Comedy

Cast: John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, Carol Cleveland, Simon Jones, Patricia Quinn, Judy Loe, Andrew MacLachlan, Matt Frewer, Valerie Whittington Director: Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam Synopsis: Why are we here, what's it all about? The Monty Python-team is trying to sort out the most important question on Earth: what is the meaning of life? They do so by exploring the various stages of life, starting with birth. A doctor seems more interested in his equipment than in delivering the baby or caring for the mother, a Roman Catholic couple have quite a lot of children because 'every sperm is sacred'. In the growing and learning part of life, catholic schoolboys attend a rather strange church service and ditto sex education lesson. Onto war, where an officer's plan to attack is thwarted by his underlings wanting to celebrate his birthday and an officer's leg is bitten off by presumably an African tiger. At middle age a couple orders 'philosophy' at a restaurant, after which the film continues with live organ transplants. The autumn years are played in a restaurant, which, after being treated to the song 'Isn't It Awfully Nice to Have a Penis?' by an entertainer.

Cast: Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, John Fiedler, Herb Edelman, David Sheiner, Larry Haines, Monica Evans, Carole Shelley, Iris Adrian Director: Gene Saks Synopsis: Two friends try sharing an apartment, but their ideas of housekeeping and lifestyles are as different as night and day. Felix Ungar has just broken up with his wife. Despondant, he goes to kill himself but is saved by his friend Oscar Madison. With nowhere ele to go, Felix is urged by Oscar to move in with him, at least for a while. The only problem is that Felix is neat, tidy, and neurotic, whereas Oscar is slovenly and casual.

Cast: Gene Wilder, Marty Feldman, Peter Boyle, Cloris Leachman, Teri Garr, Madeline Kahn, Gene Hackman, Richard Haydn, Kenneth Mars Director: Mel Brooks Synopsis: Young Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, an American neurosurgeon, tries to escape the stigma left behind by his grandfather, who created a horrific creature years ago. But when he inherits Frankenstein Castle and discovers a strange scientific manual explaining step by step how to bring a corpse back to life, he begins to create his own monster.

Cast: John Cleese, Michael Palin, Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, Sue Jones-Davies, Carol Cleveland, Terence Bayler, Andrew MacLachlan, Charles McKeown, George Harrison Director: Terry Jones Synopsis: The setting is Judea 33 A.D, a time of poverty and chaos, with no shortage of messiahs, followers willing to believe in them, and exasperated Romans trying to impose some order. At the centre of it all is Brian Cohen (Graham Chapman), a reluctant would-be messiah who rises to prominence as a result of a series of absurd and hilarious circumstances.

Cast: Cary Grant, Ginger Rogers, Charles Coburn, Marilyn Monroe, Hugh Marlowe, Henri Letondal, Robert Cornthwaite, Larry Keating, George Winslow, Esther Dale, Douglas Spencer Director: Howard Hawks Synopsis: Barnaby Fulton is a research chemist working on a fountain of youth pill for a chemical company. While trying a sample dose on himself, he accidentally gets a dose of a mixture added to the water cooler and believes his potion is what is working. The mixture temporarily causes him to feel and act like a teenager, including correcting his vision. When his wife gets a dose that is even larger, she regresses even further into her childhood. When an old boyfriend meets her in this state, he believes that her never wanting to see him again means a divorce and a chance for him.

Cast: Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Marjorie Reynolds, Virginia Dale, Walter Abel, Louise Beavers, Irving Bacon, Marek Windheim, James Bell, John Gallaudet, Shelby Bacon, Joan Arnold Director: Mark Sandrich Synopsis: Lovely Linda Mason has crooner Jim Hardy head over heels, but suave stepper Ted Hanover wants her for his new dance partner after femme fatale Lila Dixon gives him the brush. Jim's supper club, Holiday Inn, is the setting for the chase by Hanover and manager Danny Reed. The music's the thing.

Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Peter Ustinov, Aldo Ray, Joan Bennett, Basil Rathbone, Gloria Talbott, John Baer, Leo G. Carroll, Lea Penman, John Smith, Joe Ploski Director: Michael Curtiz Synopsis: Joseph (Humphrey Bogart), Albert (Aldo Ray), and Jules (Peter Ustinov) are three prisoners who have just escaped from Devil's Island prison. During their escape, they arrive at a small family store to steal clothes and some money that will allow them to flee the island by boat. While waiting for the right moment to embark, the fugitives convince the owner to repair the roof of his house so they can go unnoticed.

Cast: Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray, Ray Walston, Edie Adams, Jack Kruschen, Joan Shawlee, Hope Holiday, David Lewis, Naomi Stevens, Johnny Seven, Joyce Jameson, Willard Waterman, David White Director: Billy Wilder Synopsis: C.C. Baxter (Jack Lemmon) is an office clerk who curries favor with the executives in his office by giving them the key to his small apartment for the odd afternoon dalliance. Among them is his callous boss, J.D. Sheldrake (Fred MacMurray), who Baxter eventually learns is using his place to sleep with Miss Kubelik (Shirley MacLaine), the sweet elevator operator the clerk has loved from afar. When Sheldrake coldly dumps the vulnerable young woman, she tries to commit suicide, but is saved by the intervention of Baxter.

Cast: Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, George Raft, Pat O'Brien, Nehemiah Persoff, Joe E. Brown, Joan Shawlee, Billy Gray, George E. Stone, Mike Mazurki, Dave Barry, Harry Wilson, Beverly Wills, Edward G. Robinson Jr., Barbara Drew Director: Billy Wilder Synopsis: Prohibition Era (1920-1933). Joe and Jerry are two struggling musicians forced to flee after witnessing a gangland shootout. Unable to find work and pursued by the mob, they decide to dress as women and play in an all-female orchestra. Joe (Curtis), in order to win over Sugar Kane (Monroe), the group's singer, pretends to be an impotent tycoon; meanwhile, Jerry (Lemmon) is courted by a millionaire who wants to marry him.

Cast: William Powell, Myrna Loy, James Stewart, Elissa Landi, Paul Fix, Jessie Ralph, Joseph Calleia, Alan Marshal, Ernie Alexander, Sam Levene, Penny Singleton, William Law, George Zucco, Teddy Hart, George Guhl, Ward Bond Director: W.S. Van Dyke Synopsis: Now back in San Francisco after their holiday in New York, Nick and Nora find themselves trying to solve another mystery. It's New Year's Eve and they are summoned to dinner at Nora's elderly, and very aristocratic, family. There they find that cousin Thelma's husband Charles has been missing for three days. Nick reluctantly agrees to look for him but the case takes a twist when Charles is shot and Thelma is accused of murder. Several other murders occur but eventually Nick gathers everyone into the same room to reveal the identity of the killer.