Comedy

  • Luis Buñuel – Le charme discret de la bourgeoisie AKA The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972)

    1971-1980ComedyFranceLuis Buñuel

    Quote:
    The guests arrive at the Senechal home for a dinner party, only to discover that the invitation had been given for the following evening. This miscommunication proves to be the first in a series of unusual events that invariably prevent the Thevenots (Paul Frankeur and Delphine Seyrig), the Senechals (Jean-Pierre Cassel and Stephane Audran), Don Rafael (Fernando Rey), and Florence (Bulle Ogier) from enjoying a meal together. An alternate plan to dine at a local bistro is foiled when a funeral wake for the restaurant owner is held in an adjacent back room. Read More »

  • Yue Lu – Zhao xiansheng AKA Mr. Zhao (1998)

    1991-2000ComedyDramaFifth Generation Chinese CinemaHong KongYue Lu

    From the Chicago Reader
    A watershed in the history of Chinese cinema, this first feature (1998) directed by Lu Yue–the remarkable cinematographer of Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl and several recent features of Zhang Yimou, including Shanghai Triad–is an eye-opening comedy about adultery in contemporary Shanghai. Much of the dialogue is improvised by the talented actors–Shi Jingming as the husband, a professor of traditional Chinese medicine; Zhang Zhihua as his factory-worker wife; and Chen Yinan as his mistress and former student–and both the shooting style and the emotional directness of the performances suggest the filmmaking of John Cassavetes.Read More »

  • Grigoriy Aleksandrov – Vesna AKA Spring (1947)

    1941-1950ComedyGrigoriy AleksandrovMusicalUSSR

    IMDB:
    A drab woman scientist, working on machine to harness solar energy, and a pert concert singer look-alike being courted to play her in a movie swap identities and find personal growth, professional success, love, and happiness.Read More »

  • Mark Sandrich – Holiday Inn (1942)

    1941-1950ComedyMark SandrichMusicalUSA

    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.Read More »

  • François Truffaut – Antoine et Colette AKA Antoine and Colette (1962)

    1961-1970ComedyFranceFrançois TruffautShort Film

    Synopsis:
    This short film is the first segment of five in the multinational feature Love at Twenty (1962), all five segments on the theme of first adult love. After indulging in much delinquency in his youth, seventeen year old Antoine Doinel, having been provided opportunity to get out of that delinquent life, is now an upstanding member of society working for Philips Records, which allows him to indulge in his love of music. Read More »

  • Toshihiro Tenma – Kyôso tanjô AKA Many Happy Returns (1993)

    1991-2000AsianComedyJapanToshihiro Tenma

    Quote:
    A young man, Kazuo, joins a new cult religion even though he sees through the initial recruitment pretense, and participating in the activities of a new social phenomenon, some of whose members genuinely believe in the principles and practice as preached, while others have more Machiavellian motives. (imdb)Read More »

  • Michel Deville – Les petites demoiselles (1964)

    1961-1970ComedyFranceMichel Deville

    Synopsis: “Four young girls’ love of boys put their newly opened all-services company in peril.”Read More »

  • Michel Deville – Ce soir ou jamais AKA Tonight or Never (1961)

    1961-1970ComedyDramaFranceMichel Deville

    Synopsis:
    ‘Laurent is a poster designer who is about to begin rehearsals for his first stage play, a musical comedy. To celebrate this auspicious event, he holds a party at his apartment, to which his best friends are all invited. News that the lead actress in Laurent’s play has been run over by a bus laden with Dutch tourists puts a damper on the evening, but Laurent wastes no time looking for a replacement, not knowing that his girlfriend Valérie covets the part. As Valérie’s dreams of stardom are crushed she realises that her relationship with Laurent is over – or so she thinks. Either way, the evening will prove decisive for them both…’
    – Films de FranceRead More »

  • George Cukor – Born Yesterday (1950)

    1941-1950ClassicsComedyGeorge CukorUSA

    Synopsis:
    Uncouth, loud-mouth junkyard tycoon Harry Brock descends upon Washington D.C. to buy himself a congressman or two, bringing with him his mistress, ex-showgirl Billie Dawn. Brock hires newspaperman Paul Verrall to see if he can soften her rough edges and make her more presentable in capital society. But Harry gets more than he bargained for as Billie absorbs Verall’s lessons in U.S. history and not only comes to the realization that Harry is nothing but a two-bit, corrupt crook, but in the process also falls in love with her handsome tutor.Read More »

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