Couch	....	high wire stunt double: Spencer Tracy (uncredited)
Bill Couch	....	stunt double: Buddy Hackett (uncredited)
Chuck Couch	....	stunt double: Terry-Thomas (uncredited)
Philip Crawford	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dick Crockett	....	stunts (uncredited)
John Daheim	....	stunts (uncredited)
Carol Daniels	....	stunts (uncredited)
George DeNormand	....	stunts (uncredited)
Gary Epper	....	stunts (uncredited)
Stephanie Epper	....	stunts (uncredited)
Fred Gabourie	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dick Geary	....	stunts (uncredited)
Sol Gorss	....	stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Hayward	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bob Herron	....	stunts (uncredited)
Robert F. Hoy	....	stunts (uncredited)
John Hudkins	....	stunt double: Jonathan Winters (uncredited)
John Hudkins	....	stunts (uncredited)
Loren Janes	....	stunt double: Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson (uncredited)
Walt La Rue	....	stunts (uncredited)
Carey Loftin	....	stunt double: Terry-Thomas (uncredited)
Carey Loftin	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Carey Loftin	....	stunts (uncredited)
Paul Mantz	....	stunt pilot (uncredited)
Harvey Parry	....	stunts (uncredited)
Regis Parton	....	stunt double: Milton Berle (uncredited)
Gil Perkins	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jack Perkins	....	stunt double: Jonathan Winters (uncredited)
Janos Prohaska	....	stunt double: Peter Falk (uncredited)
George Robotham	....	stunt double: Dick Shawn (uncredited)
Wally Rose	....	stunts (uncredited)
Carl Saxe	....	stunt double: Sid Caesar (uncredited)
Fred Scheiwiller	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill Shannon	....	stunts (uncredited)
Alex Sharp	....	stunts (uncredited)
Paul Stader	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tom Steele	....	stunts (uncredited)
Frank Tallman	....	stunt pilot (uncredited)
Helen Thurston	....	stunt double: Ethel Merman (uncredited)
Buddy Van Horn	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dale Van Sickel	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Dale Van Sickel	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jesse Wayne	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Jesse Wayne	....	stunt double: Mickey Rooney (uncredited)
Marvin Willens	....	stunt double: Phil Silvers (uncredited)
Marvin Willens	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Joseph Edesa	....	chief gaffer (as Joe Edesa)
Dick Johnson	....	assistant cameraman (as Richard Johnson)
Martin Kashuk	....	assistant company grip
Hal McAlpin	....	additional photographer (as Hal A. McAlpin)
Irmin Roberts	....	additional photographer (as Irman Roberts)
Morris Rosen	....	company grip
Charles F. Wheeler	....	camera operator (as Charles Wheeler)
James V. King	....	camera operator: second unit (uncredited)
Hal McAlpin	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Jack Woolf	....	aerial photographer (uncredited)

Animation Department
Bob Carlson	....	animator: titles (uncredited)
Hugh Childs	....	animator: titles (uncredited)
Tab Collar	....	animator: titles (uncredited)
Art Goodman	....	animator: titles (uncredited)
Bernard Gruver	....	animator: titles (uncredited)
Oscar Hansson	....	animator: titles (uncredited)
Ruth Kissane	....	animator: titles (uncredited)
Bror Lansing	....	animator: titles (uncredited)
Ed Levitt	....	animator: titles (uncredited)
Mary Mathews	....	animator: titles (uncredited)
Bill Melendez	....	animator: titles (uncredited)
Carl Pederson	....	animator: titles (uncredited)
Beverly Robbins	....	animator: titles (uncredited)
Charles Smith	....	animator: titles (uncredited)
Danny Smith	....	animator: titles (uncredited)
Frank Smith	....	animator: titles (uncredited)
Irene Wyman	....	animator: titles (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Joe King	....	costume supervisor

Music Department
Mack David	....	songs: lyrics by
Art Dunham	....	music editor
The Four Mads	....	musician: dance sequence
Ernest Gold	....	conductor: The Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra
Ernest Gold	....	songs: music by
The Shirelles	....	singers: dance sequence
Bob Bain	....	musician: guitar (uncredited)
William Brittan	....	music recording engineer (uncredited)
Ernest Gold	....	musician: dance sequence (uncredited)
Robert Helfer	....	music coordinator (uncredited)
Albert Woodbury	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Frank Khoury	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Saul Bass	....	titles by
Anne P. Kramer	....	assistant to producer (as Anne Kramer)
Stanley Kramer	....	presents
Paul Mantz	....	aerial supervisor
Bud Pine	....	production coordinator
Marshall Schlom	....	script supervisor
Frank Tallman	....	aerial supervisor
Ivan Volkman	....	assistant to director
Clarence Agress	....	physician: Mr. Silvers (uncredited)
Robert E. Blair	....	dog trainer (uncredited)
William T. Hurtz	....	director: animated title sequence (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Casey Productions

Distributors

• United Artists (1963) (USA) (theatrical)
• United Artists Films (1964) (Finland) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1970) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1972) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MGM/UA Home Video (1995) (Spain) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1991) (USA) (VHS)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment España S.A. (2003) (Spain) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print)
• Cosmopol-Filmverleih- und Vertriebs-K.G. (1967) (Austria) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1964) (France) (theatrical)
• CBS/Fox (1985) (USA) (VHS)
• Magnetic Video (????) (USA) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Film Effects of Hollywood (photographic effects)

Other Companies

• Allen Electric  organ provided by (uncredited)
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes (uncredited)
• Samuel Goldwyn Studios  sound recording
• Solters & Digney  publicity (uncredited)
• Stalmaster-Lister Co.  casting
• The Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra  music played by

Also Known As:

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (USA) (promotional title)

Runtime:

USA:154 min (edited version) | USA:192 min (original version) | USA:174 min (restored video version) | 182 min (Laserdisc version) (extended re-edit)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System) (35mm prints) | 70 mm 6-Track (Westrex Recording System) (70 mm prints)

Certification:

USA:G (1970) | Iceland:L | Portugal:M/12 (edited version) | Portugal:M/6 (re-rating) (uncut) | West Germany:12 | Australia:PG (TV rating) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | Australia:G | Canada:G (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Finland:K-8 | Spain:T | UK:U | Canada:PG (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Agoura, California, USA

Company:

Casey Productions

Trivia:

The roles of Melville and Monica Crump were originally larger roles and written for Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland in mind. However, when production on Garland's TV variety show ran into trouble, she had to turn down the part. Rooney was eventually given the supporting role of Ding "Dingy" Bell. Edie Adams, who was originally cast in the role of Emeline, was given the role of Monica. Ernie Kovacs was then cast as Melville but was tragically killed in a car crash before shooting began and was replaced by Sid Caesar.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: The film crew is reflected in the side of the car when Culpeper leaves the police station.

Quotes:

Mrs. Marcus: Now for the last time. Are we calling Sylvester or not?
J. Russell Finch: No! We are not! And I'll tell you why not. Because your son Sylvester is an irresponsible, unreliable, big loudmouth no good bum! Who if he isn't a crook? It’s because he doesn't have the brains or ambition even to become a crook!
J. Algernon Hawthorne: I say: *Good show*!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Son of the Beach: It's a Nude, Nude, Nude, Nude World (#2.10)" (2001)

Soundtrack:

It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World

Greatest comedy of all time, period.

I never planned to write a review for this movie, until I took a stroll through the user comments, and was shocked at all the people who think it is.... God help us... overrated. No way. If anything, it is UNDERrated. I see people complaining about the endless shouting, the over the top slapstick, the brashness, the loudness, the length. I can only conclude that these people are a bunch of humorless dorks.

First of all, you can't just sit down to watch a three hour movie without knowing what you're in for. This is not your typical comedy--this is an EPIC comedy, the first of its kind, that inspired other such epics as "Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines" and "The Great Race" (which happens to be my favorite comedy--in fact, I'd like to say it's the better movie, but props go to this one for inventing the genre). And I can't speak for everyone else, but this movie leaves me laughing from start to finish.

Yes, it is very long, but it NEVER has a dull moment. Even if the amazing car stunts aren't particularly funny, you can't tell me they aren't wildly entertaining. I have yet to see an action movie with better car chases than these. And yes, the slapstick is ridiculously over the top, although I can't see how that's a problem (the gas station scene is one of the funniest in movie history, in my opinion). But underneath all the slapstick and shouting, holding the whole movie together, is that incredibly cynical message. It is a movie about kind, decent folks turning into law-breaking lunatics and ruining their lives for the sake of money. The subplot with Spencer Tracey realizing his entire life has been a waste, and then ruining what life he has left, is one of the most tragic story lines I have seen. But it's also pretty darn funny.

All the critics need to lighten up and see this for the absurd, delirious, hysterical farce it is.

10/10 stars.