A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

if the stage version puts this to shame then damn i gotta see that stage version bc i loved this movie. it was hilarious, everyone acted out their gags perfectly, and it moved at a ridiculously fast pace. i did read that many songs were cut, and i really liked the songs that were in there and prob would have rated even higher if it had a couple more. the whole thing was pure fun. zero mostel does carry most of the humor. buster keaton popping in was fantastic.

Extremly very entertaining and really reamarkably Funny! Some parts kinda weird but the story makes you laugh and Michael Crawford was good. The lead actor, I wonder did he win an oscar for a lead role? A very creative role

A rather funny comedy that feels a bit ahead of its time. Just a bit shallow and slow in some places

the aging humor is noticeable, but it still remains entertaining. i liked mostel, but i fail to even remember anyone else except keaton who, in his age, has become far less daring. that is completely understanding, but it doesn't save this movie from being nothing better than lukewarm.

The plotting of this film necessitated the invention of the calculator. Oh, eunuch jokes are always hilarious.

I never knew Rome was so groovy.

Not quick enough, snappy enough or funny enough. It really just works better on the stage.

"This stalwart Bank Holiday historical comedy may be cheesy and dated but for nostalgia's sake alone it's worth watching."

"In didactic terms I don't think that it succeeds but I don't know that it's supposed to succeed." http://illusionpodcast.blogspot.com/2014/12/episode-41-first-richard-lester-episode.html

Dated, sexist, and retaining too much of its beginnings as a stage show. But the tunes are good, and I can't help having a sft spot for it.

The stage show is one of the funniest ever created: the film drops some of the songs and makes a number of changes, but much of the spirit of the original still shines through. Zero Mostel hams it up as only he can, backed by a largely excellent cast (fuck Michael Crawford, though); Richard Lester directs in a madcap fashion reminiscent of his THE KNACK, but with better results here (it gets a touch tiresome, though). Cheerfully grotesque design adds to the visual feast; the songs are brilliant.

Bizarre and seemingly unfaithful to the stage version, but the blending of Lester's trademark frenetic pace and surprisingly authentic settings make this a fun comedy. Zero Mostel, Jack Gilford, and Phil Silvers are at their best. Buster Keaton doesn't have a lot to do, but he steals all the scenes he's in with his deadpan. Stunning use of color. The chariot chase at the end is hilarious.