Comedy
Q: How many surrealists does it take to change a light bulb? A: The fish. Much like that joke, comedy comes down to personal taste and what one finds funny or not. Some like their humour light and frothy and very generalised, while others like it to have an edge and go for a more twisted, darker humour. The motherlode of this genre can be scrolled below. Either way, we're sure there will be something for everybody in the subsections on the left.
Right: There's Something About Mary's hairdo...
The Titfield Thunderbolt (1953)
7.2/10
Director: Charles Crichton
Starring: Stanley Holloway, George Relph, Naunton Wayne
When the residents of a remote English village are faced with losing their local rail service, they take it upon themselves to "reclaim" a vintage loc... Read more
Genevieve (1953)
7.3/10
Director: Henry Cornelius
Starring: John Gregson, Kay Kendall, Dinah Sheridan, Kenneth More, Joyce Grenfell
A charming, gentle, car rally comedy, "Genevieve" was a huge box office hit in its day and perfectly captured the polite English romanticism of the ea... Read more
The Caddy (1953)
6.5/10
Director: Norman Taurog
Starring: Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Donna Reed
In this zany farce, Harvey (Jerry Lewis) is a shy but talented pro-golfer who, because he can't face crowds, coaxes his buddy Joe (Dean Martin) into a... Read more
The Beggar's Opera (1953)
6.2/10
Director: Peter Brook
Starring: Laurence Olivier, Stanley Holloway, Hugh Griffith, Athene Seyler, Dorothy Tutin
Based on the first-ever English musical, written by John Gay, this authentic, cynical satire on 18th century London life boasts glorious sets and outr... Read more
Norman Wisdom: Volume Two - On The Beat / Press For Time / The Square Peg / A Stitch In Time / Trouble in Store / Up in the World (1953)
Director: John Paddy Carstairs, Robert Asher
Starring: Honor Blackman, Derek Bond, Edward Chapman, Peter Jones, David Lodge, Norman Wis...
Volume 2 of 2. This definitive "Norman Wisdom Collection" captures the genius of one of Britains' finest ever comics at his hilarious best. Titles inc... Read more
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Some Like It Hot, How To Marry A Millionaire (1953)
7.2/10
Director: Howard Hawks
Starring: Marilyn Monroe, Jane Russell, Charles Coburn
'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell form a unique duo in 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes', one of the classic musicals of the 1950's... Read more
Abbott and Costello: Meet Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde / Meet The Killer (1953)
7.6/10
Director: Charles Lamont
Starring: Lou Costello, Bud Abbott, Boris Karloff
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello are 18th century American detectives in London chasing down the literary legend played by Boris Karloff. / Two employees o... Read more
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)
7.2/10
Director: Howard Hawks
Starring: Marilyn Monroe, Jane Russell, Charles Coburn
Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell form a unique duo in 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes', one of the classic musicals of the 1950's. Featuring Marilyn's rendit... Read more
How to Marry a Millionaire (1953)
7/10
Director: Jean Negulesco
Starring: Marilyn Monroe, Betty Grable, Lauren Bacall, Tom Ewell
A post World War II comedy in which Marilyn Monroe, Betty Grable and Lauren Bacall try to attract rich men to marry, but discover that love is prefera... Read more
The Million Pound Note (1953)
Director: Ronald Neame
Starring: Gregory Peck, Jane Griffiths, Ronald Squire
From the Mark Twain fable about an American receiving a one million pound note and the ensuing turmoil. This well-acted tale stars Gregory Peck, Jane... Read more