Limonaden-Joe

This is an amazingly broad comedy--very silly and cartoon-like. In many ways it's like a Czechoslovakian version of "The Villain".

This western is set in a lawless town in Arizona. A local saloon owner, Doug Badman, is thrilled that the entire town is evil--spending all their time getting drunk and availing themselves of the services of 'professional girls'. However, when Lemonade Joe shows up, he's out to clean up the town and introduce them to the invigorating effects of a lemonade drink, 'Kolaloka'. In fact, he's the regional rep for the product and shows everyone its benefits by shooting baddies right and left and restoring justice. Joe is a clever amalgam of various B-western heroes like Gene Autry and Roy Rogers, though he's even more virtuous--and looks a lot like Gene Raymond.

Doug's brother, the even more evil Horace Badman (also known as 'Hogofogo'), arrives in town and is upset to see that order and sobriety are the rule of the day. He's determined to destroy Lemonade Joe and steal his pure girlfriend. Horace is a LOT like the cartoon character Snidely Whiplash (from the "Dudley Dooright" cartoons). He's very cartoony and silly. I could say more about the plot but don't want to spoil it.

The film doesn't even try to be subtle in any way. The humor is very much the sort kids would like. But, despite being VERY cheesy and silly, it is fun and I had a few good laughs (I loved the cliff scene). The ending is pure chaos and silliness...but works. All in all, a super-silly but enjoyable romp.

Oldrich Lipsky was a Czech director who was well known in his country for unique bizarre comedies. Silly, wacky and crazy are just a couple words to describe his films. "Lemonade Joe" is a musical western comedy. It's a fun parody that pays homage to the old west, and is filmed in awesome sepia tones. The movie makes many jokes and references to western culture, such as the town name of Stenson City. I love how over the top the film is. Great music, bar fights, slapstick and cartoonish gunfights. Lemonade Joe knows that alcohol will ruin his ability to shoot, so that's why he enjoys Kola-Loka Lemonade. Did I mention the film has hot and voluptuous Czech actresses. Eastern Europe women rock!(dobre) You must Czech out Lemonade Joe. For more Lipsky madness also watch "Dinner for Adele".

"Lemonade Joe" is one of the funniest movies ever made. Certainly it is the funnest western. It is also a triumph of expressionism.

The sequences are dazzling. The opening sequence catches you by surprise; you're watching the funniest western fight in a saloon without warning. Throughout, the film just explodes with these sequences that are hysterically funny and reflect a world gone mad.

The last third of the film begins to slow down. It also becomes very expressionistic, which annoys people who do not allow themselves to appreciate disruptions to how they process their cinema.

However, the film finishes very strongly. "Lemonade Joe" is a wildly adventurous and pleasurable experience.

I saw this film in the early seventies with a number of friends at Portland State University. I've seen it once and only once. Still, I can easily say it is one of the ten funniest movies ever. I am amazed to find it in your database! It is indeed a broad parody of the western movie genre: cliche piled upon cliche, yet still surprising and delightful. This movie can hold its own with Dr. Strangelove and The Marx Brothers. Its that good. I don't know where PSU got their hands on a dubbed in version, but if there is one out there on video tape, I know a lot of people who would do almost anything for a copy.

Although this film is (obviously) all in Czech, most English speakers won't have any trouble figuring out the story, since it's an extremely broad parody of a genre most people are familiar with. The hero is dressed all in white, the bad guys wear black and skulk around like Snidely Whiplash. On the women's side, we have your basic saloon girl with a heart of gold and the virginal ingenue, who we know will eventually end up with Lemonade Joe. Considering this movie was made under Communist rule, it's a pretty dead-on satire of the American Western.