Part of our Screwball Comedy Series hosted by Fred Fuchs
Emerging in the 1930s, Screwball Comedies were a wild new strain of fast-talking farces involving battles of the sexes and a world forever on the brink of chaos. We’ve curated five hilarious films that exemplify the genre.
We’ll delve into what makes a great Screwball Comedy, the production, artists, and the story of each film.
Fred Fuchs
A successful Hollywood film producer for years, Fred is the founder and Chair of the Board of the Westdale Cinema Group.
Watch the movie and stay for a talk and Q&A with Hollywood Producer Fred Fuchs.
Directed by: Billy Wilder
Starring: Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, George Raft, Joe E. Brown, Pat O’Brien
Year Released: 1959
Awards: Oscar: Best Costume Design, Black and White
After witnessing a Mafia murder, slick saxophone player Joe (Tony Curtis) and his long-suffering buddy, Jerry (Jack Lemmon), improvise a quick plan to escape from Chicago with their lives. Disguising themselves as women, they join an all-female jazz band and hop a train bound for sunny Florida. While Joe pretends to be a millionaire to win the band’s sexy singer, Sugar (Marilyn Monroe), Jerry finds himself pursued by a real millionaire (Joe E. Brown) as things heat up and the mobsters close in.
