Rowan & Martin at the Movies

1968
11m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

This public service short for U.S. Savings Bonds starts out with Rowan and Martin arriving at a TV studio, ostensibly to host a show. It turns out that trumpet player Herb Alpert is the only... Read allThis public service short for U.S. Savings Bonds starts out with Rowan and Martin arriving at a TV studio, ostensibly to host a show. It turns out that trumpet player Herb Alpert is the only other performer listed in the credits who is actually there in person. The others appear ... Read allThis public service short for U.S. Savings Bonds starts out with Rowan and Martin arriving at a TV studio, ostensibly to host a show. It turns out that trumpet player Herb Alpert is the only other performer listed in the credits who is actually there in person. The others appear in clips, some from their own U.S. Savings Bonds spots, others from unidentified movie or ... Read all

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.4/10

157

YOUR RATING

9User reviews

See production info at IMDbPro

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User reviews9

5.4157

Featured reviews

Michael_Elliott

Okay for the Stars

Rowan & Martin at the Movies (1968)

*** (out of 4)

Rowan and Martin show up at MGM studios and try to tell folks why they should buy U.S. Savings Bonds. The two actually have a pretty funny little stand up act but the real highlight here are the various stars that pop up in cameos. The stars include: Carol Burnett, Doris Day, Kirk Douglas, Charlton Heston, Andy Griffith, Bob Hope, Don Knotts, Dean Martin, Michael Landon, Barbara McNair and MPAA head Jack Valenti. Directed by Jack Arnold (Creature from the Black Lagoon, Tarantula and various others).

6hamletta

Not Hollywood Canteen, but still

I was a big fan of Laugh-In, even though I was just 5 or 6, and half the jokes sailed over my head. Which means I'm old enough to remember PSAs pitching the payroll savings plan, which went into US Savings Bonds. But this one is striking, as it mentions the troops (in Vietnam), and that this is a way to show them your support. It was made in 1968, well before public sentiment turned against the war.

It's a pretty soft sell, mentioned in passing, but it's notable in light of our more recent wars. During the World Wars, bonds were heavily pitched, and everybody with a little extra change at the end of the week was encouraged to contribute to the war effort.

These days, we're not asked to give up anything, at least not by our government. I think it's kinda sad.

SkippyDevereaux

Makes one wish they would show reruns of "Laugh-In"!!!

This is like a short version of the old "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In" program, with a touch of Americana thrown in. What makes this work for me is the clips of all the movie and television stars doing their thing to sell U.S. Bonds. A very entertaining little short film. If you have the chance to see it, then do--a bit nostalgic for those of us who were lucky enough to remember "Laugh-In"!!!

1preppy-3

Dreadful

Basically a very silly short feature to sell US Savings Bonds. The hosts of "Laugh-In" host this. They offer real lame jokes and the whole movie is much in the style of a "Laugh-In" episode--fragmented bits and pieces of people saying nonsensical things (like "Sock it to me"). None of this is even remotely funny although all the "guest stars" that pop up are kind of fun. And there is a VERY short musical number from "The Young Americans" that was kind of cool. But, all in all, I though it was just silly (if interesting).

Now, I HATE "Laugh-in" so maybe this wasn't for me. However if you love "Laugh-In" you might like this.

5Doylenf

Rowan & Martin and their pitch for U.S. Savings Bonds...

This is an odd pitch for buying U.S. Savings Bonds with some unlikely choices of material from the team featured on LAUGH IN several decades ago. Maybe fans of the show will find some amusement in the rather stale jokes and stand-up comic routines of Rowan & Martin, but don't expect too much if you're from the younger generation and unfamiliar with the show's running gags.

Clips showing various film and TV personalities go by quickly, with recurring shots of Martin kissing Doris Day (clips are from "The Glass Bottom Boat") which is supposed to be hilarious.

Sorry, but this one doesn't even lead to the promotion of bonds until the last few minutes.

Strange, and not really worth watching unless you're die-hard fans of the LAUGH IN show.