DomCom1957

A very funny fast dialogue comedy that spoofs the films of Humphrey Bogart. Peter Falk stars along with a talented cast of leading ladies. They spoof the ladies of the films such as Lauren Bacall who to me was always a great actress but a copy of Ann Sheridan in mannerisms and Veronica Lake in looks. Mary Astor is also another actress as well as Ingrid Bergman to be spoofed. The films leading ladies are Louise Fletcher, Marsha Mason, Stockard Channing, Eileen Brennan, Ann-Margaret and Madeline Kahn who once again steals the spotlight. She has as many as 16 names and looks to go with them. Dom DeLuise, John Houseman, James Coco, Sid Caeser, Fernando Lamas, Paul Williams, Nicol Williamson and Phil Silvers also appear. Its by Neil Simon and he wrote such clever one liners for this film noir comedy classic. Set in 1940 San Francisco, but filmed on a Hollywood sound stage. The 1970's gave us so many spoof films than any other era. Since then its been a trademark. I mean they have been spoofs for decades but the 70's started it big. Today they still make these films by the dozen but to have such a remarkable cast of pros. A lot of them are really dramatic actors but a lot of them are comedy legends. Every genre has its king and queen of that period and in the 1970's the queen was definitely Madeline Kahn a true comic legend.

Won Ton Ton, The Dog Who Saved Hollywood is by far a comedy masterpiece, but it stars the lovely Madeline Kahn in a truly hysterical performance. She rises so above the material. She possesses the same kind of movie magic of the screwball comediennes of the 30's and 40's and even comes off much better. I think if Madeline Kahn were a star in those days we would have had at least 100 films starring her. But when she made her film debut in 1972 she was a true Hollywood find. After all her first four movies are all now classics and two considered masterpieces. Not to mention two Oscar nominations. But with all that greatness the movie studios offered her parts in so-so comedies. I mean she made some more very good films, but not up to her first four. She was as beautiful and extremely talented as all her peers of the day. I always felt she was one day going to get her Academy Award in her older years, but unfortunately she died much too soon. Bruce Dern, Art Carney, Teri Garr, Phil Silvers, Ron Liebman, Nancy Walker and so many stars from the past appear in this take off on Rin Tin Tin. Paramount has yet to release it on DVD. 2006 is here today and its the films 30th anniversary. I wish they would release it for us all to enjoy and cherish a underrated performance from Madeline Kahn.

Judy Berlin is a unique independent film and stands out also because it was the final film of the late and great Madeline Kahn.

Filmed in black and white and directed by Eric Mendelson, I was actually an extra in the diner scene with Edie Falco and Aaron Harnick. You don't actually see me, because Iam far off from the scene. I met Edie and she was very nice. A good friend of mine is her first cousin. I was hoping to finally meet Madeline Kahn, but she wasn't in the scene they were filming that day. Even Edie was disappointed she didn't have any scenes with her in the whole movie. The rest of the cast is so great. Bob Dishy, Barbara Barrie, Julie Kavner, Anne Meara and the rest all are a pleasure to watch. It was filmed here in New York, all over Long Island. The film is funny and so bittersweet. It played all the film festivals in 1999 and was officially released in 2000. Madeline Kahn passed away in December of 1999, so it was released 2 months after. Even though she didn't live to see the year 2000 she has this one remarkable film for her only movie of the 21st century. If she had lived, she may have won an academy award for her outstanding performance. Watch it and you see if she wasn't Oscar worthy.

The DVD has some great deleted scenes too. If you haven't seen this movie yet, you should really give it a try. Its not a big budget comedy or drama, just a small independent film with a big name cast of pros. I have to say though this is the perfect film for us to remember the wonderful and beautiful and the very multi-talented star Madeline Kahn.