Ten from Your Show of Shows

Even if they only showed one sketch, this would be one of the funniest films ever. Billy Crystal was right. Sid Caesar was the Chaplin of television, and this film gives you the opportunity to see him at his peak, as well as the work of a writing staff that was to comedy what the 1927 Yankees were to baseball. The takeoff of "This is Your Life" provided us with the funniest ten minutes in the history of the human race (it was even funnier than Richard Nixon's resignation speech!!!).

I saw the ORIGINAL theatrical release of this film decades ago in a small "...artsy-phartsy" cinema in Toronto. I especially wanted to see that rumored single one clip that I had heard had Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca & Carl Reiner doing nothing than simply sitting atop 3 stools on the stage over-looking the audience in front of them...

...And they SAID nothing, they DID nothing --- NOTHING at all! Yet, in just a few short minutes of time, the entire house was just roaring with unbridled laughter...!

What absolute masters of comedy those geniuses of yore were. There is surely no one of their stature in our midst, to-day.

POST-SCRIPT: at the end of that viewing in the Toronto theater, everyone present spontaneously rose to their feet & enthusiastically APPLAUDED for a full five minutes. I have never witnessed such an outpouring of appreciation in a movie theater before, or since. Yes, it really & truly was THAT good of a movie...!

Thank goodness a new collection of selections from Your Show of Shows has been released (see review). "10 From Your Show of Shows" has to be a classic about a classic. If one wants to see comedy (when comedy was clean and sex was dirty) this is a must. So many outstanding writers and comedians came from this show: Woody Allen, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris, Mel Brooks, Neil Simon, etc., etc. There simply is no comparison. I can not think of a more talented ensemble of people assembled for one purpose: put on a quality show with great comedy. If you haven't seen this movie do not walk but run to the nearest movie rental and see it. Each of the ten skits represent a different kind of comedy but "The Clock" has to be without a doubt the best. It is pantomine but watch the expressions on each face with emphasis on poor Imogene Coco who had all she could do to not break out in laughter. If you don't break out in laughter there is something really wrong.

This was truly the "golden age" of television.

...and it's just clips from one of the funniest shows EVER!

"Your Show of Shows" was a rightfully regarded classic back in the heyday of live TV when people like Sid Caesar were king. And this compilation is the perfect starting point for people wanting to get familiar with the series.

"10 from Your Show of Shows" is just what it says: 10 of the funniest skits from the series (and this doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of the comedic genius herein. Of course, along with Caesar, there are stalwarts like Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner and Howard Morris, giving their all and doing whatever it takes for a good, guilt-free laugh (hard to come by nowadays). TIDBIT - this show was not only co-written by Caesar but also such young hopefuls as Mel Brooks, Woody Allen and Neil Simon. Impressive, yes?

The skits themselves are simple enough (woman tries to tell husband she wrecked car; executive board meeting; story of malfunctioning German town clock; interview with Dr. Helmut Von Spacebrain (Caesar); spoof of "This is Your Life", etc.), but what is done with them, especially in a world where there is only one take, is nothing short of genius.

You can tell these guys are pros and they make every episode of this movie a pleasure to watch. Anyone wanting to see what comedy is really all about should scour every movie rental store in their immediate vicinity and try to find "10 from Your Show of Shows". If you love to laugh, it's a choice you'll never regret - trust me.`

And speaking of 10...ten stars for "10 from Your Show of Shows".

Your Show of Shows does not deserve to be rated on the 10 Star system of rating. It was, is and always will be in a class by itself. It was pure, unadulterated, funny comedy. It is a toss-up as to who deserves the most credit; the actors or the writers. No dirty jokes or language, No T. & A. to titillate the audience. Hail to Caesar and his gang. Sid Caesar was not an actor trying to be a comedian nor was he a comedian trying to be an actor. He was simply a naturally gifted funny man as was all of his cohorts.