Charlie Chaplin is credited as saying that, “Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot.” Well shots cannot get much “longer” than a 70mm Cinerama frame and comedy can’t get much more hilarious and vicious than It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. I know these cameras were developed to shoot epics and spectacles like Ben-Hur and Lawrence of Arabia, but they are also absolutely perfect for the type of broad slapstick on display here.
In a 70mm frame EVERYTHING reads*. There is no reason to cut in for close-ups when the eye can easily take in as many as 14 hilariously unique faces all at the same time, in the same frame. Thanks to the expert comic timing of this stupendous cast and the skilled work of Stanley Kramer’s crew, takes are able to go on and on without the viewer ever taking notice. And once things really get moving – all bets are off. Just like in the silent era they're using real locations, with real cars, real planes and real danger. I cannot even imagine how much this film cost to produce! But I can assure you every penny was well spent.
*The image used in conjunction with this review does not accurately represent the visual splendor of the film in question. Please watch this on the biggest screen possible.
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