The Big Parade of Comedy

MGM's Big Parade of Comedy is just a random compilation of comedy clips with no point that don't do their stars any justice. They've all appeared in funnier films at other studios. They serve up probably the worst clip from the worst Marx Bros. film (Go West). Couldn't they have used A Night At The Opera instead (that was an MGM film)? They just dredge out any comedy star who just happened to appear in an MGM film - they even dish up a silent Joan Crawford film (now there's a comedienne). The only moments of levity for me were when they showed a compilation of Pete Smith comedy shorts (with Dave O'Brien). It also ends abruptly. I'm thankful someone had the good judgement to put it out of its' misery.

This uneven documentary by Robert Youngson, basically showcases MGM's comic talented stars in films produced at the studio. Some performers fare better than others, as we keep hoping for more. One can guess because the limitations of the format, it could only include just so much when there were so many stars from where to choose from.

There is a wonderful sequence of Oliver Hardy and Stan Laurel with Lupe Velez. The comedy team of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello are seen in scenes from "Rio Rita". The Marx Brothers classic "Going West" train routine is shown. Best of all, in our humble opinion, Greta Garbo laughing and having a good time in "Ninotchka" and "Two Faced Woman". The wonderful Dave O'Brien is also showcased doing his Pete Smith character.

William Powell, Jean Harlow, Marie Dressler, Wallace Beery, and the others in the film are seen at some of the funniest moments of their MGM's heyday.

This is a film you can't go wrong with. MGM compiled a salute to the comedy that MGM brought to the big screen over a 40 year period. You'll see its biggest stars performing and they did boast they had more stars than there are in heaven.

Some were admittedly shoehorned in. Case in point Charlie Chaplin who had his own United Artists at the time. He makes a guest appearance in a Marion Davies film.

Or WC Fields who toiled for Paramount and Universal. He did one memorable Mr. Micawber in David Copperfield.

The comedians share equally with MGM stars of drama in some of their comedies. Case in point Clark Gable in Too Hot To Handle and Spencer Tracy in Libeled Lady. And of course William Powell and Myrna Loy.

You can't go wrong with The Big Parade Of Comedy.

Many clips from the silent era through MGM's heyday. The editing could have been tighter--some sequences went on too long and others way too short--but I suspect the filmmakers wanted to make sure they didn't leave out any of the stars. Nevertheless, this is overall a funny stroll down memory lane.

This picture is the prime example of how MGM ruined some of the greatest comedians in film. It had the best writers, best directors, best cinematographers, and they mistakenly thought dropping comedians like the Marx Brothers and, most lamentably, Keaton, into their studio films and expected superior results. They forgot, or refused to acknowlegde, that there was such a a thing as a Keaton comedy, or Laurel and Hardy routines. Look at the cast list here; how many real comedians are there? Very few. We get comic bits from mostly straight actors who had the chance to say or do something funny in an MGM movie. Are there laughs? Sure, and if you're looking for comedy you can find it here. If you're looking for a Big Parade of Comedians, you'd better go elsewhere.