A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Richard Lester

Writers:

Burt Shevelove (musical) &
Larry Gelbart (musical) ...

Release Date:

16 October 1966 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical

Tagline:

Something for Everyone!

Plot:

A wily slave must unite a virgin courtesan and his young smitten master to earn his freedom.

Plot Keywords:

Virgin | Freedom | Implied Nudity | Mute | Historical

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 1 nomination

Cast

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

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

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:

Madrid, Spain

Company:

Quadrangle Films S.A.

Trivia:

Phil Silvers had to go without his trademark glasses for this film, as director Richard Lester did not want any historical anachronisms.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In the scene when Lycus is displaying his goods, a sound man with recorder is seen in the background (behind the African dancer).

Quotes:

[Examining a wine bottle]
Pseudolus: Was 1 a good year?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Bowfinger (1999)

Soundtrack:

THE DIRGE

Hilarious and well-done

Despite having some mistakes, I think this film is overall great, specially in comedy terms. Crazy, dynamic and modern spirit of Lester's direction fits more or less well into "A funny thing happened on the way to the forum"(not as well as it did in "The Knack" or "A Hard Day's Night, but very well anyway). Zero Mostel seems to be a little-bit repressed by Lester, but he does a great job, as the rest of the cast. The beautiful colour photography, some funny songs and a funny storyline with a lot of hilarious visual and verbal jokes makes this a really funny picture. The chariot scene, and with it, all the end of the movie is memorable. Don't miss it.