Movies are magical. They make people laugh, cry, and feel everything in between. Many people go to the cinema to forget their troubles for a while and to live in a world where the impossible is possible. They love to pretend and make-believe, but, the most important thing for most people is to be entertained. People marvel at mysteries, cry at tragedies, and laugh at comedies, and generally audience members like to feel good after they leave the movie theater. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons why comedies are so popular. After all, laughing is universal and something that everyone enjoys doing.
Throughout the years, Hollywood has produced a slew of feel-good comedy movies. One of the most iconic decades for comedy was the 1960s. Indeed, the 60s cinematic landscape was filled with groovy vibes, colorful clothing, and classic comedy movies (not to mention the birth of modern dark comedy with Dr. Strangelove and The Producers), and deserves to be celebrated as such. Without further ado, here are some of the best classic comedy movies from the 1960s.
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8 The Absent-Minded Professor
Buena Vista Distribution
The Absent-Minded Professor is, you guessed it, about a professor (Fred MacMurray) that’s absent-minded. He invents flying rubber, which he calls ‘flubber,’ and accidentally misses his own wedding, for the third time. Now, his longtime girlfriend Betsy Carlisle (Nancy Olson), is trying to catch his attention and win his heart while criminals are trying to get his new formula. Will his girlfriend steal his heart or will the crooks steal his recipe? Find out in The Absent-Minded Professor. The picture (with some of the most inventive basketball sequences in movies) was lovingly remade with Robin Williams in Flubber.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
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7 Barefoot In The Park
Paramount Pictures
“Why don’t you fall over laughing and go barefoot in the park,” with this 1967 romantic comedy about newlyweds Corie (Jane Fonda), and Paul Bratter (Robert Redford) who experience all the ups and downs of married life within the first few weeks of their marriage. Barefoot in the Park is full of belly laughs and heartwarming moments, and is guaranteed to make you want to go walking barefoot in the park, just maybe not when it’s cold outside.
6 The Nutty Professor
The Nutty Professor stars Jerry Lewis as the title character who “urges you to see this picture from the beginning, on penalty of losing your popcorn privileges.” Julius Kelp, aka the Nutty Professor, aka Jerry Lewis, is awkward, traditionally unattractive, and clumsy around people, especially women. Luckily for him, he is actually a decent chemistry professor, and he uses his ability to concoct a potion that transforms him into a whole new man, a beast of beauty. Can he win the affection and love of the woman he admires before his potion runs out? Find out in The Nutty Professor.
5 It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World
United Artists
It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World out there, especially when money is involved. In this goofy action-adventure comedy epic, Smiler Grogan (Jimmy Durante), a just-released convicted thief, perishes from a terrible car crash. However, before he kicks the bucket (literally), he divulges a secret to the five people who have stopped to “help” him. His secret is that he buried about $350,000 in the Santa Rosita State Park under “a big W.” Now, things get crazy and mad as the race is on to see who will be the first to discover the money and become rich. It’s a wild, wonderful road movie classic with an incredible ensemble cast and gorgeous widescreen cinematography.
4 The Odd Couple
The Odd Couple is a 1968 comedy based on the 1965 Broadway play that follows two men who are polar opposites. Neat freak Felix (Jack Lemmon) is sad and depressed due to his pending divorce. To help him cope and move on, his best friend, Oscar (Walter Matthau) invites him to move in. However, Oscar is a slob and doesn’t take well to his friend’s cleanliness. Their friendship is put to the test and eventually, like any good “couple,” they learn to work through their differences, realizing that their idiosyncrasies have rubbed off on each other, and they are both better people because of it. Along the way, though, there’s some very funny moments and wonderful chemistry between the two actors, who would star together several times.
3 The Love Bug
“Everyone has a fantastic story to tell about his car. Now, get lined up for the one that tops them all.” The Love Bug is the story of Herbie, a beetle who is alive. Join race car driver Jim Douglas (Dean Jones) as he and Herbie undertake a series of races and complete a bunch of hair-raising maneuvers. The Love Bug is the original film that started the Herbie franchise: Herbie Rides Again (1974), Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo (1977), Herbie Goes Bananas (1980), and Herbie Fully Loaded (2005).
2 The Parent Trap
“Let’s get together, yeah yeah yeah. Why don’t you and I combi-ine? Let’s get together, what do you say? We can have a swingin’ ti-ime.” What happens when two identical twin sisters (who were separated at birth) meet for the first time at a summer camp? At first, they can’t stand each other but that soon changes, and they come up with a plan to trick their divorced parents into remarrying. The Parent Trap is a 60s classic starring Hayley Mills as the two identical twins Sharon and Susan. While many people know the remake with Lindsay Lohan and Dennis Quaid, the original 1961 film remains a classic.
1 The Pink Panther
He’s a genius. He’s ridiculous. He’s the bumbling French inspector Jacques Clouseau (Peter Sellers) who will stop at nothing until the criminals are apprehended or until he himself is apprehended for a crime he didn’t commit. In the original Pink Panther movie that started it all, nothing is quite as it seems, except for Inspector Clouseau’s stupidity. How could a man possibly be that clueless and still be employed as a French police detective? Find out in the iconic 1963 film The Pink Panther.
