Best Old Comedies (1910s-1950s)
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- DirectorCharles ChaplinStarsCharles ChaplinRoscoe 'Fatty' ArbuckleChester ConklinCharlie is an actor in a film studio. He messes up several scenes and is tossed out. Returning dressed as a lady, he charms the director. Even so, Charlie never makes it into film, winding up at the bottom of a well.Charlie Chaplin in drag makes a really convincing woman!
- DirectorLeedham BantockStarsSeymour HicksWilliam LuggLeedham BantockMiserly Ebenezer Scrooge is visited on Christmas Eve by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley, who tries to help him change his selfish ways and redeem his soul by showing him how much his greed has cost him and will continue to cost him if he doesn't atone. An early silent adaptation of the classic story, this version differs from others in that Marley also acts as the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future.This is the best silent adaption of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.
The ghost haunting parts are short, but the important parts before and after Scrooge meets the ghosts are there. So it focuses on the heart of the story. - DirectorMarcel PerezStarsMarcel PerezNilde BaracchiRex AdamsTweedledum stands to inherit a fortune, but only if he can prove he's settled down and married. He tries to pass off his friend's wife as his own.A short made by and starring Hispanic film star Marcel Perez.
- DirectorMarcel PerezStarsMarcel PerezNilde BaracchiTom MurrayTweedledum is the victim of a nightmare. The plot deals with the adventures of a club man who has fallen in love with his neighbor's wife, which ends by Tweedledum waking up to find that it was only a dream.
- DirectorMarcel PerezStarsMarcel PerezNilde BaracchiJerry JellmanWhen Tweedledum's girl is kidnapped by bad men, he springs into action.
- DirectorErnst LubitschStarsVictor JansonOssi OswaldaHarry LiedtkeAn American heiress seeks the hand of an impoverished German prince.A fun gender-bending comedy about a tomboy who is the 'man of the house.'
- DirectorErnst LubitschStarsOssi OswaldaHermann ThimigVictor JansonForced into marriage by his uncle, a man decides to fool him by marrying a life-like mechanical doll instead.This is a VERY dark comedy. It's also nightmare fuel because the leading lady pretends to be a sex robot and the creepy way she looks/acts is the stuff of horror movies. It is a weirdly funny movie though.
Warning: Jokes about suicide - DirectorEdward F. ClineBuster KeatonStarsBuster KeatonEdward F. ClineLuke the DogTwo inventive farmhands compete for the hand of the same girl.
- DirectorOtto MessmerFelix saves a girl doll from a dog, and the doll comes to life and falls for Felix. She takes him to Toyland, where he must save her from the designs of the evil Pierrot. As it turns out, though, she's not quite as helpless as she might seem to be.
- DirectorCharles ChaplinStarsCharles ChaplinMack SwainTom MurrayA prospector goes to the Klondike during the 1890s gold rush in hopes of making his fortune, and is smitten with a girl he sees in a dance hall.This is rightfully considered to be one of the greatest movies of all time.
It's a romantic comedy that takes place during New Year's Eve.
There's two versions of the movie. The 1925 version is a silent movie. The 1942 version is narrated by Charlie Chaplin and the music score was composed by Charlie Chaplin. The 1942 version even won an Oscar.
The Criterion Collection-WB DVD/Blu-Ray release of The Gold Rush has an orchestra reproducing Chaplin's music score in the 1925 version of the movie. - DirectorRichard E. NormanStarsLaurence CrinerKathryn BoydBoise De LeggeA WWI fighter pilot returns to his former job as a railroad detective, and must recover a satchel filled with $25,000 of stolen payroll, locate a missing employee, and capture the gang of thieves responsible.A romantic comedy with an all-Black cast.
- DirectorCharles R. BowersBud FisherThe Devil takes Mutt and Jeff to an icy Hell where they try to get the fires going again.
- DirectorPaul LeniStarsLaura La PlanteCreighton HaleForrest StanleyRelatives of an eccentric millionaire gather in his spooky mansion on the 20th anniversary of his death for the reading of his will.An early killer-in-the-house movie. It's also a romantic comedy.
- DirectorWilliam A. WellmanHarry d'Abbadie d'ArrastStarsClara BowCharles 'Buddy' RogersRichard ArlenTwo young men, one rich, one middle class, who are in love with the same woman, become fighter pilots in World War I.This Pre-Code dram-edy definitely has comedic parts but it's also a WWI movie (with actual planes etc. that were used in WWI) so it's pretty sad too.
This famously has the first same-sex kiss in a movie. It's between two male best friends who seem to be bisexual. (Hilariously, they're also both bi-plane pilots.)
Plus, you get to see Clara Bow's boobs. - DirectorOtto MessmerFelix the Cat stays out late celebrating New Year's Eve and gets extremely drunk.
- DirectorJames ParrottLeo McCareyStarsStan LaurelOliver HardyRichard CarleLoony scientist (Carle) hires Laurel and Hardy to raid the cemetery to keep him supplied with dead bodies for his experiments.
- DirectorCharles ChaplinStarsCharles ChaplinMerna KennedyAl Ernest GarciaThe Tramp finds work and the girl of his dreams at a circus.Old-timey carnivals are so interesting.
This movie features Hispanic film star Al Ernest Garcia (as the circus owner).
Warning: Merna's step-father, the circus owner, physically abuses her. - DirectorWalt DisneyUb IwerksStarsCount CutelliWalt DisneyCarl W. StallingMickey, a hot dog vendor, meets and quickly falls for Minnie the "Shimmy Dancer". He serenades her by performing the song "Sweet Adeline", much to the dismay of Kat Nipp, who is trying to sleep.
- DirectorUb IwerksStarsWalt DisneyThe demons of hell play music for Satan, whose delight turns to wrath when an insubordinate refuses to become food for Cerberus.
- DirectorWalt DisneyJack KingStarsGeorge MagrillWalt DisneyMickey seeks shelter from a storm in a house that turns out to be haunted. The skeletons command him to play the organ; they dance and play along.
- DirectorWalt DisneyStarsWalt DisneyCarl W. StallingThe clock strikes midnight, the bats fly from the belfry, a dog howls at the full moon, and two black cats fight in the cemetery: a perfect time for four skeletons to come out and dance a bit.This is probably the most popular Disney cartoon episode.
In 2006, Disney released a version of the short that changed the original music to the song "Spooky, Scary Skeletons," in order to make a sing-along version of the short. - DirectorJames W. HorneLeo McCareyStarsStan LaurelOliver HardyJames FinlaysonOllie and Stanley are two Christmas Tree sales reps who get into one of their usual mutual-destruction fights with a disgruntled homeowner.
- DirectorJames ParrottStarsStan LaurelOliver HardyHarry BernardTwo homeless vagabonds hide out in a vacant mansion and pose as the residents when prospective lessees arrive and try to rent it.A crossdressing comedy with Laurel & Hardy.
- DirectorFrank MoserA bandido plans to run a man out of town so he can steal his girlfriend.This is one of the few positive portrayals of people of color in pre-1960s cartoons.
- DirectorHarry BaileyJohn FosterA dog ringmaster woos away the mouse bareback rider from the mouse clown.This is so bad that it's good. The reason it's funny is because it's super weird. Explaining why it's weird wouldn't really make much sense. You have to see for yourself.