Mickey Rooney’s death has left a large hole in the Hollywood community, as we have lost yet another link to the Golden Age of American cinema. Rooney was one of the last members of the MGM stable, which had “more stars than in the heavens.” However, Rooney star began to fade by the 1950s, but he persevered and continued making movies and television appearances.
In 1963, he decided to take a role that helped his career, starring in Stanley Kramer’s all-star comedy epic It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. Rooney was just one part of an amazing cast, many of whom we have sadly lost recently. Sid Caesar died in February and Jonathan Winters died last April. Rooney was one of the last surviving members of the cast, but they all live on in this infectious film.
Mad World (typing out all four Mads repeatedly would take too long) was Kramer’s attempt at proving he could direct comedy. Unfortunately for those who can’t take films longer than two hours, he decided to throw every comedy trick in the book into the film, which runs over two and a half hours. The first version of the film even ran as long as Gone with the Wind. Thankfully though, there’s so much going on that you forget how long it is.
The plot is thin - a bunch of regular guys drive by a man who is about to “kick the bucket.” Just before he dies, he tolls them about $350,000 stashed away under a giant “W” in Southern California. And then, it’s off to the races as they try to get there first. Meanwhile, Captain T.G. Culpeper (Spencer Tracy) is following their journey, but he has his own plans.
Rooney was paired with the great Buddy Hackett, a genius at physical comedy. The two men went together perfectly and, like everyone else, got their own moment in the film. For them, they somehow end up piloting a plane themselves after their drunk pilot passes out. It’s hilarious and probably one of the funniest moments in the film, leading up to an explosive crash at an airport.
Mad World features an assembly of comic talent that could never be put together again, simply because many are no longer with us. We get to see Buster Keaton’s physicality on display one last time and the Three Stooges make us laugh just by standing in the super wide frame. Phil Silvers pops up as the nasty guy trying to derail Winters. Even Don Knotts pops in to briefly drive Silvers. Jack Benny tips his cap. Then there’s Winters destroying a gas station. That’s genius.
There’s so much going on in Mad World that you could write books about it. Yes, the film is way too long and just seeing all these people in it doesn’t make it automatically great. But it is still funny 50 years later and it’s the only way to see all these comedians at once.
The main cast may no longer be with us, but they will always live on in this film. It’s essential and one of Rooney’s great adult parts. (Also, if you don’t own a copy yet, the Criterion Collection release from January is a must-have.)