Time for some levity and it is all about Treasure Hunting so, needless to say, I am not picking the great film, "Treasure of the Sierra Madre" (We don't need no stinkin' badges!) because I wanted more fun this time. Head on over to Wandering Through The Shelves to see what everyone else has chosen for this theme. Here are my 3...
1. CHARADE-1963
This is a nice classic film directed by Stanley Donan about a recently widowed woman, played by Hepburn, who meets a man, Grant, when in the Alps. Without realizing it, she holds onto a a treasure that many people are after, including Grant. She has no idea where to look but when big oafs like George Kennedy and James Coburn come after her, Grant is there to save her. She knows better than to trust him since the CIA operative(played by Walter Matthau) informed her about the stolen loot and who is all after it. This is comedic, romantic and fun which is nicely directed by Stanley Donan (not directed by Alfred Hitchcock).
2. IT'S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD-1963
SYLVESTER!!!! Yes, I have picked this film before but, I just can't help it because it is perfect for this theme and I love it for the true zaniness of it. There are many cameos in this film(Don Knotts, Jerry Lewis, etc..) starting with Jimmy Durante driving like a nut on a mountainous road passing all these vehicles before he hurls off a cliff. The vehicles all stop and the men venture down to Durante who tells them there is a treasure under the "Big W" before he, literally, kicks the bucket. The men make it back up to the gals, by the side of the road, and soon decide to split the treasure if they work together. Well, that doesn't work and they all scramble, like nutjobs, back into the cars to get to the treasure. You have a married couple, another married couple with the loudmouth mother-in-law in the backseat, 2 best friends and a repair man all trying to run the other off the road. Before you know it, they pick up other people who also try to get in on the action. The police? They know all about the treasure and follow all these bumbling buffoons hoping they will lead them to the treasure. Poor Spencer Tracy is the police chief henpecked by both his wife and his daughter. Dick Shawn as Sylvester, is brilliant as the stoned out of his mind son of Ethel Merman, who keeps calling him yelling his name. I remember watching this movie with my dad and the climax of the film, had my dad laughing so hard, tears ran down his cheeks...one of my favourite memories. It's a long movie but you don't realize it and it is a fun time to escape from today's world.
3. ROMANCING THE STONE-1984
Before Kathleen Turner played Chandler Bing's dad(on "Friends"), she was a downright sexy gal in the 1980s. I have to say, it always pissed me off that she played a Transvestite(Transsexual??, I don't mean to be ignorant but I get mixed up) on "Friends" because she had gained weight and her husky voice got a little deeper (just like Lauren Bacall). It came out later that Turner is a recovering alcoholic but also suffers from severe rheumatoid arthritis so the drugs she takes does not help with weight. She, to me, is still beautiful and vivacious...so there. Ok, back to the movie which is so much fun about a mousy, pent-up romance novelist who receives a map in the mail from her brother-in-law whom she finds out has been killed and her sister, kidnapped. She goes to Columbia to save her sister and give the map to the kidnappers when the bus she is on is taken over by a corrupt cop who wants the map for himself. Enter devil-may-care and Vidal Sassoon hair man, Michael Douglas, who saves the day much to his and her's chagrin. Let's just say, they end up in the jungle running from people who want this map that holds the key to the treasure. Along the way, they also have a pint-sized nemesis in Danny DeVito. This is such a fun movie that spawned a brief affair between the 2 leads that settled into a lifelong friendship along with Mr. DeVito. It also spawned a sequel and a nasty marriage black comedy with all 3 in the later movies. You can tell they all had a lot of fun.
Which 3 treasure hunting films would you choose?
Hi, Birgit!
ReplyDeleteI am here sittin' in the balcony with you "At The Movies," dear friend! Please pass the Good & Plenty.
I always enjoy Cary Grant's acting. Based on this clip from Charade, a film I have not yet watched, his chemistry with Audrey is palpable. I will add this one to my list.
I totally agree about Mad, Mad World. It is the only one I could think of in this category, and I'm delighted that you acknowledge it as arguably the most perfect comedy ever made. I see that it was released in the U.S. only a few days before the assassination of President Kennedy. I remember going to see Mad World in a theater with my folks, but have no memory of it being so close in time to that dreadful event. The movie hung around in theaters a long time and therefore I'm thinking we went to see it sometime in 1964. The film is priceless because the main, supporting and cameo casts contain dozens of comedy greats of the early and mid 20th century, all of them immortalized in this brilliantly zany classic. I agree that Dick Shawn was a standout. The scenes with him giggling around to hipster music in his pad with the bikini clad woman and recklessly driving the car to rescue his mama are hilarious. Milton Berle and Sid Caesar were in peak form. Phil Silvers did his shtick. The character played by Englishman Terry-Thomas was top notch in his running commentary on American culture. Edie Adams and Dorothy Provine were great. The scenes in the plane with drunk pilot Jim Backus and passengers Buddy Hackett and Mickey Rooney were a hoot. Funnymen Don Knotts, Sterling Holloway and Arnold Stang added to the fun, as did old timers Jimmy Durante, Buster Keaton, Zazu Pitts and many others. A pre-Columbo Peter Falk was one of the taxi drivers along with Eddie "Rochester Anderson from The Jack Benny Program as the other.
IMDB has an interesting piece of trivia about Jack Benny's cameo:
<< Jack Benny's cameo role was originally offered to Stan Laurel, but Laurel turned it down. When his best friend and partner Oliver Hardy died in 1957, he pledged never to perform again. He kept that promise for the rest of his life. By the time this happened, a long shot of the character had already been filmed with a stand-in wearing Laurel's trademark bowler hat. This is why Benny is seen wearing a bowler hat despite his never having worn one as part of his regular work. >>
From around ten minutes into Mad World until the closing credits, I too was laughing so hard that tears were rolling down my cheeks. It remains the funniest comedy movie I have ever seen. Mad World offered the kind of sophisticated comedy that I as a young teenager strongly preferred.
I never got around to watching Romancing the Stone. I like the leads. Thank you for reminding me that it's worth seeing.
Have a happy Thursday and a wonderful weekend, dear friend BB!
You have added some great tidbits about Mad, Mad World and, yes, I did know about Stan Laurel. I love Terry Thomas who plays this so well as does Phil Silvers who almost drowned in that one scene. I was really rooting for Spencer Tracy who was sick so much but got a kick out of working with all these great comedians. Barrie Chase was classic as the girl with Dick Shawn and she was a gifted dancer who danced with Fred Astaire in all his Tv specials ( plus they had a serious fling going on too). I hope you get to see the other 2 picks.
DeleteI've seen all of your picks. IAMMMMW is one of my favorites. First thought I had was Raiders of the Lost Ark, probably because I was just talking about it with someone.
ReplyDeleteGlad you love that pick. I am think the Indiana Jones series will be a big one this week but, aside from the 3rd one with Sean Connery, I just don’t love them like so many do.
DeleteI've seen the second and third many times.
ReplyDeleteNational Treasure comes to mind.
I almost went with National Treasure because they are escapist fun.
DeleteGreat choices!
ReplyDeleteCharade is chic, breezy and smartly played. It's not my favorite of any of the performers within but a pleasant escapist picture.
I enjoyed Mad, Mad World but it's not something I return to very often and it's been years now since I've seen it but what a cast.
Can't believe Romancing the Stone never even crossed my mind! My first thought was Indy Jones and National Treasure so you'd think this fun adventure would have entered in with them. I've used it before so I wouldn't have this time but still it's so perfect for this. Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner (her playing Chandler's dad never bothered me, she did it in good taste and was obviously having a good time playing the role) and Danny DeVito made quite the team there for a while.
I reached further back for mine. My last is something I just saw within the last couple of days, it stinks but it fit so well at least I got something out of the time I wasted watching it!
Green Hell (1940)-A group of fortune hunters lead by Keith Brandon (Douglas Fairbanks Jr) including David Richardson (Vincent Price) and Forrester (George Sanders) head deep into the South American jungle in search of rumored Incan treasure. Shortly after Richardson is killed by natives his wife Stephanie (Joan Bennett) arrives. Despite his loss she decides to stick it out and look for the booty but as the months tick by tempers and passions flare as the local heathens become increasingly hostile.
Plunder of the Sun (1953)-Down on his luck and short on funds insurance adjuster Al Colby (Glenn Ford) makes a deal with Thomas Berrien (Francis L. Sullivan), a crooked collector of antiquities to travel by ship to Oaxaca, Mexico smuggling a small package. During the voyage Berrien dies, Colby opens the package finding three parchments and a stone medal. Contacted by rival archaeologist Jefferson (Sean McClory) Colby discovers the parchments are a key to hidden treasure and the search is on!! Filmed in Mexico at the Zapotecan ruins of Mitla and Monte Alban.
Beyond Atlantis (1973)-When a fisherman wants to trade in his pearls for cash pimp Fast Eddie (Sid Haig) smells a fortune to be made and embarks on a treasure hunt to locate more. Joining with scuba driver Logan (John Ashley), adventurer Vic (Patrick Wayne, The Duke's son) and Dr. Kathy Vernon (Lenore Stevens) they head to the island. Upon arrival they are met by a tribe of half fish/half humans led by Neraus (George Nader) and his beautiful daughter Syrene (Leigh Christian) who only seems to possess a skimpy bikini. The gang are looking for loot, but Syrene is looking for a chance to propagate for the good of the tribe! A real piece of Roquet Cheese!!
I know Kathleen Turner enjoyed her time on Friends but, I just can’t help feeling bad for her because of the extreme pain she is dealing with and, even though she was very funny on the show, I just was bothered by it. I think it was the same time when the stupid media were comparing her to, what went wrong, type of thing and “ What happened.” Etc... I can watch Mad, Mad World many times and almost added Rat Race which is not as funny as the original but it still makes me laugh.ooh, I want to see your first pick because of Vincent Price and George Sanders, both of whom I love. I have not seen your second film which would also be fun to see but, oh yes, I have seen the last one. I saw it way, way back and it is bad but so good in that tacky 70s way.
DeleteYou chose some great picks. I've seen them all and love them.
ReplyDeleteFirst one that popped into my head is The Goonies but maybe that's because I've staying with my daughters this past week and it's a movie I saw with them in the theater. But it's a pretty good film about treasure hunting.
Lee
I still have not seen this movie but it is very popular this week.
DeleteI enjoyed all three but loved Romancing The Stone and the sequel. You're right, all three did a stellar job. Have you seen the sequel to the remake of Jumanji with Danny DeVito? I love it:)
ReplyDeleteHoping you are having a fun, pain-free day.
Hugs
I’m glad you have seen all 3 movie but I have not seen the remake of Jumanji yet.
DeleteCharade! Great pick. I also LOVE Romancing the Stone. I haven't seen it in a long time but it's such a fun movie.
ReplyDeleteGlad you like them. I haven’t seen Romancing or Jewel of the Nile in a long time and would love to revisit.
DeleteTransvestites are people dressing as the opposite sec . Transsexuals are people choosing to become the other sex. Robert De Niro in Stardust is a transvestite. Sean Young in Ace Ventura is a transsexual.
ReplyDeleteAnother great ensemble treasure hunt comedy would be Rat Race. It’s similar to Mad Mad Mad World but with an updated list of celebrities appearing.
Ah! Thank you. I figure Tranvestites dressed in women’s clothing..or men’s but I wasn’t sure about transsexuals. I never could watch Ace Ventura past 10 minutes. I almost chose Rat Race which I think of more of an homage to Mad World. Love the Lucy bus.
DeleteI haven't seen any of your picks, but I've always wanted to see It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World based on the title alone. I don't think the term Transvestite is used anymore? IDK. I only ever hear it when people are singing along with Rocky Horror.
ReplyDeleteIt’s a long movie but I love it and the stars are amazing. Really?? It’s not used any more? I must be showing my age.
DeleteI've seen 1 & 3. I have heard of 2, but I just never got around to seeing it. Maybe one of these days. And I think it's probably safer just to say "trans" and leave it at that. (We are "cis" by the way. As opposed to trans.)
ReplyDeleteI love #2. I don’t understand was cis means.
DeleteI'm going to go with Stand By Me. I know it's not exactly a "treasure" they seek but the narrative is built along the same structure.
ReplyDeleteIn a sense, so is Moby Dick, though I suppose a Great Hunt is a narrative genre all its own.
Others grabbed my first two thoughts: Raiders and Goonies.
Oh, The Hobbit! But the animated one, please, not the Peter Jackson mess.
Treasure Island and its many variants, of course.
I have to see Stand By Me one of these days. Everyone has their own meaning of treasure and Moby Dick would be a treasure to Capt. Ahab. Raid res and Goonies were popular this week as well as The Hobbit but they picked the Peter Jackson films. I have not seen the animated one.
DeleteI haven't seen any of your picks, but I also thought of National Treasure and Raiders of the Lost Ark. I still enjoyed the synopses, though. Sorry I am late visiting. On Friday, I was without power for over 16 hours. I am hugging my AC about now!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness! I would be kissing my A/C. What happened? Did you lose a lot of your food? I hope not. I almost went with National Treasure..both films are so much fun to watch. Raiders is popular but I have never been enamoured with them except I like #3 because of Sean Connery.
DeleteI think Rat Race is the funniest "modern-era" comedy I've seen in a long time. That one definitely came to mind for me. So did "City Slickers." And, of course, the obvious "Raiders of the Lost Ark."
ReplyDeleteHey! You are here!! Glad to see you here. I almost chose Rat Race which I think is an homage to Mad World rather than a remake, I love the Lucy bus and I remember mom laughing at the 2 idiots in the Jeep trying to stop the plane. City Slickers is great but I have never been a huge fan of Raiders or the sequels except for #3 with Sean Connery which was good. 2 and 4 are crap with Cate Blanchettt so over the top she reminded me of Natasha and I was looking for Boris along with Rocky and Bullwinkle.
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ReplyDeletePart 1 Of 2:
BIRGIT ~
What I like about this topic, 'TREASURE HUNT', is that there are so many different ways a person can approach it.
As you noted, for sure, the ultimate Classic movie for this category would probably have to be '...SIERRA MADRE'. From a technical standpoint, Bogart was an extremely limited actor, with a range from about 0 to 1.5. But 'til the day I die, I will never cease to be amazed by how many great movies he was in and which his 0-1.5 range was perfect for!
Your summary of 'IT'S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD' has convinced me to see it again soon. I've only seen it once (circa 1989) and it really didn't do anything for me. But I'm thinking that I need to give it a second chance. It could have just been a "mood" thang the first time I watched it.
My Interpretation:
"Treasure Hunt" means you're searching for something that you, personally, *believe* to be a "treasure" of some sort. (It doesn't necessarily have to turn out to be an authentic "treasure".)
Therefore, I would exclude any movies where the protagonist is searching for an antagonist (i.e., a "non-treasure"), which leaves out Crime / Detective stories, etc.
Like you, I've decided to go in "a different" kind of direction, playing fast and loose with the word "treasure".
A couple movies I thought of were...
'A Christmas Story', which is the hunt for an “official Red Ryder, carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle, with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time.”
'Tortilla Flat', which, from beginning to end, is a perpetual hunt for the treasure called "wine"... amongst other hunts for other noteworthy "things". Without a doubt, this is one of my All-Time Top 10 Favorite Movies Of All-Time, Forever And Ever (and then some!)
Continued...
Part 2 Of 2:
DeleteBut today, I think I shall make my 3 choices these:
'THE ENDLESS SUMMER' (1964) -- Two surfers hunt all over the globe for "the perfect wave" to ride.
'ALTERED STATES' (1980) -- Eddie Jessup, a research scientist, tells us, "I'm a man in search of his true self. How archetypically American can you get? We're all trying to fulfill ourselves, understand ourselves, get in touch with ourselves, face the reality of ourselves, explore ourselves, expand ourselves. Ever since we dispensed with God, we've got nothing but ourselves to explain this meaningless horror of life. I think that true self, that original self, that first self is a real mensurate and quantifiable thing, tangible and incarnate... And I'm gonna find the f*cker."
Never mind the fact that "Evolution" is an outrageously ridiculous, scientifically-fraudulent fairy-tale for adults who are angry or afraid of God, 'Altered States' is still one of the very few truly great and intelligent 'Horror' stories. And it's also a great love story, too!
'THE SPIRIT OF '76' -- This is my ultimate "guilty pleasure" when it comes to movies. (Yes, even more so than 'Plan 9 From Outer Space', which I also dearly love!) In 2176, time travelers (led by David Cassidy) go back to 1776 in order to save American civilization by hunting for and bringing back to 2176 a copy of The U.S. Constitution. (*Never mind the fact that The U.S. Constitution didn't yet exist in 1776.*)
Unfortunately, unbeknownst to the time travelling heroes, they wind up landing in 1976 instead of 1776, and they don't know the difference.
This an extremely low-budget comedy, but I find it to be a hilarious, greatly underrated, fun movie! And anyone who can still well-remember the sh*t in America's Bicentennial year will "get" all the jokes that fly over the heads of other folks.
Dang, BIRGIT, this was an E-Ticket topic to contribute to! I had as much fun composing this comment as I do watching these movies!
~ D-FensDogG
STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS
You’ll shoot your eye out! That is his treasure for sure. Someone else chose Moby Dick ‘cos that whale was his treasure. I love Bogart but he does not have the same range as some there but I think of him as one of the greats. Ah, I think of the Bible as a good set of stories with some reality like Jesus really existing but I believe he married Mary Magdeline and thought that even when I was a kid. I go full charge ahead with evolution as I have met plenty of men who dragged their knuckles on the floor. Let us agree to disagree. I have yet to see your other set of films but that last one sounds like a doozy.
DeleteBirgit,
ReplyDeleteWe've seen all three movies in your line-up. "Romancing the Stone" is a fabulously fun film. Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner paired beautifully together and Danny DeVito was pricelessly hilarious in this movie always on the wrong end of the stick. "Raiders of the Lost" and the two sequels would be my picks for this prompt. Have a funtastic week, darlin'!
Yes, they are fun movies and Danny always did get the short...Er....wrong end of the stick. Raiders was popular this week but they never appealed to me except for the 3rd film. Do you know they are making a 4th. I think this is where Harrison Ford goes on an epic search looking for his teeth.
DeleteCharade is a wonderful pick - I just love anything with Audrey Hepburn in it.
ReplyDeleteAudrey is a gem unto herself.
DeleteI've only seen Charade and I remember that it was silly and predictable and I was not a fan.
ReplyDeleteI saw Charade maybe last year or two years ago, I already can't remember what it is about.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen Romancing the Stone in a long long time but I do remember that it was fun and funny.