With everything heavy going on the in the world, my husband and I have been seeking clean, old-fashioned, laugh-out-loud comedies to help lighten our spirits. I’d forgotten how many good ones are out there! We’ve watched some old standbys as well as some we haven’t seen in ages. And we have laughed and laughed and laughed.
Here are a few we’ve watched recently—and a few waiting in the wings. Not an exhaustive list by any means, but maybe something you and your family need to get you laughing.
I confess I’ve seen this movie a bazillion times—and it always makes me laugh until I cry. Barbra Streisand, Ryan O’Neal, Madeline Kahn. Even an appearance by a very young Randy Quaid. It’s madcap mayhem at its best!
Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn, and a leopard. What could go wrong? One of my absolute favorite movies.
More Cary Grant. I do love him in comedic roles. And this one is a doozy.
Micheal Caine and Steve Martin combine to make this an unforgettable comedy with an awesome twist at the end! Even though I know it from start to finish, the twist is always satisfying.
It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
I don’t think I had seen this movie in probably 30 years. My guess is I watched it as a late night TV movie during my early teens. But oh my goodness! It’s long—so settle in—but funny from start to finish. How could it not be with comedic icons like Buddy Hackett, Mickey Rooney, Milton Berle, Jonathan Winters, and more!
I love so many of the live action Disney films, but this one isn’t as known as some of the others. And it should be! This is the story of a group of church ladies who bring down a gambling ring in their town. Great fun for the whole family!
Move Over, Darling/My Favorite Wife
My Favorite Wife came first, with Cary Grant as a widower about to be remarried and Irene Dunn as his lost-at-sea wife finally rescued after going missing five years earlier. This original movie is my favorite. But Move Over, Darling, the remake, 23 years later, with Doris Day and James Garner has its good points, too. Same story with lots of laughs.
P.G. Wodehouse’s Jeeves and Wooster books make me laugh out loud, but watching Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry bring these iconic characters to life makes it even better! If you only know Hugh Laurie as House, you should check out his fully comedic side!
Where have you found needed laughter these days? Please share!
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Thanks Anne. I’m ready for a good laugh.
You are welcome! 🙂
Thanks for these recommendations. I haven’t seen many of them. It’s a great time to be focusing on laughter.
I hope you watch and enjoy a few!
Thanks, Anne, for highlighting these…it is, indeed, a time for some good laughs! I am reading a Wodehouse right now (so funny!), which is perfect for this season, but I’ve never seen the series.
You should! I do love the books so much–and the show equally as well, which so rarely happens! 🙂
You’ve listed so many of my favorites! If you like Mad, Mad World, you might enjoy Rat Race. It’s very similar and hilarious. I also recommend The Mating Game, Midnight, The Honeymoon Machine and Easy Living.
Yay! I’m going to put those on my watchlist now! 🙂
Thank you for the suggestions! I think we need some of this.
Hope all stays well with you!
Happy to help! 🙂
Great stuff! We watched Charade with Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn the other day! It was funny! The fully clothed in a suit shower scene!
I just love Cary Grant. Sigh. He is just perfect in all his roles. Charade is such a good one, too!
Try out Fawlty Towers, it’s really good!
Love Cary Grant movies. First one I saw was Charade, with Audrey Hepburn. So many twists and turns, and a bit of quirky comedy in there as well,.
Growing up in Britain, I know both Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry (from Bones) primarily as comedians. A Bit of Fry and Laurie is good stuff, as is Jeeves and Wooster. I loved the Blackadder series with Rowan Atkinson (Mr Bean) and Tony Robinson (who later went on to present history and archaeology programs on tv). These series went from the Middle Ages through to World War 1. Laurie played the Prince Regent in the Regency Era episodes.
Started collecting vintage comedy, before all this… Buster Keaton, Laurel and Hardy, dare I add T &J, Flintstones, Captain Pugwash, Mat &Pat, anything watched as kids in that strange safeworld we used to know.