Cornonthecobb

Marty Feldman did, contrary to popular belief, have a career before Hollywood. In his home country, he was the "it" boy for a while, with plenty of sketch shows, earning several awards, etc etc. Nevermind the fact that he had been a leading comedy writer for years before even stepping in front of the cameras. And all this would happen PRIOR to the famous "Young Frankenstein".

"Every Home Should Have One" (or "Think Dirty" for us in the states) provides Feldman with his first leading role in a feature film (his first actual role being a bit part in Richard Lester's 'The Bed Sitting Room'). The comic would also co-write the script. The film, it seems, was a bit of a venture to capitalize on the funny man's success. While it wouldn't really be much of a success itself, I personally feel this movie is one of Feldman's funniest and best.

It pokes fun at all sorts of conventions of society and namely, the advertising industry and its battle with conservative religious types. It has the wild, zany style of great British comedy during that time period. Fans of Beatle humor will also enjoy. And a party scene towards the film's end will put even "Animal House" to shame (I mean what could be better than drunk Marty, dwarfs, a big dog, a burning sword eater, and a million other absurdities all in one living room?).

Feldman and Judy Cornwell have a real and comedic chemistry as a husband and wife duo in the movie and the latter more than does her share in keeping things hilarious. Also funny is the young son, Richard, who really causes the whole film's conflict. And who, at 11 years old, DOES know what sex is, but does NOT know what the word 'involved' means. Yet, funnily enough, that is realistic.

"Every Home Should Have One" is a hilarious and fun movie and a good commentary on the "up-tight" vs the "overly free" and such. A good commentary, also, on the hypocrisy of the so called "clean" people of society.

If one wants a witty, funny, and enjoyable film that is a delightfully crazy time, then this should certainly be viewed!

The Three Stooges are arguably the greatest comedy team in film history. For that reason alone, they deserved a much better ending at Columbia than they received with this short.

"Sappy Bullfighters" is just not good. Granted, this is not all Joe Besser's fault. I personally feel that some of his shorts are fun enough, simply because of the departure from the Stooges usual fanfare that they contain, and for the fact that Larry is sometimes showcased more. However, this short just will not do. And the fact that one knows that it is their last short that was ever shown, well that just adds to the overall disgust.

This film just epitomizes how short subjects were on their last dying breaths during this time and how little effort went into making them. This short is so sloppy. It is a simple re-make of a Curly short, "What's the Matador?", filmed years before. As if this fact wasn't bad enough, the studio actually threw in footage of Moe and Larry from the original (which was filmed nearly 20 years prior). Are these things not obvious? Laughable or sad? You be the judge.

Another part of this short that makes it miserable is the fact that it is basically a Joe Besser showcase, with him showing that all he is (at least in this film) is a Curly-wanna-be-gone-completely-wrong! Moe and Larry have little to do in this short. As a Larry fan, I also must say that I feel it a bit disgraceful to have Besser get to use the joke that Larry originally popularized in the short "Ants In The Pantry". To see Besser say "I can't see, I can't see!" and have Larry say the simple "Why can't you see?", while Besser gets to quip "I got my eyes closed", is just wrong on all levels.

The two brave soldiers who stuck it out for all those years, Howard and Fine, have so little to do in this short. There are hardly any funny bits with them. The only thing that qualifies is Larry hiding under the bed of a jealous husband, attempting to be "Pepe", his dog.

One can't blame the dynamic duo. Larry and Moe give it their all. No matter how ridiculous things could get (and I'm sure they had their opinions by this point in their careers) Howard and Fine never gave anything less than their best. Their efforts do not pale from 1934-1959.

I often enjoy many shorts that some will dismiss as horrible. I'm all for their more "experimental", unusual shorts. At least those contain new ideas. However, this short, I think everyone can agree, is just not good.

Thank goodness TV later discovered the boys after the shorts department closed. Had they been forced to go out in THIS fashion, well that would have been a gross injustice to all the years they invested in making audiences laugh.

-May contain spoilers.

Many people only know Marty Feldman as Igor in 1974's "Young Frankenstein". And, I'll admit, unless one does some research, that's all one can really ever know. It's a shame that his other stuff, such as this film, has gone more unnoticed. Anyway...

"In God We Tru$t", from what I've heard and read really did horribly at the box office, and the critics just seemed to rip it to shreds! It's as if they couldn't find anything good about it. Well, I can. I really enjoyed this film. Maybe it wasn't well received because to me, in this movie, Feldman doesn't play his usual silly, comic relief based roles. I mean yes, he's funny in this film, but he has a much more straight role than in his other films, and yeah...he actually acts and emotes. Also, maybe romantic comedies weren't as big then, who knows? Or maybe the press just didn't think Marty Feldman had the right to play a serious, or semi-romantic role. Regardless, I feel that in this film, Feldman gets to showcase his real acting ability, and he's really great in this movie. And there's great support from the likes of Peter Boyle, Andy Kaufman, Richard Pryor, etc...

Looks-wise, Feldman was not the "conventional leading man", but in this film, I feel he makes it work. His "By the way, I think I love you...do you mind?" is delivered in an absolutely convincing and adorable way...

So yes, maybe this film is more a cute, sweet, sort of movie...but why did all of Marty Feldman's films have to be silly, manic, or zany? I think if anything the fact that he did different things shows his versatility. The concept of this film, a monk who really doesn't belong in the monastery, having to go out into the imperfect and corrupt world, falling in love with a prostitute, etc...I mean, it's great. All I can really see that is wrong with it, is simply the fact that unlike most Feldman movies that make one go, "HA HA!" this may make one go..."Awww".

Some deep lines too, such as "It may not be the best of all possible worlds but it's the only one we've got" and "Doubts are about the only certainties I have right now." Maybe I'm not with the popular opinion, but I enjoyed it and give it 8/10.

Warning: This will probably contain some spoilers.

Okay, Marty Feldman is an underrated genius of comedy. If all you've ever seen him in is "Young Frankenstein", then I suggest you look for some of his other work, if you enjoyed him in that. This film, was his first turn in the director's chair, and I'd say he does a wonderful job.

The beginning of this movie, with Marty Feldman coming out with a hat that says "Universal Studios Prop Dept." and picking the letters off off the spinning globe that is their logo is hilarious! Feldman plays Digby, the "twin" brother of Michael York's Beau, who is the big shot hero. I think York and Feldman have a certain chemistry about them, they played off each other well. Ann-Margret has the title role of their stepmother, which is quite humorous in itself.

Their father remains on his death bed throughout the whole film and the running line is always, "How is father?" to be answered with, "Oh he's still alive and dying!" Another wonderful scene is Feldman's tribute to silent comedies. Digby's jail escape is done in total old school silent film style, and the transformation from color to black and white and then back to color again is well done. It's really quite funny. A real highlight.

There's a lot of funny lines, a lot of absurd humor, on the whole...a good time.

So, as I said earlier, if you enjoyed Marty Feldman in "Young Frankenstein", you should really check out some of his other work. These works, in my opinion, show that he not only was a very hilarious comedian, but also could actually act as well.

8/10