Something a Little Less Serious: A Tribute to 'It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World'
Something a Little Less Serious: A Tribute to It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World is not a narrative so much as a celebration. The film curates a conversation with comedians who lived through the original chaos, offering warm reflections, backstage anecdotes, and affectionate humor rather than a... Read more
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About Something a Little Less Serious: A Tribute to 'It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World'
Something a Little Less Serious: A Tribute to It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World is not a narrative so much as a celebration. The film curates a conversation with comedians who lived through the original chaos, offering warm reflections, backstage anecdotes, and affectionate humor rather than a traditional plot. Viewers are guided through a living collage of memories, where stars recall the sprawling chase about a buried fortune and the movie's unruly energy that turned a simple treasure hunt into a carnival of comic personality. No spoilers warn of the twists or surprises of the source material; instead the tone remains light, reveling in shared laughter and mischief. The result feels like a reunion as much as a documentary.
Released in 1991 and directed by Ronnie Johnson, this documentary serves as a loving tribute to the 1963 comedy it's a mad mad mad mad world, drawing on its starry pool of cameos and legacy through interviews and clips.
Box office data for this tribute is not widely reported, and no notable figures appear in public records. The film seems to be more a festival or home media curiosity than a commercial blockbuster. Its limited release and niche audience have kept it out of mainstream box office tallies, but it remains a curiosity for fans of classic comedy.
Reception details are scarce, but the film centers on nostalgia and affection for the era of ensemble comedy. It uses interviews and clips to explore how celebrity culture shaped laughter and how a classic film can inspire a new generation of fans across generations and ages.
Drawing on the enduring appeal of the original film and its sprawling ensemble, the documentary reminds viewers how classic comedies shape pop culture and inspire new generations of performers to examine the noise and spectacle of big screen humor.
Details
- Release Date
- January 01, 1991
- Runtime
- 1h
- Rating
- NR
- Type
- Movie
- Genres
- Comedy, Documentary
- Country
- United States
- Studio
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- External Links
- View on IMDB
Cast
Carl Reiner
Self
Jonathan Winters
Self
Edie Adams
Self
Sid Caesar
Self
Norman Fell
Self
Milton Berle
Self
Spencer Tracy
Self (archive footage)
Ethel Merman
Self (archive footage)
Stanley Kramer
Self
Buddy Hackett
Self
Director: Ronnie Johnson