Hoosierwood

You are using a photo from the 1941 Whistling in the Dark.

Spy spoof and parodies were strong in the 60's. "In Like Flint" I guess would be a satire. The Dr. Goldfoot films had great slapstick. Woody Allen in "Casino Royale" which connects to Austin Powers movies.

I think "What's Up Doc?" would have been a better choice than "Foul Play".

Hoosier Hotshots..I Like Banana's (because they have no bones)

I see more Hal Roach comedy in Woody Allen. Woody does have a character. He is a reluctant hero. Nervous but finds a way to make it. He uses "verbal slapstick". He enhance his comedy with jazzy music just like Hal Roach L&H films. Some of the physical comedy is based on being clumsy. The Great Race is more like Sennett because of the explosions, fast pace car gags and zany fights.

Red Skelton is remembered as being a TV star. What saved his TV career was that he stopped doing the show as a variety show and went to a sitcom like format. What made his show special was that he was played a different character every week. Each character did include slapstick in a situation. He managed to do films after 1953 but not many. Talk about cameos, he did Around the World in 80 Days and Ocean's 11.

The comedy of the 1950's were more romantic and domestic. Comedy between man and woman or family. Movies were more on the situation and not gags.

The Beach films brought back old slapstick. These films did sound effects and Von Zipper did many gags on his bike. They even included a master of slapstick, Buster Keaton. Young people were being introduced to classic slapstick and not knowing it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nIw9g_cYtc

This might be the place for this. It would be nice to say something about cartoons. Slapstick might have been week in live action slapstick after the war but strong in WB and Disney cartoons.

Don't know if color added anything. There have been movies based on radio shows. Might be fun to find early films base on TV shows. LLT was not based on "I Love Lucy" but you got to see her red hair. There was a color Munsters movie "Munsters, Go Home".

I think Desi deserves credit for slapstick. He was a master of slow burn, falls and trouble with the trailer.

I would like to bring up Stan Laurel as a master of Verbal Slapstick. His misuse of the English language is legendary. Oliver: To catch a Hardy they've got to get up very early in the morning. Stan: What time? Oliver: Oh about half past - "What time." Hmph. Oliver: Where is she? Stan: Maybe she went to the mountains. Oliver: I'll bet she did. You know she makes me sick. Stan: Well if she didn't go to the mountains, then Mohammad would have to come here. Oliver: Now isn't this nice? Stan: It sure is. We're just like two peas in a pot.

I don't believe that this was done in "one take". To do this you would need multi cameras. Was that done in silent days? I don't think so. Starts with a wide shots then medium shot for the cart, then a shot of Charlie. Some close ups the dog, Syd and the cop. With one camera this takes changing the lens and moving the camera. Not one take.

Chaplin and Keaton were both athlete comics. Chaplin was more of a dancer and Keaton was more of a gymnast. Chaplin had gesture that were like dance moves and use props, like a cane and hats, as part of his body. Master roller skater. Keaton was a runner, jumper and able swing on a rope and knew how to take a fall.

Keaton broke his neck in "Sherlock Jr."