I saw Mad World during its original theatrical run and me and my younger brother couldn't have even been 10 yet but we howled right along with the folks. I've seen it several times since, including a scratched-print theatrical revival in NYC a decade or so ago, but this video certainly had a wonderful crispness to it. The restoration includes 20 minutes of footage struck from its theatrical premiere and it's my understanding that there's even more out there, somewhere...if it hasn't been destroyed. Believe it fleshes out the Buster Keaton (as "Jimmy") part.

Anyway, this was one huge expansively casted, directed, photographed and scored flick that never ceases to entertain. Ernest Gold outdid himself by taking a gigantic cinematic comedy and scoring it with what might otherwise be considered anything but comedic music. It's not necessarily music without whimsy, per se, nor is the approach in and of itself unique; think of John Morris, e.g. But the score as a whole is nothing short of a masterpiece.

You can take that last statement and apply it both clinically and euphoniously. Right now I'm only concerned with the latter. I have never forgotten the music in the early highway scenes; the music underscoring the Silvers, Winters and Tracy characters, particularly the latter 2; the "sad" violin underscoring Miss Provine's character at the water fountain; the carnival-like waltz during the climactic car chase as also heard in the extended opening credits sequnce; but most of all, MOST--that choral Big W theme that has remained indelible for something like 35 years now.

Wouldn't mind seeing this whole thing again on the big screen. Like right now!

I would love to see the 5 hour version of Mad World. But it would take a couple of days, I could not sit in one session watching.

I would also like to see Steven Spielbergs 4+ hour version of Schindler's List. Spielberg has talked about it, and I hope when he decides release it on DVD that he shows the complete version.

And yes girls and guys, James Cameron has a 4+ version of Titanic, with all the California scenes.

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Originally posted by samanthasmom:
And yes girls and guys, James Cameron has a 4+ version of Titanic, with all the California scenes.

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I had heard that somewhere. I'd like to see it. Yeah, I liked TITANIC, so sue me! http://www.filmscoremonthly.com/board/biggrin.gif">

np AIR FORCE ONE - "Aerial Combat"

Only about fifteen minutes I believe of "Mad Mad World" from its roadshow run is still missing, including the aforementioned Keaton scenes as well as footage that explains how Jim Backus got to the plane. Also still missing is the "police bulletins" intermission soundtrack where the action was continuing on audio only throughout the entire intermission.

"I have even heard Gold's music to Mad World being used in a Net Commercial."

Yep. The commercial was for eBay!

You are correct, Howard. Gold's score is absolutely incredible. Dramatic, poignant, awesome and hilarious all packed into the very same movie score! I believe that "Mad World" was re-released at least three times before hitting TV. I watched it in theatres at least six times.
My very favorite scene remains the final punchline where all those poor souls laugh out loud at Ethel Merman's (stunt double's) pratfall on the banana peel.

Great stuff!

Marvin Kaplan and Arnold Stang had voices that graced what seemed like thousands of cartoons and commercials. For me, Kaplan stands out as the voice of one of the "Top Cat" gang and Stang for both "Uncle Herman the mouse" and the Chunky commercials. My favorite moment in that unforgettable scene is when Winters slides under the garage door, the camera stays inside, and then a few moments later one of 'em is propelled through the door head-first like a battering ram.

"...Stanley Kramer filmed enough for a 5 hour flic." / "Only about fifteen minutes I believe of "Mad Mad World" from its roadshow run is still missing, including the aforementioned Keaton scenes as well as footage that explains how Jim Backus got to the plane."

I'm gonna have to read up again. It's my understanding that entire sequences centering around a character played by Howard DaSilva were shot and ultimately removed in toto.

"My very favorite scene remains the final punchline where all those poor souls laugh out loud at Ethel Merman's (stunt double's) pratfall on the banana peel."

That is an indelible cinematic moment for life. So is Jimmy Durante kicking the bucket. But oh that ending with all those great comic actors (and Tracy!) laughing hysterically. You gotta love those kind of endings; the ending of the great Sullivan's Travels--after Sullivan explains why he can't do "O' Brother Where Art Thou"--is another classic with a ton of heart. The last line of the movie goes something like "There's something to be said for making people laugh. Brother..."

I think my favorite single shot in Mad World is when Winters pulls up short, the camera lingers on him as he sees the light, and then he turns around to face the Big W. While he's exclaiming, the rest of the gang stream in from both sides of the frame. It's a terrific litle piece of directing and scoring.

Among other things, I collect souvenir programs from films.

Last Friday, I saw that the program for "It's a Mad...." was listed on eBay, with a minimum opening bid of $2.99.

I bid $15, thinking that would probably hold until, at least, the last day when I might have to add $5 or $10 to capture the program from another bidder.

But WOWEE, HOOBOY and WHADDAYATHINKABOUTHAT???

I have not only been outbid, but the bid was, at last look, $127.50.

That's right...one hundred twenty-seven dollars and change. It looks like two bidders got into it against each other and the price just skyrocketed.

I paid considerably less than that for a mint-condition original program for "Gone With the Wind" (and much less for some others, including "Dumbo" and "Fantasia")....but I guess this one is either very rare...or the two bidders have been waiting a VERY long time and wanted to get it very badly. I know I haven't seen it listed before, so that may have some bearing on this situation. But, the next thing you know there will be a glut of them out there with $ signs in their eyes and starting bids of gosh-knows-how-much!

It truly IS a mad, mad, mad, mad world!

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Ron
[This message has been edited by Ron Pulliam (edited 06 March 2001).]

Is it on DVD??? in it's true ratio??

If that's true then do you think it was because the test audiences were saying to Kramer, "Excuse me Mr. Kramer, but must he start talking? How is a man to stay awake?" http://www.filmscoremonthly.com/board/smile.gif">

I know that you have at least ONE of mine in your collection!

A Kramer biography from 1997 is on the shelf at one of the library branches here, think I'll pull it off & check out the flick. And the urge watch the flick yet again is creeping in.

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Originally posted by Chris Kinsinger:
Ron...didn't you purchase a few of those movie programs from ME (at eBay)?

I know that you have at least ONE of mine in your collection!

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Yes, indeedy I did and do! And many, many more since then, too!

: )

John

I dug into my archives and found a reply from Lukas K (FSDaily, 2/13/98) in which he states "There is a simple reason why the original film tracks to Mad World have not been released. They cannot be found!"

Please confirm if this was true at that time and if so, do you know around when the tracks were recovered? According to another respondent, there was a dispute between the Los Angeles Philharmonic and United Artists which resulted in the record division's utilizing the UA orchestra (or whatever) at a 50% less chair total compared to the Philharmonic.

I have always enjoyed the album anyway and despite the omission of numerous cues. But now I too want it all and I want it as heard in the film. We're talking gold in every way imaginable, it cries out for a release. Long and overdue!

The only thing in the Kramer bio (read: memoirs) that shed any new light was his noting that the Keaton sequence included the gang chasing after him since they thought he would lead them to the $$$$. Apparently Keaton still had remarkable physical comedy within him even at such an advanced age (close to 70) for that sort of thing.

Such fun! Such madness! Such merriment!

Ron