Best Comedy Movies Ever: Part 1 (1920s - 1960s)

Okay so I'm a total comedy geek and unashamedly pretentious about it.. This is my rundown of the best comedy movies of all time, as I see it anyway. They're listed in chronological order, rather than any order of preference. I've almost certainly forgotten some, so the list may change.. Part 1 goes from the 1920s to the 1960s.

The other two parts: Part 2 (1970s) & Part 3 (1980s - Present)

Please note that some of these comedy films contain material that some people are likely to find offensive, and that is not suitable for children.

Here we go then:

The 1923 film Safety Last is Harold Lloyd's best known and loved. The image of him hanging from the clockface on a tall building became one of the most famous in film history. For a film that is almost 90 years old it has aged unbelievably well - when I saw it at the cinema a couple of years ago the audience, ranging in age from small children to pensioners, were about as excitable as I would guess the original audiences were.

Safety Last! on IMDB

The General (1926) is probably the most celebrated Buster Keaton movie. His gravity defying antics and the unmistakable sense of sadness that always seemed to accompany him on screen make an irresistible combination. Among many iconic images is Keaton sitting on the side of the train as it moves off.

The General on IMDB

By the time of Duck Soup in 1933, the Marx Brothers had been performing on film for a few years, and on the stage for much longer, but this is the film that has lasted best. The joyous weirdness and mayhem of Harpo and Chico alternates with a load of Groucho's best one-liners. The amazing mirror scene is also one of cinema's most influential.

Duck Soup on IMDB

An early demonstration of how serious comedy can get, in 1940 The Great Dictator was the first real talkie Charlie Chaplin made. A satirical take on Nazi Germany, the film is a powerful experience, and was even used as propaganda in wartime Britain. A notable moment in comedy history, and also a funny one.

The Great Dictator on IMDB

It's difficult to pick just one Ealing Comedy, but for me The Ladykillers from 1955 combines the perfect mix of darkness and laughs, as well as one of the great Alec Guiness' finest comic performances, plus an early film role for Peter Sellers.

The Ladykillers on IMDB

Anyone who loves Mad Men should definitely check out The Apartment from 1960 if they haven't done so already. Billy Wilder's smart, witty film has Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine perfectly cast as an unappreciated, exploited pair of cogs in a corporate machine.

The Apartment on IMDB

Another example of comedy getting serious, in 1964 Stanley Kubrick created Dr Strangelove, a deeply satirical, dark and unforgettable spoof of nuclear war. Peter Sellers turns in not one but three of the greatest performances in comedy film history. Many people consider this the greatest comedy movie of all, for good reason.

Dr Strangelove on IMDB

In 1968, Mel Brooks made his directing debut a memorable one with The Producers. Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder conjure up pure comedy magic in their quest to produce a flop play by choosing a celebration of Hitler as the subject. It's hard to believe this film was made more than 40 years ago, which is maybe why it has continued as a successful stage musical.

The Producers on IMDB

So that's it for Part 1 and comedy films from the twenties through to the sixties, although I'm sure I've missed a few beauties. Feel free to contribute in the comments area and I'll hopefully get around to making amendments and additions some time.

Next, the other two parts: Part 2 (1970s) & Part 3 (1980s - Present)