Days of Thrills and Laughter

Robert Youngson's Days of Thrills and Laughter stitches together a spirited portrait of early cinema by letting the pictures speak for themselves. Rather than argue or analyze, the film assembles archival clips of slapstick comedies and cliffhanger thrillers from the first decades of the 20th century through the 1920s, highlighting daring stunts, pratfalls, and the physical humor that defined silent entertainment. Viewers see well known faces in preserved moments, with sequences arranged to emphasize pace and contrast, offering a nostalgic, lighthearted survey instead of a strict historical account or critique.

Released in 1961, the film was assembled and produced by Robert Youngson, who specialized in compilations of silent-era material. The source material is archival footage, drawn from short comedies and serials of the silent period and edited into a single feature.

Box office records for this type of compilation are limited, and Days of Thrills and Laughter didn't make headlines for big commercial returns. It found its audience mainly through repertory screenings and revival showings rather than mainstream box office runs.

The movie played a part in keeping silent-era performers visible to mid century audiences. By presenting memorable bits from Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin, Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, and Pearl White, it helped supply footage for retrospectives and introduced younger viewers to physical comedy traditions that later filmmakers and critics would revisit.

Critical reaction was mixed to mildly favorable, and modern ratings are modest, with a 5.5/10 average from a small number of votes. The film foregrounds celebration over critique, emphasizing spectacle, timing, and stuntcraft. It works best for viewers who enjoy watching film history in action, savoring short, energetic sequences that showcase how early filmmakers used motion, editing, and daring performers to entertain before sound changed the rules.