Weird comedy

Aaliyah 2022-01-12 08:01:08

After reading the four Sturges in hand, Sullivan's Travels, The Lady Eve, The Beach Story, The Miracle of Morgan's Creek. Sometimes it is said that his movies are cats and mice. It seems that the comedy of Billy Wilder, Frank Capra, Ernst Lubitsch and others are more comedy. ——Different from funny and amusing. However, if I reflect on it, there is actually a problem with this view. As far as the stand is concerned, it is too Shakespeare, because the comical bursts of early silent films are buried in the actors' ridiculousness, rich body movements, exaggerated performances, that is The cat and the mouse were beaten and beaten. The audience also watched like a three-foot urchin, very engaged and happy. Because it caters to people's psychology of "love to see people making ugly things". Sturges also fully affirmed this "comedy orientation" in "Sullivan's Journey". ——This is the master's own way, quite an "author".
However, I personally think that Sturges's greatest strength is that he is not so serious, will challenge the production code, and sometimes even make the audience exclaim, "What is this guy doing?", even from today's perspective. The unmarried first pregnancy in The Miracle of Morgan's Creek turned out to be a happy event: a sextuplet boy born during the war. The ethical taboos violated by the mother were not discussed at all. The twins appearing at the end of The Beach Story are all a bit absurd, suspected of making up the number, but they are indeed a comedy that everyone is happy with. Sturges is really screwball.

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Extended Reading

Sullivan's Travels quotes

  • John L. Sullivan: But nothing is going to stop me. I'm going to find out how it feels to be in trouble. Without friends, without credit, without checkbook, without name. Alone.

    The Girl: And I'll go with you.

    John L. Sullivan: How can I be alone if you're with me?

  • The Girl: You know, the nice thing about buying food for a man is that you don't have to listen to his jokes. Just think, if you were some big shot like a casting director or something, I'd be staring into your bridgework saying 'Yes, Mr. Smearcase. No, Mr. Smearcase. Not really, Mr. Smearcase! Oh, Mr. Smearcase, that's my knee!' Give Mr. Smearcase another cup of coffee. Make it two. Want a piece of pie?

    John L. Sullivan: No thanks, kid.

    The Girl: Why, Mr. Smearcase, aren't you getting a little familiar?