Champagne for Caesar

It has always amazed me what a wonderful job of casting was done on this film. Ronald Colman in a departure from his normal films, Celeste Holm as the vamp with a giggle/laugh that would keep anyone awake, Vincent Price, Art Linkletter and Barbara Britton doing what they each do so splendidly. This film was quite underrated originally, but true film buffs will enjoy the comedic plot and the great acting.

I honestly don't know who could have played these parts better. This film is a masterpiece of casting. Colman manages to make a character who would be despised by most everyone in real life warm and sympathetic. Even his most cutting put-downs are delivered affably and without malice. He wishes to educate, not destroy, and Colman plays it dead-on.

Dated and yet timeless. Fluff with depth. A delightful paradox, well worth the price I paid for the DVD.

P.S: I bought the DVD based on the strength of the Quotes section of this IMDb listing!

On one level, Champagne for Caesar showcases the comic talent of Vincent Price and Ronald Colman in one of the best screwball comedies to come from the tail end of Hollywood's golden age. Colman and Price are not two names commonly associated with comedy but as this movie shows they should have been.

This movie deserves to be rediscovered by an audience niche who will appreciate it. On a deeper level this movie displays the willful innocence of the Fifties with a tongue-in-cheek manner. The comedy is both of it's time and mocking the institutions of its time. It is the first movie I know that examines the emerging world of television, crass commercialism and the hypocrisy and hype that it brought with it. You might consider it the grandfather of the Truman Show. A comedy that goes deeper than it first seems. Besides any comedy that uses Mel Blanc as the voice of a parrot is worth looking into.

Who knew that Vincent Price could do comedy? To me, he is just hilarious in this movie. I especially love the scene where he is in the isolation booth watching to see how far Ronald Colman can get in his quest of winning the contest. Too bad this movie, and especially Mr. Price wasn't nominated for an Academy Award because it is a really funny film. I suppose to some people Vincent Price's performance in this film is a bit on the "hammy" side, it is exactly that way of overacting which makes it fun to watch him. Thank goodness I found this on DVD and can watch it anytime I want. Ronald Colman is also very good in one of his last films. Good performances by Celeste Holm and surprisingly by Art Linkletter!!

This offbeat comedy is both entertaining and interesting. Ronald Coleman is sympathetic and amusing as the meek genius who threatens to drive a popular quiz show out of business, the rest of the cast helps out quite a bit, and the story is pleasantly goofy and unpredictable. As a satire on the 50's quiz shows, it is even more interesting in light of the more recent trivia show fads.

Coleman's low-key approach works well as the trivia genius Beauregard, and he is complemented very well by the more exaggerated performances of Celeste Holm, Art Linkletter, and especially Vincent Price, all of whom get some fine moments of their own. While the story is deliberately over-the-top, it is set up well, and while it is meant solely as light entertainment, it does have a little substance in it, too. There's a lot to like, and it makes for an enjoyable way to spend an hour and a half.