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A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Contact:
Release Date:
16 October 1966 (USA)
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Tagline:
Something for Everyone!
Plot:
A wily slave must unite a virgin courtesan and his young smitten master to earn his freedom. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Virgin
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Freedom
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Implied Nudity
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Mute
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Historical
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Awards:
Won Oscar.
Another 1 nomination
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NewsDesk:
(11 articles)
Harold Prince Talks Phantom's Lasting Emotional Power to Las Vegas Review Journal
(From BroadwayWorld.com. 28 November 2009, 3:06 PM, PST)
Assume Crash Positions For 'Boeing-Boeing' At Florida Rep
(From BroadwayWorld.com. 1 November 2009, 12:03 PM, PST)
(From BroadwayWorld.com. 28 November 2009, 3:06 PM, PST)
Assume Crash Positions For 'Boeing-Boeing' At Florida Rep
(From BroadwayWorld.com. 1 November 2009, 12:03 PM, PST)
User Comments:
A Half-Full Glass
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Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Zero Mostel | ... | Pseudolus |
 | Phil Silvers | ... | Marcus Lycus |
 | Buster Keaton | ... | Erronius |
 | Michael Crawford | ... | Hero |
 | Jack Gilford | ... | Hysterium |
| Annette Andre | ... | Philia |
| Michael Hordern | ... | Senex |
| Leon Greene | ... | Captain Miles Gloriosus |
| Roy Kinnear | ... | Gladiator Instructor |
| Alfie Bass | ... | Gatekeeper |
| John Bluthal | ... | Roman Chief Guard |
| Pamela Brown | ... | High Priestess |
| Patricia Jessel | ... | Domina |
| Beatrix Lehmann | ... | Domina's Mother |
| Frank Thornton | ... | Roman Sentry |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
99 min
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.66 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Canada:G (Quebec) |
Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) |
Argentina:Atp |
Australia:PG |
Finland:S |
Sweden:11 |
USA:Approved |
Singapore:PG |
UK:PG (video rating) |
UK:A (original rating)
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Phil Silvers had to go without his trademark glasses for this film, as director Richard Lester did not want any historical anachronisms.
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Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: The supposedly stone bier upon which Hysterium (disguised as Philia) is lying, jiggles when Miles Gloriosus leans on it.
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Quotes:
Miles Gloriosus:
Oh, her bridal bower becomes a burial bier of bitter bereavement!
Pseudolus: Very good! Can you say "Titus the tailor told ten tall tales to Titania the titmouse"?
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Pseudolus: Very good! Can you say "Titus the tailor told ten tall tales to Titania the titmouse"?
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Soundtrack:
MY BRIDE
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (62 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
|---|---|
| Buster | myersangl7 |
| Cast for a remake | Tadaa-1 |
| Sondheim Sucks! | CAWA |
| three, fives, and monty python | dgoldmeier |
| shakespeare | lindisney |
| Wonderfully funny film!! | emma_crawfordgreene |
Recommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
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| Ben-Hur | The Viking Queen | Spartacus | The Phantom of the Opera | Gladiator |
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Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Comedy section | IMDb USA section |
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"Forum" is one film adaptation of a Broadway musical that is a half-glass of water. On the half-full side we get to see Zero Mostel and Jack Gilford reprising their Broadway roles, and they're joined by a fine supporting cast including Phil Silvers as Lycus (ironically, he would star as Pseudolus in the 1972 Broadway revival) and Buster Keaton in his last film. But even though the film delivers the laughs and opens itself up well from its stage origins (let's face it. That climactic chase in the Broadway version is wonderful but it just wouldn't work on film at all). But what I can't forgive is how nearly three-quarters of Sondheim's outstanding score (his best I think) has been jettisoned to give us a too short running time of barely an hour and a half. And on top of that, why do *both* of Milos Gloriosus's numbers get kept, while Mostel's two best numbers from Broadway, "Pretty Little Picture" and "Free" (which is supposed to be the heart of the show) are gone (along with Gilford's "I'm Calm")? That, I do not understand at all. It's gotten to a point where I purposefully stop the film after Psuedolus falls out of the tree so I can then play Mostel's version of "Free" from the Broadway cast CD (which is where it would have belonged in the film). And it's too bad this wasn't a roadshow movie with an intermission because Mostel's funny Act One closer would have worked great there as well.
All in all it's worth having, but be prepared for your mood to shift from seeing the film as a half-full glass or a half-empty one.