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Hollywood: The Gift of Laughter

  • TV Movie
  • 1982
  • 2h 15m
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
69
YOUR RATING
Hollywood: The Gift of Laughter (1982)
SlapstickComedyDocumentary

A retrospective look at 60 years of great moments in film comedy, from the 1920s to the present.A retrospective look at 60 years of great moments in film comedy, from the 1920s to the present.A retrospective look at 60 years of great moments in film comedy, from the 1920s to the present.

  • Director
    • Jack Haley Jr.
  • Writer
    • Jack Haley Jr.
  • Stars
    • Carol Burnett
    • Jack Lemmon
    • Walter Matthau
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    7.9/10
    69
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Jack Haley Jr.
    • Writer
      • Jack Haley Jr.
    • Stars
      • Carol Burnett
      • Jack Lemmon
      • Walter Matthau
    • 1User review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys
      • 2 nominations total

    Photos

    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Carol Burnett
    Carol Burnett
    • Self - Co-Host
    Jack Lemmon
    Jack Lemmon
    • Self - Co-Host
    Walter Matthau
    Walter Matthau
    • Self - Co-Host
    Burt Reynolds
    Burt Reynolds
    • Self - Co-Host
    Dom DeLuise
    Dom DeLuise
    • Self - Co-Host
    Richard Pryor
    Richard Pryor
    • Self - Co-Host
    Bud Abbott
    Bud Abbott
    • Actor - 'In Society'
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Eddie Acuff
    Eddie Acuff
    • Actor - 'Leave It to Blondie'
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Judith Allen
    Judith Allen
    • Actress - 'The Old Fashioned Way'
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Woody Allen
    Woody Allen
    • Actor - 'Casino Royale'
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson
    Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson
    • Actor - 'You Can't Take It with You'
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle
    Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle
    • Actor - 'Fatty Joins the Force'
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Asta
    Asta
    • Dog - Unidentified 'Thin Man' Film
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Baby LeRoy
    Baby LeRoy
    • Actor - 'The Old-Fashioned Way'
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Lucille Ball
    Lucille Ball
    • Actress - Unidentified Film
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Anne Bancroft
    Anne Bancroft
    • Actress - Unidentified Film
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Matthew 'Stymie' Beard
    Matthew 'Stymie' Beard
    • Actor - Unidentified 'Our Gang' Film
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Louise Beavers
    Louise Beavers
    • Actress - 'She Done Him Wrong'
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Jack Haley Jr.
    • Writer
      • Jack Haley Jr.
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews1

    7.969
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    Featured reviews

    8dcp-93910

    Excellent montage of great comedy clips

    Although dated due to its original release date, this is a funny collection of great bits from films ranging from silents to then new releases. As an example, there are multiple variations on "walk this way" going back to William Powell. I used to have a home-recorded snowy VHS copy of this:; would happily buy a newer version of it to enjoy again.

    Best Emmys Moments

    Best Emmys Moments
    Discover nominees and winners, red carpet looks, and more from the Emmys!

    Related interests

    Leslie Nielsen in The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)
    Slapstick
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Dziga Vertov in Man with a Movie Camera (1929)
    Documentary

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame introduced by Carol Burnett are Joe E. Brown, Buster Keaton, and Jerry Lewis.
    • Quotes

      Opening prologue: This film is dedicated to the thousands of filmmakers, craftsmen, and technicians who accomplished the most difficult job in motion pictures... they made us laugh.

    • Crazy credits
      This film is dedicated to those thousands of filmmakers, artists, craftsmen, and technicians who accomplished the most difficult job in motion pictures...They made us laugh.
    • Alternate versions
      The documentary was shown both in full length and later in three installments of 47 minutes each with the same opening and closing montages repeated.
    • Connections
      Features A Noise from the Deep (1913)
    • Soundtracks
      Comedy Tonight
      (uncredited)
      Written by Stephen Sondheim
      Performed by Zero Mostel
      Heard under lengthy opening comedic montage

    Top picks

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 16, 1982 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Instagram
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • L'univers du rire
    • Filming locations
      • Hollywood Boulevard & Vine Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA(Carol Burnett's segment)
    • Production companies
      • American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
      • David L. Wolper Productions
      • Jack Haley Jr. Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h 15m(135 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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