Dad's Top 20 Screwball Comedy Films - Ranked!

Countdown from #20 to #1.

This includes Dad's spoiler-free Mini-Preview!

Honorable Mention

Christmas in Connecticut (1945), Director: Peter Godfrey, Rated Approved

It's the fun show that's the one show to see!

Film ClipStarring: Barbara Stanwyck, Dennis Morgan, Sydney Greenstreet, Reginald Gardiner, S. Z. Sakall, Robert Shayne, Una O'Connor, Frank Jenks, Joyce Compton, Dick Elliott

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"All my life I promised myself a mink coat. You know, Felix, it's very important to keep promises, especially to yourself." - Elizabeth Lane

Why watch this? This screwball holiday classic bounces off a lot of walls, and thoroughly entertains.

Plot Summary: Elizabeth Lane writes a well-known weekly newspaper article about her country lifestyle which includes a Connecticut farm, husband, baby, and her set of delicious recipes. The only issue is that she's actually single, lives in a NYC flat, and can't boil an egg (the recipes are from her chef "uncle", Felix Bassenak). Her publisher, Mr. Yardley has no idea of her charade, and requires that she host a Christmas dinner at her farm, for returning war hero Jeff Jones, who loves her recipes. This forces Elizabeth into a jam to keep up the ruse or lose her job.

  Dad's Preview:  The theme is basically "how far can you carry a lie until it backfires on you." Regardless, it does make for a very funny Christmas yarn centered on a spunky single lady, who will do almost anything to stay employed. That is, until she falls in love with the right guy. Stanwyck's dry sense of humor is a delight as Ms. Lane, while Sydney Greenstreet also shines as her demanding boss.     


William Jacobs; Warner Bros.

Top 20 Screwball Comedy Films #20     Top

Barbie (2023), Director: Greta Gerwig, rated PG-13

She's everything. He's just Ken.

Film ClipStarring: Margo Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Kate McKinnon, Simu Liu, America Ferrera, Ariana Greenblatt, Rhea Perlman, Helen Mirren (narrator), Will Ferrell, Michael Cera

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"It is literally impossible to be a woman... You have to never get old, never be rude, never show off, never be selfish, never fall down, never fail, never show fear, never get out of line. It's too hard! It's too contradictory and nobody gives you a medal or says thank you!" - Gloria

Why watch this? It is so much more than a cute little film about dolls for girls.

Plot Summary: After experiencing an existential crisis, a "stereotypical" Barbie leaves the seemingly perfect Barbieland to travel to the human world in order to find her true purpose. She is accompanied by Ken, who discovers a newfound, distorted appreciation for patriarchy and brings these ideas back to their home, causing a chaotic shift in power dynamics. Barbie must then work to restore balance to her world while coming to terms with the complexities of humanity.

  Dad's Preview: After the creation of this film I am wagering that there was a pink paint shortage. My wife was constantly screaming things like, "I had Quick Curl Barbie!" Using Mattel's iconic blonde gal, magically portrayed by Margo Robbie, and her chic accessories, many themes are hilariously explored: commercialism, toxic masculinity, and the systematic oppression of women. It's not even trying to hide it. It is hard to comprehend how a film about plastic playthings can be so controversial, but it caused a right-wing meltdown akin to Biden trying to pass gun legislation. God, what causes such fear and insecurity in so many men. My advice - Grow up. Stop being misogynistic jerks. It's a bad look. Your mother was a woman, so show some damn respect. After all, they are women, hear them roar.  


Heyday Films, LuckyChap Ent., NB/GG Pics,
Mattel Films; Warner Bros. Pictures

Top 20 Screwball Comedy Films #19     Top

Charade (1983), Director: Stanley Donen, Rated Approved

Is Anyone Really Who They Seem To Be?

Film ClipStarring: Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Walter Matthau, James Coburn, George Kennedy, Dominique Minot, Ned Glass, Jacqeus Marin, Paul Bonifas

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Of course, you won't be able to lie on your back for a while but then you can lie from any position, can't you?" - Reggie Lampert

Why watch this? It has been called "the best Hitchcock movie Hitchcock never made"

Plot Summary: After the suspicious death of her husband in Paris, Regina "Reggie" Lampert, garners a lot of interest from many individuals including the local police inspector, three extremely tough henchmen, a CIA Administrator, and a suave, charming American. The focus is centered around $250,000 dollars in gold that went missing during World War II. Apparently her late husband double-crossed his cohorts, and they're ready to collect.

  Dad's Preview:  This delightful who's who mystery keeps you guessing to the very exciting end. The chemistry between Grant and Hepburn is a pleasure, even if he might be one of the bad guys. Convincing villains make any film better, and here my hat goes off to the cool, calculating James Coburn and ruthless, hook-handed George Kennedy.  


Stanley Donen Films; Universal Pictures

Top 20 Screwball Comedy Films #18     Top

Foul Play (1978), Director: Collin Higgins, rated PG

It's a highly dangerous comedy!!

Film ClipStarring: Goldie Hawn, Chevy Chase, Burgess Meredith, Brian Dennehy, Dudley Moore, Rachel Roberts, Eugene Roche, William Frankfather

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"That's right, honey. You've attacked... an innocent dwarf." - Lt. Tony Carlson

Why watch this? I can watch Chevy and Goldie all day.

Plot Summary: Gloria Mundy is a mild-mannered librarian who becomes embroiled in a murder plot after picking up a hitchhiker. She finds herself pursued by mysterious figures and a seemingly clueless police detective. As the situation escalates, the two must uncover the truth behind the conspiracy before it's too late.

  Dad's Preview: Chevy Chase and Goldie Hawn made two films together, the other being Seems Like Old Times (1980). Both are wonderful, light comedies that feature their enjoyable chemistry. This film centers on: a girl being wrongfully pursued, an amorous detective, an albino assassin, a dwarf, a different guy called "The Dwarf" and a friendly pervert. It's a hilarious who-done-it romp with ton of laughs. The scene where a limo is temporarily hijacked is one of the funniest ever!  


Edward K. Millkis, Thomas L. Miller;
Paramount Pictures

Top 20 Screwball Comedy Films #17     Top

My Man Godfrey (1936), Director: Gregory La Cava, Rated Approved

The Most Tickling and Tantalizing Entertainment That Ever Sparkled From The Screen...

Film ClipStarring: William Powell, Carole Lombard, Alice Brady, Gail Patrick, Eugene Pallette, Jean Dixon, Alan Mowbray, Mischa Auer, Pat Flaherty, Robert Light, Ernie Adams, Jimmy Aye

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"The only difference between a derelict and a man is a job." – Godfrey

Why watch this? Wit and romance abound in this Depression-era comedy.

Plot Summary: During a high-society scavenger hunt, a flighty socialite encounters a sharp-witted forgotten man living in a city dump and hires him as her family's new butler. As he navigates the chaotic antics of the eccentric and wealthy Bullock household, he subtly begins to influence their lives while hiding his own mysterious past. His presence eventually forces the family to confront their superficiality, leading to a series of revelations that redefine his relationship with the woman who found him.

  Dad's Preview: Few actors could wield verbal jabs like William Powell. His character, Godfrey, and thus the film's viewpoint, is very critical of the government's handling of the Great Depression and the rich folks oblivious to it. He's perfectly paired with Carole Lombard, who portrays an adorable, yet ditzy, socialite who takes in the homeless Powell and makes him her protégé and butler. However, there is more to Godfrey than meets the eye. This is screwball comedy 101, yet it's full of intelligent social commentary. The film was nominated for six Academy Awards, but came away empty-handed, which is a real crime.  


Charles R. Rogers; Universal Pictures

Top 20 Screwball Comedy Films #16     Top

Pillow Talk (1959), Director: Michael Gordon, rated Passed

Footloose bachelor...beautiful career girl...and the world's most fascinating pastime!

Film ClipStarring: Rock Hudson, Doris Day, Tony Randall, Thelma Ritter, Nick Adams, Julia Meade, Allen Jenkins, Marcel Dalio, Lee Patrick

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"If there's anything worse than a woman living alone, it's a woman saying she likes it." - Alma

Why watch this? Doris Day was the classic "girl next door" - cute, innocent, and spunky.

Plot Summary: Jan Morrow is a successful interior decorator and Brad Allen is a playboy songwriter. They both are forced to share a telephone party line. Jan becomes increasingly frustrated with Brad's incessant phone chatter and his womanizing ways. In an attempt to win her over, Brad disguises himself as a Texas rancher, unaware that Jan already knows and despises his true identity. Their feud and the romantic entanglement are further complicated by the interventions of their mutual friend, Jonathan Forbes, who is also enamored with Jan.

  Dad's Preview: There is a long list of very good 1950-60's romantic comedies that featured the adorable singer Doris Day. She played opposite most leading men: James Stewart, James Garner, Cary Grant, and here, Rock Hudson. In this film, which could easily have been titled "Party Line", Day and Hudson share the same telephone line. She's not impressed with the confident "ladies man", but eventually falls for his gentle charm. This film is often considered Day's greatest comedy, and it earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.  


Arwin Productions, Avernus Productions;
Universal Pictures

Top 20 Screwball Comedy Films #15     Top

Arsenic and Old Lace (1943), Director: Frank Capra, rated Approved

At least 5 times as funny as the play!

Film ClipStarring: Cary Grant, Raymond Massey, Peter Lorre, Priscilla Lane, Jack Carson, Josephine Hull, Jean Adair

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Insanity runs in my family... It practically gallops." – Mortimer Brewster

Why watch this? An eerie comedy (today we'd call it a "black comedy") from the great Frank Capra.

Plot Summary: A drama critic, Mortimer Brewster, discovers a shocking secret about his beloved, eccentric aunts. On his wedding day, he must navigate this alarming discovery while also dealing with his other peculiar family members, including a brother who thinks he's Teddy Roosevelt. Mortimer tries to protect his new wife from the unsettling truth while figuring out how to handle his family's unusual circumstances.

  Dad's Preview: Cary Grant again shines in this odd little Capra comedy. He portrays a normal man who lives with his two sweet old aunts. There is, however, one small detail: they are murdering their suitors. The whole movie revolves around this revelation. So, how do you go about hiding the bodies? It's macabre, but strangely hilarious, as the aunts continually court men seeking their fortune, then poison them. The plot is unique and crazy enough to help it stand out above most of the screwball comedies of that period.  


Frank Capra, Jack L. Warner; Warner Bros.

Top 20 Screwball Comedy Films #14     Top

After Hours (1985), Director: Martin Scorsese, rated R for language, some nudity

What if that date you thought would never end, didn't?

Film ClipStarring: Griffin Dunne, Rosanna Arquette, Verna Bloom, Thomas Chong, Linda Fiorentino, Tery Garr, John Heard, Cheech Marin, Catherine O'Hara, Dick Miller, Will Patton

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"What do you want from me? What have I done? I'm just a word processor, for Christ sake!" - Paul Hackett

Why watch this? An ordinary office worker unwillingly has a NYC night like no other.

Plot Summary: Paul Hackett, a word processor, embarks on a seemingly innocent late-night adventure in SoHo, New York, after meeting a mysterious woman. His initial encounter leads to a series of increasingly bizarre and frustrating situations that trap him in a nightmarish loop. Paul desperately attempts to return to his normal life, but the city seems determined to prevent him from doing so, throwing strange characters and obstacles in his path.

  Dad's Preview: Griffin Dunne, hot off An American Werewolf in London (1981), stars in this late-night cityscape romp. As the night drags on, and his lack of sleep kicks in, he gets more and more agitated... and desperate. It is a career-defining performance. I really think this was director Scorsese's vehicle to capture the unexpected dangers around every corner in his beloved Big Apple.  


Double Play; The Geffen Company

Top 20 Screwball Comedy Films #13     Top

You Can't Take It with You (1938), Director: Frank Capra, Rated Approved

The Great Pulitzer Prize Play Now the Screen's Outstanding Picture!

Film ClipStarring: Jean Arthur, Lionel Barrymore, James Stewart, Edward Arnold, Mischa Auer, Ann Miller, Spring Byington, Samuel S. Hinds, Donald Meek, H. B. Warner, Halliwell Hobbes, Dub Taylor, Mary Forbes, Lillian Yarbo, Eddie Anderson

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"You may be a high mogul to yourself, Mr. Kirby, but to me you're a failure - failure as a man, failure as a human being, even a failure as a father. When your time comes, I doubt if a single tear will be shed over you." – Grandpa Martin Vanderhoff

Why watch this? It's a splendid story about living a life with meaning, not possessions.

Plot Summary: An ordinary young woman from an eccentric family falls in love with the son of her wealthy, straight-laced boss. The young lovers hope for a future together despite the extreme differences between their families' attitudes towards life and money. During a disastrous dinner party, the couple's unconventional relatives collide with the snobbish, conservative family of the fiancé.

  Dad's Preview: There are themes that flow through Frank Capra films, such as (Meet John Doe (1941) and It's A Wonderful Life (1946)): one man against the corporate machine, decency vs. greed, American ideals and a loveable affinity for oddballs. This wildly entertaining film borders on slapstick/screwball comedy as we get to know its two families: the wealthy, snobbish Kirbys and the eccentric clan living with their patriarch, Grandpa Vanderhof (delightfully portrayed by Lionel Barrymore). The problem starts when Tony Kirby falls in love with Vanderhof's grand-daughter Alice. What ensues is a comical clash of the titans. It's populated with many colorful characters, and some old-fashioned wisdom that, in my opinion, all of us could use in today's world.  


Frank Capra; Columbia Pictures

Top 20 Screwball Comedy Films #12      Top

Airplane! (1980), Directors: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, rated PG for  language, suggestive humor

What's slower than a speeding bullet, and able to hit tall buildings at a single bound?

Film ClipStarring: Robert Hayes, Julie Hagerty, Leslie Nielsen, Peter Graves, Lloyd Bridges, Robert Stack, Stephen Stucker, Barbara Billingsley

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"There's no reason to become alarmed, and we hope you'll enjoy the rest of your flight. By the way, is there anyone on board who knows how to fly a plane?" - cabin announcement by Head Flight Attendant Elaine Dickinson

Why watch this? A superb comedy if you just want to laugh and not have to think.

Plot Summary: (as if the plot matters...) When the crew and passengers of a commercial flight fall victim to severe food poisoning, a former fighter pilot, who is afraid of flying, must step up to the challenge. With the help of a gruff air-traffic controller and his old commander, he faces his fears and attempts to land the plane safely. He navigates difficult weather and personal trauma to ensure the lives of everyone on board.

  Dad's Preview: "Surely, you must love this film?"... "I do... and please don't call me Shirley". This is the spoof of all film spoofs, taking aim at the lauded Airport film franchise. It's a series of absurd situations, snappy one-liners, and it is ALL hilarious! You'll find something you like amid all the segments, be it a sex-craved inflatable autopilot, the ding-bat stewardess, or the airport control tower loaded with morons and drug-addicts.  


Howard W. Koch Productions;
Paramount Pictures

Top 20 Screwball Comedy Films #11      Top

A Fish Called Wanda (1988), Directors: Charles Crichton, John Cleese, rated R for language, crude humor

A tale of murder, lust, greed, revenge, and seafood.

Film ClipStarring: John Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline, Michael Palin, Maria Aitken, Patricia Hayes, Tom Georgeson, Geoffrey Palmer

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"To call you stupid would be an insult to stupid people. I've known sheep that could outwit you. I've worn dresses with higher IQs!" - Wanda, yelling at Otto

Why watch this? This very smart comedy gave us that little taste of Python we were needing.

Plot Summary: A London gangster, his right-hand man, and a duo of American con artists team up for a jewel heist. Wanda Gershwitz, one of the Americans, and her partner Otto West, plan to betray their British collaborators and keep the loot for themselves, but a double-cross within the gang leaves the jewels' location unknown. Wanda then sets out to seduce George's stuffy barrister, Archie Leach, in hopes of discovering where the diamonds are hidden, all while dealing with her jealous partner and the bungled attempts to silence a key witness.

  Dad's Preview: The film revolves around a diamond heist and a cast of oddly wonderful characters who stumble their way through the entire ordeal. Kevin Kline won an Oscar for this part as Otto, a mean-spirited weapon's expert who hates English people. Jamie Lee Curtis is likewise wonderful as the sexy, intelligent Wanda. Cleese and Palin are along for some comic relief.  


Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Prominent Features;
MGM/UA Communications Co.

Top 20 Screwball Comedy Films #10      Top

To Be or Not to Be (1942), Director: Ernst Lubitsch, rated Approved

The Picture Everyone Wants To See.

Film ClipStarring: Carol Lombard, Jack Benny, Robert Stack, Felix Bressart, Lionel Atwill, Stanley Ridges, Sig Ruman, Tom Dugan, Charles Halton, George Lynn, Henry Victor, Maude Eburne, Halliwell Hobbes, Miles Mander

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"It's becoming ridiculous the way you grab attention. Whenever I start to tell a story, you finish it. If I go on a diet, you lose the weight. If I have a cold, you cough. And if we should ever have a baby, I'm not so sure I'd be the mother." – Maria Tura to her husband, Josef

Why watch this? It's a comedy about Nazis... and it's very funny.

Plot Summary: In 1939 Warsaw, a hammy theatrical troupe led by a vain husband-and-wife acting team finds their lives upended by the Nazi invasion of Poland. When a handsome Polish pilot discovers a spy in their midst, he enlists the help of the actors to thwart a dangerous collaborator planning to betray the resistance. Using their professional skills for disguise and performance, the actors execute a series of high-stakes impersonations to outwit the Gestapo.

  Dad's Preview: Whoever stated that early Hollywood didn't embrace controversy is wrong. This film, released one year after the U.S. entered the fray, takes full satirical, comedic aim at the German war machine, and its enigmatic leader. Many critics of that time loved the actors' zany performances, but thought it was in bad taste. How could they make light of a regime bringing such horrors to the world? Today, the retrospective view is that this is one of the greatest comedies ever made. Jack Benny's wry one-liners are hilarious, as he spars with the equally witty Carol Lombard. Clark Gable's wife at the time, she tragically died in a plane crash a month before the film's opening. She was only 33.    


Ernst Lubitsch, Romaine Film Corp.;
United Artists

Top 20 Screwball Comedy Films #9      Top

Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), Director: Susan Seidelman, rated PG for language, brief nudity

Roberta is desperate to be Susan. Susan is wanted by the mob. The mob finds Roberts instead...

Film ClipStarring: Rosanna Arquette, Madonna, Aidan Quinn, Robert Joy, Mark Blum, Laurie Metcalf, Anna Levine, Will Patton

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Yeah, well, fortunately, for everybody, I'm here and I'm thinking." - Susan

Why watch this? A great story of mistaken identity... and misplaced adoration.

Plot Summary: Roberta Glass is a bored New Jersey housewife fascinated with a mysterious woman named Susan, whose life she follows through personal ads in the newspaper. This fascination, and a knock on the head, leads Roberta to be mistaken for the free-spirited Susan. Roberta becomes entangled in a wild mix-up involving some dangerous characters. As Roberta navigates Susan's life, she finds herself discovering more about who she truly wants to be.

  Dad's Preview: I love Madonna. She is quite an American success story. She busted her tail to make it. She's all pop-star-diva, brutally honest feminist and rebel against the machine, but she's also a very good actress. She has never strayed away from her sexuality. She is who she is, and I like that. This light, fun film teams her with Rosanna Arquette, who plays a girl who has lost her memory. Though they rarely share the screen, they admire each other from a distance. It's a superb plot to unravel the identity mystery.  


Sarah Pillsbury, Midge Sanford;
Orion Pictures

Top 20 Screwball Comedy Films #8      Top

Ball of Fire (1941), Director: Howard Hawks, rated Approved

The New Year's red-hot comedy!

Film ClipStarring: Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyck, Oscar Homolka, Henry Travers, S. Z. Sakall, Tully Marshall, Leonid Kenskey, Richard Haydn, Aubrey Mather, Allen Jenkins, Dana Andrews, Dan Duryea, Ralph Peters

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"That is the kind of woman that makes whole civilizations topple!" - Miss Bragg, the maid

Why watch this? You are officially witnessing my new love affair with the amazing Barbara Stanwyck.

Plot Summary: Our story starts with a group of seven men, all unmarried bachelors. Each is over the age of 65, except one young, innocent, and quite handsome chap, Prof. Bertram Potts. They live together in a massive mansion, their years long charge is the creation of a new Encyclopedia. Each fellow has an area of expertise: math, science, etc. Mr. Potts, the English savant, realizes that his slang interpretations are out-dated, so he must venture out among real people. On his journey he chances upon glitzy, glamour girl Katherine "Sugarpuss" O'Shea, who happens to be the squeeze of local mob boss, Joe Lilac.

  Dad's Preview: This romantic comedy is simply a bundle of screwball joy. Under Howard Hawks' steady direction, the film is very entertaining, with laughs to spare. It was brilliant to cast the sheepish Cooper against the tour-de-feminine-force that is Barbara Stanwyck. If you like Rom-Coms, I highly recommend this Hollywood classic for you.  


Samuel Goldwyn Prods; RKO Radio Pictures

Top 20 Screwball Comedy Films #7      Top

The Thin Man (1934), Director: W.S. Van Dyke, rated TV-PG

Dashiell Hammett's Master Mystery

Film ClipStarring: William Powell, Myrna Loy, Maureen O'Sullivan, Nat Pendleton, Minna Gombell, Porter Hall, Henry Wadsworth, William Henry, Harold Huber, Cesar Romero, Skippy

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Waiter, will you serve the nuts? I mean, will you serve the guests the nuts?" - Nora Charles

Why watch this? This is screwball comedy ground zero, and it's wonderful.

Plot Summary: When an eccentric inventor mysteriously vanishes and his former associate is found murdered, his desperate daughter pleads with a retired private detective to take the case. Although initially reluctant, the laid-back investigator and his sharp, wealthy wife dive into the increasingly tangled investigation for their own entertainment. The couple navigates a web of eccentric suspects and dangerous encounters, ultimately hosting an elegant dinner party to expose the true culprit.

  Dad's Preview: This lovely film, based on the Dashiell Hammett novel, harkens back to a time when it was considered cheeky to solve mysteries while half drunk. We are introduced to Nick and Nora Charles, a leisurely (and married) detective team always looking for a case. The star of this caper is Nick (William Powell) and Nora's (Myrna Loy) witty banter. I remember thinking I wanted my marriage to be like theirs. This popular film series spawned five sequels - quite a feat for those days. Of course, I must mention Asta, the wonder terrier, the most famous Hollywood hound since Lassie! Without that furry sleuth, they would never have solved a crime.  


Hunt Stromberg, Cosmopolitan Prod.,
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Loew's Inc.

Top 20 Screwball Comedy Films #6      Top

The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988), Director: David Zucker, rated PG-13 for language, crude humor

If you see only one movie this year...you ought to get out more often.

Film ClipStarring: Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley, Ricardo Montalbán, George Kennedy, O. J. Simpson, Susan Beaubian, Nancy Marchand, Raye Birk, Jeannette Charles

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"It's true what they say: Cops and women don't mix. It's like eating a spoonful of Drano. Sure, it'll clean you out, but it'll leave you hollow inside." – Frank Drebin

Why watch this? To laugh... A lot. It's non-stop.

Plot Summary: Lt. Frank Drebin of Police Squad investigates the attempted murder of his partner, Nordberg. This investigation leads him to uncover a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to Los Angeles. Frank must work to thwart the assassination attempt, find out who shot Nordberg, and manage his romantic entanglement with Jane Spencer, the assistant to the suspicious businessman Vincent Ludwig.

  Dad's Preview: I thought the silly Airplane! (1980) was entertaining with its puns and goofy skits and sight gags. It also starred straight-faced Leslie Nielsen. Why Naked Gun impacted me so differently I cannot guess, but I love this film. It is a spin-off from a failed TV show that was surprisingly cancelled after 8 episodes. Nielsen plays dead-pan police Lt. Frank Drebin. He bumbles his way through every scene with hilarious skill (or lack of). Every gag and funny line feels new. You'll find it hard to stop laughing. I DO recommend the two sequels - they are almost as funny as the original.  


Robert K. Weiss; Paramount Pictures

Top 20 Screwball Comedy Films #5      Top

Some Like It Hot (1959), Director: Billy Wilder, rated Approved

The MOST comedy ever made! The BIGGEST comedy ever made!
The HOTTEST comedy ever made!

Film ClipStarring: Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Lack Lemmon, George Raft, pat O'Brien, Joe E. Brown, Nehemiah Persoff, Joan Shawlee, Billy Gray, George E. Stone, Dave Barry, Mike Mazurki

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Will you look at that! Look how she moves! It's like Jell-O on springs. Must have some sort of built-in motor or something. I tell you, it's a whole different sex!" - Jerry after Sugar strides by

Why watch this? Marilyn. Monroe.

Plot Summary: Two male musicians witness a mob hit and, to escape the gangsters, disguise themselves as women and join an all-female band heading to Florida. While maintaining their false identities, one falls for the band's beautiful singer, Sugar, while the other is pursued by a millionaire. Their attempts to evade the mobsters and navigate these romantic complications lead to a series of comedic and often precarious situations.

  Dad's Preview: It really wasn't fair to Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. Here they give incredible performances, acting as male and female characters (Lemmon was nominated for Best Actor, Curtis should have been). They're incredibly funny as two cross-dressing mob band members on the sly. But neither could hold a candle to Marilyn. She's captivating. She sings. She's funny. She's sexy - they never had a chance. In this well-paced, bouncy joyride, I found myself smiling a lot and laughing often. It sits on a ton of Best Of All Time film lists, usually at the top. It certainly upped the sexuality ante for films going forward. This is a delightful classic has that left its mark on cinema.  


Billy Wilder, Mirisch Co.; United Artists

Top 20 Screwball Comedy Films #4      Top

Seems Like Old Times (1980), Director: Jay Sandrich, Rated PG-13 for language

Her ex-husband just robbed a bank... and she's taking his case.

Film ClipStarring: Chevy Chase, Goldie Hawn, Charles Grodin, Robert Guillaume, Yvonne Wilder, Harold Gould, T. K. Carter

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I hope they shoot you! I hope they shoot you in my kitchen! And when they drag your dead body out of here, I hope they shoot you again!" - Glenda Parks

Why watch this? This is my favorite Chevy Chase film. Goldie Hawn is adorable.

Plot Summary: Nick Gardenia, a writer, is kidnapped and forced to rob a bank, becoming a fugitive from the law. He seeks refuge with his ex-wife, Glenda, a public defender who is now married to the District Attorney, Ira, who happens to be pursuing Nick's case. Glenda hides Nick in their home, leading to a series of comedic misunderstandings and near-discoveries as she tries to protect him from her husband and the authorities.

  Dad's Preview: Chevy and Goldie demonstrated some on-screen chemistry in Foul Play (1978). They re-teamed for this wonderful Neil Simon romantic comedy. He's a down-on-his-luck writer who manages to become a wanted man. She's his ex-wife, and an attorney, therefore he comes to her for help. Her current husband is the District Attorney. The hilarity ensues as she tries to keep Chevy's presence a secret because the bad press would sink her husband's election campaign. How this one works out is a joy to watch.   


Raster; Columbia Pictures

Top 20 Screwball Comedy Films #3     Top

There's Something About Mary  (1998), Directors: Peter and Bobby Farrelly, rated R for language, crude humor

Everyone's talking about Mary...

Film ClipStarring: Cameron Diaz, Matt Dillon, Ben Stiller, Lee Evans, Chris Elliott, Lin Shaye, Jeffrey Tambor, Markie Post, Keith David, Sarah Silverman

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I want a guy who can play 36 holes of golf, and still have enough energy to take Warren and me to a baseball game, and eat hot dogs, I'm talking sausage hot dogs and beer, not Lite beer, but beer. That's my ad, print it up." - Mary

Why watch this? This film has certainly grown on me. It's gross and crude, but what the hell - it very much fits me.

Plot Summary: Ted attempts to reconnect with his high school crush, Mary, whom he hasn't seen since a disastrous prom night incident. He hires a private investigator to find her, but the detective, Pat Healy, also becomes infatuated with Mary and tries to win her over by sabotaging Ted's efforts. This leads to a comedic entanglement as various men, including Mary's friend Tucker, resort to increasingly desperate and deceptive measures to secure her affection.

  Dad's Preview: This Farrelly brothers' effort is inappropriate, gross, sexually over-the-top, yet somehow manages to be one of the funniest love stories committed to film. Stiller, per usual, plays the nice guy too shy and awkward to get the girl. Matt Dillon, as Healy, steals a lot of scenes, yet it's the clumsy chemistry between Stiller and Diaz that carries the film. That and the fact that no "dating disaster" topics are off-limits for our demented filmmakers. If somebody offers you hair gel, must ignore them.  


Michael Steinberg, Bradley Thomas, Charles B.
Wessler, Frank Beddor; 20th Century Fox

Top 20 Screwball Comedy Films #2      Top

It Happened One Night (1934), Director: Frank Capra, rated Approved

Two great lovers of the screen in the grandest of romantic comedies!

Film ClipStarring: Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert, Walter Connolly, Roscoe Karns, Alan Hale, Jameson Thomas, Arthur Hoyt, Blanche Friderici

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Any guy that'd fall in love with your daughter ought to have his head examined." - Pete Warne

Why watch this? It's one of those sweet, innocent films that don't get made today.

Plot Summary: Heiress Ellie Andrews escapes her domineering father, who disapproves of her impulsive marriage, and attempts to travel to New York to reunite with her new husband. On a cross-country bus trip, she meets a cynical, unemployed newspaper reporter, Peter Warne, who recognizes her from news reports about her disappearance. He offers to help her evade the detectives in exchange for an exclusive tell-all story. As they navigate their journey, encountering various adventures and misadventures, their initial animosity evolves into a mutual appreciation.

  Dad's Preview: As innocent as this little Rom-Com appears today, it caused quite a ruckus back in 1934. On the big screen, men and women never slept in the same room. Heaven forbid! The confident Clark Gable and witty Claudette Colbert are certainly fun to watch, as they banter back and forth in this screwball romantic comedy. The film won the Best Picture Oscar. My mother confessed to me that this film was the origin of her lifelong crush on the handsome Gable.  


Frank Capra, Harry Cohn; Columbia Pictures

Top 20 Screwball Comedy Films #1      Top

The Philadelphia Story (1940), Director: George Cukor, rated Approved

The things they do among the playful rich. Oh Boy!

Film ClipStarring: Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, James Stewart, Ruth Hussey, John Howard, Virginia Weidler, John Halliday, Mary Nash, Rex Evans

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"That's the gist of it; because you'll never be a first-class human being or a first-class woman, until you've learned to have some regard for human frailty." – C. K. Dexter Haven

Why watch this? Witty banter, social snobbery, misplaced affection, what's not to love?

Plot Summary: Socialite Tracy Lord is about to marry for the second time, but her upcoming wedding plans are complicated by the unexpected arrival of both her charming ex-husband and an inquisitive magazine reporter. As the wedding approaches, Tracy finds herself questioning her carefully constructed image and her feelings towards the three men in her life. The film explores themes of class, self-discovery, and the complexities of love as Tracy navigates these turbulent waters.

  Dad's Preview: This superb little story explores the life of a spoiled adult brat. She's rich, headstrong, and takes a certain joy in toying with people. On the eve of her marriage, an old boyfriend shows up alongside a handsome young reporter who is infatuated with her. Let the fun begin. This is a quick-witted, endearing romantic comedy that winds along to a satisfying finish. This is Kate Hepburn at her finest. Grant and Stewart are also wonderful in their supporting roles.  


Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Loew's, Inc.