Comedy Movies From The 60s

From Billy Wilder, starring James Cagney, Horst Buchholz, Pamela Tiffin, Arlene Francis
Rated Not Rated

One, Two, Three is a 1961 American comedy film directed by Billy Wilder and starring James Cagney and Horst Buchholz. The film is set in West Berlin during the Cold War and follows the antics of an ambitious Coca-Cola executive, C.R. MacNamara (Cagney), as he attempts to keep his boss's daughter, Scarlett (Pamela Tiffin), from marrying a communist. Along the way, MacNamara must outwit both the Soviet and American secret services, as well as his conniving boss, Otto (Arno Frey). With its sharp dialogue and rapid-fire delivery, One, Two, Three is a classic example of Wilder's darkly comic style.

From Robert Stevenson, starring Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, David Tomlinson, Glynis Johns
Rated G

Mary Poppins is a 1964 musical fantasy film directed by Robert Stevenson and starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. The film's story centers around the Banks family, who live in London during the early 1900s. The Banks family are in desperate need of help, as their children are unruly and their father is too busy working at the bank to give them proper attention. Enter Mary Poppins, a magical nanny who sweeps in with her talking parrot-umbrella and her chimney sweep friend, Bert. With her unique sense of fun, Mary Poppins brings joy and wonder back into the Banks family's life. Through songs and games, Mary Poppins teaches the children the importance of being kind to others, having a positive attitude, and taking care of their environment. With the help of her "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" spells, she ultimately helps the Banks family find the happiness they've been searching for.

From Jacques Tati, starring Jacques Tati, Barbara Dennek, Rita Maiden, France Rumilly
Rated Not Rated

Playtime is a whimsical comedy written and directed by Jacques Tati. The film follows Monsieur Hulot, a bumbling everyman character, as he navigates the modern world. On a business trip to Paris, Hulot encounters a chaotic world of high-tech gadgets and modern architecture, which are juxtaposed with the more traditional French culture. As he moves through the city, Hulot interacts with a range of characters, from a businessman to a group of American tourists, and finds himself in a series of comedic misadventures. Despite the chaos of the city, Hulot ultimately finds a way to bring harmony to the city, and his own life. The film is a unique blend of visual and physical comedy, with Tati's characteristic charm and wit.

From Gene Saks, starring Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, John Fiedler, Herb Edelman
Rated Passed

The Odd Couple is a classic comedy starring Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. It follows the story of two divorced men, Felix Unger (Lemmon) and Oscar Madison (Matthau), who live together in Oscar’s Manhattan apartment. Despite their differences, the two become unlikely friends and navigate the ups and downs of living together. From poker nights with the guys to dealing with Oscar’s slovenly habits, Felix and Oscar must learn to compromise and make their living situation work. The Odd Couple, directed by Gene Saks, is a hilarious and enduring comedy classic.

From William Wyler, starring Audrey Hepburn, Peter O'Toole, Eli Wallach, Hugh Griffith
Rated Approved

How to Steal a Million is a 1966 romantic comedy heist film directed by William Wyler and starring Audrey Hepburn and Peter O'Toole. The film follows Simone (Hepburn), the daughter of a wealthy art collector, who must enlist the help of a professional thief (O'Toole) to help her steal a fake sculpture from a museum in order to protect her father's reputation. As the two embark on the mission, Simone finds herself increasingly attracted to the charismatic thief, creating a romantic subplot to the heist. Along the way, the two must outsmart a detective and avoid an array of potential pitfalls as they attempt their daring theft.

From Stanley Kramer, starring Spencer Tracy, Milton Berle, Ethel Merman, Mickey Rooney
Rated G

It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World is a 1963 American comedy film directed by Stanley Kramer. The film brings together a group of strangers who witness a crash involving a suitcase full of cash. They all race to find the hidden money before the police arrive. The movie stars Spencer Tracy, Milton Berle, Sid Caesar, Ethel Merman, Jonathan Winters, Mickey Rooney, Buddy Hackett, Phil Silvers, and a host of other classic comedians. Along the way, the strangers face a variety of obstacles in their quest for the ultimate prize. The film is filled with slapstick comedy, sight gags, and plenty of zany antics. Ultimately, the characters’ greed gets the best of them as they are caught up in a chaotic, madcap race to find the cash.

From Richard Lester, starring John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr
Rated G

A Hard Day's Night is a classic British musical comedy directed by Richard Lester and starring The Beatles. The movie follows the world-famous band as they travel from Liverpool to London to perform in a television show. Along the way, they are pursued by an obsessed group of female fans, encounter chaos at the train station, and find themselves in a strange hotel. In addition to their antics, the film also features some of The Beatles' most popular songs, including "A Hard Day's Night," "Can't Buy Me Love," "I Should Have Known Better," and "She Loves You". The movie captures the energy and spirit of the 1960s and became an instant classic among music fans.

From Mel Brooks, starring Zero Mostel, Gene Wilder, Dick Shawn, Kenneth Mars
Rated PG

The Producers (1967) is an iconic comedy directed by Mel Brooks. It follows the story of Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom, two down-on-their-luck Broadway producers who hatch a scheme to make a fortune by producing a sure-fire flop of a musical called “Springtime for Hitler.” But when the show becomes a surprise hit, the two men are in hot water with their investors. The film is filled with witty dialogue, physical comedy, and memorable performances, including Gene Wilder as Bloom, Zero Mostel as Bialystock, and Kenneth Mars as Franz Liebkind. The Producers won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, and it is widely considered one of the funniest films ever made.

From Blake Edwards, starring Peter Sellers, Elke Sommer, George Sanders, Herbert Lom
Rated PG

From Billy Wilder, starring Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Ron Rich, Judi West
Rated Passed

From Billy Wilder, starring Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Lou Jacobi, Bruce Yarnell
Rated Not Rated

From Gene Saks, starring Walter Matthau, Ingrid Bergman, Goldie Hawn, Jack Weston
Rated M

From David Swift, starring Hayley Mills, Maureen O'Hara, Brian Keith, Charles Ruggles
Rated Passed

From Blake Edwards, starring Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood, Jack Lemmon, Peter Falk
Rated Passed

From Woody Allen, starring Woody Allen, Janet Margolin, Marcel Hillaire, Jacquelyn Hyde
Rated PG

From Blake Edwards, starring David Niven, Peter Sellers, Robert Wagner, Capucine
Rated Approved

From Norman Jewison, starring Carl Reiner, Eva Marie Saint, Alan Arkin, Brian Keith
Rated Unrated

From Ken Annakin, starring Stuart Whitman, Sarah Miles, James Fox, Alberto Sordi
Rated G

From Gene Kelly, starring Barbra Streisand, Walter Matthau, Michael Crawford, Marianne McAndrew
Rated G

From Ken Hughes, starring Dick Van Dyke, Sally Ann Howes, Lionel Jeffries, Benny Hill
Rated G

From Stanley Donen, starring Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Eleanor Bron, Raquel Welch
Rated TV-14

From Jerry Lewis, starring Jerry Lewis, Stella Stevens, Del Moore, Kathleen Freeman
Rated Not Rated

From George Sidney, starring Dick Van Dyke, Ann-Margret, Janet Leigh, Maureen Stapleton
Rated Approved

From Richard Quine, starring Jack Lemmon, Virna Lisi, Terry-Thomas, Eddie Mayehoff
Rated Approved

From Tony Richardson, starring Albert Finney, Susannah York, George Devine, Rachel Kempson
Rated Not Rated