The Ritz Brothers parody Alice Faye in 1937

[hebneh]

I've always wondered how Alice Faye being posed at the beginning and the end of her part of the number, looking like a hooker leaning on a streetlight, got past the censors of this time period. The Breen Office usually was really paranoid about anything that suggested sex, even very slightly. Yet here she looks like, and acts like, a tawdry lady of the night.

[albanybeardguy]

MUCH better than usual Ritz- they knew enough to keep the parody short and sweet

[LazlosPlane]

Here (in Seinfeld) we find Harlequin in full flower in the character of Kramer, with signature hair, clothing and physicality.

Also special note to Sid Ceasar, Dick Van Dyke, Joan Davis, Lucille Ball, and many others whose connection to the classic (not to mention funnier) traditions of comedy were thankfully kept alive in America.

The French can continue to adore Jerry Lewis.

[LazlosPlane]

It (the connection to Comm Del Arte) in much of the comedy of early television. Ed Norton (Art Carney) is an obvious Harelquin down to the costume (vest, tee-shirt, hat), as well as Gleason's characters including Ralph Kramden. Then, the formulas took over TV as well, leaving us with the deadness and bland stupidity of the comedy of the mid-to late sixties through today. One exception, among others, of course, was Seinfeld. (continued)

[LazlosPlane]

Losun,

No doubt that M. Sadoul was correct TO A DEGREE. The Ritz Brothers are an exception perhaps not known to him, and Bob Hope's early comedic acting was superb.

Hollywood became formula driven by the 1940's so much of the comedy is this bland, predictable, flavorless gunk. When INDIVIDUALS are left to create, unhindered by studio dictates, the product is so much better. But the connection to Commedia Del' Arte never completely disappeared.  (continued)

[NAN752]

The Ritz brothers were solid gold in their comdey. They parody Alice Faye to perfection with many, many laughs. Their bit in this was just great!

[NAN752]

The Ritz Brothers were solid gold in their comedy. I love this clip with them, it's a standout.

[RoxyTG1]

That jump on the the moving walls was actually quite impressive lol if the timing had been wrong we would have a very squished man in drag!

[antinotis]

That outfit is so bad that it looks better on him than on Alice.

[thespawnof66]

I remember Hawkeye Pierce in M*A*S*H making a reference to the Ritz Brothers, but I never had a clue to what he was referring to till now. They seem reasonably amusing , but I think that one guy needs to shave his legs. (just a thought)

[tombradley]

Jesus Christ on a bicycle do I love the Ritz Brothers! Beyond their unique gift I am astounded at how unknown they are. I suppose most of the great comedic talent is forgotten or ignored today, but I'm 60 and few of my contemporaries know of them. That one little hands flutter Harry does after wandering into the distance is worth the price of admission.

[njdriver]

Hilarious. First class musical this number definately ranks among the best. There should be a revival, it would work today just as well!

[Losun]

Gee.Thanks for saying that. Do you know that what you said was also said by the great french movie critc Georges Sadoul? He said that american comedians lost the touch with commedia d'ell arte after the mid thirties.

Abbott and Costello made some good movies though, their film called Pardon my sarong I'd consider a classic, but then again that is only one good among a lot of mediocre or bad films.

[karlakor]

Comedy in Hollywood began a nosedive around this period, reaching its lowest point ever during the 1940s, with the likes of Bob Hope, Abbott and Costello, and the Ritz Brothers.  Chaplin, Keaton, Laurel and Hardy, W.C. Fields, and the Marx Brothers put the comedians of this period to shame. It's no wonder that comedies of the 1940s were so heavily padded with musical numbers, given the dearth of talent.

[Losun]

I don't know. I just can't agree with you completely. This clip is hilarious, I love it.

The comedians you listed as good mostly came from vaudeville, and the ones you listed as bad ones didn't.

The society changed too by the 1940s too. The moviegoing audiences didn't need to face a depression, and therefore comedy became less important, making the studios care less.

I have to note also that Abbott and Costello were extremely popular in their time, one of the nuber ones at the box office.

[karlakor]

You are absolutely right,. Society had changed by the 1940s, and the comedians from that period were extremely popular, especially Abbott and Costello, whose pictures saved Universal Studios from bankruptcy. It is also true that the short subject, in which the comedians from the 1930s were so brilliant, was falling out of favor, and studios concentrated more on full-length pictures in which the story was of primary importance, with comic interludes being secondary. Your points are well taken.