It's the fun show that's the one show to see!

Director: Peter Godfrey, Rated Approved

Starring: Barbara Stanwyck, Dennis Morgan, Sydney Greenstreet, Reginald Gardiner, S. Z. Sakall, Robert Shayne, Una O'Connor, Frank Jenks, Joyce Compton, Dick Elliott

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"All my life I promised myself a mink coat. You know, Felix, it's very important to keep promises, especially to yourself." - Elizabeth Lane

Why watch this? This screwball holiday classic bounces off a lot of walls, and thoroughly entertains.

Plot Summary: Elizabeth Lane writes a well-known weekly newspaper article about her country lifestyle which includes a Connecticut farm, husband, baby, and her set of delicious recipes. The only issue is that she's actually single, lives in a NYC flat, and can't boil an egg (the recipes are from her chef "uncle", Felix Bassenak). Her publisher, Mr. Yardley has no idea of her charade, and requires that she host a Christmas dinner at her farm, for returning war hero Jeff Jones, who loves her recipes. This forces Elizabeth into a jam to keep up the ruse or lose her job.

William Jacobs; Warner Bros.
 

Genres: Comedy-Family, Comedy-Screwball, Romance-Chick-Flick, Romance-Comedy Dad's Genres: Holiday-Cheer

She's everything. He's just Ken.

Director: Greta Gerwig, rated PG-13

Starring: Margo Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Kate McKinnon, Simu Liu, America Ferrera, Ariana Greenblatt, Rhea Perlman, Helen Mirren (narrator), Will Ferrell, Michael Cera

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"It is literally impossible to be a woman... You have to never get old, never be rude, never show off, never be selfish, never fall down, never fail, never show fear, never get out of line. It's too hard! It's too contradictory and nobody gives you a medal or says thank you!" - Gloria

Why watch this? It is so much more than a cute little film about dolls for girls.

Plot Summary: After experiencing an existential crisis, a "stereotypical" Barbie leaves the seemingly perfect Barbieland to travel to the human world in order to find her true purpose. She is accompanied by Ken, who discovers a newfound, distorted appreciation for patriarchy and brings these ideas back to their home, causing a chaotic shift in power dynamics. Barbie must then work to restore balance to her world while coming to terms with the complexities of humanity.

Heyday Films, LuckyChap Ent., NB/GG Pics,
Mattel Films; Warner Bros. Pictures

Is Anyone Really Who They Seem To Be?

Director: Stanley Donen, rated Approved

Starring: Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Walter Matthau, James Coburn, George Kennedy, Dominique Minot, Ned Glass, Jacqeus Marin, Paul Bonifas

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Of course, you won't be able to lie on your back for a while but then you can lie from any position, can't you?" - Reggie Lampert

Why watch this? It has been called "the best Hitchcock movie Hitchcock never made"

Plot Summary: After the suspicious death of her husband in Paris, Regina "Reggie" Lampert, garners a lot of interest from many individuals including the local police inspector, three extremely tough henchmen, a CIA Administrator, and a suave, charming American. The focus is centered around $250,000 dollars in gold that went missing during World War II. Apparently her late husband double-crossed his cohorts, and they're ready to collect.

Stanley Donen Films; Universal Pictures
 

Genres: Crime-Comedy, Comedy-Screwball, Crime-Caper, Crime-Thriller, Romance-Comedy, Romance-Thriller, Thriller-Mystery

It's a highly dangerous comedy!!

Director: Collin Higgins, rated PG

Starring: Goldie Hawn, Chevy Chase, Burgess Meredith, Brian Dennehy, Dudley Moore, Rachel Roberts, Eugene Roche, William Frankfather

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"That's right, honey. You've attacked... an innocent dwarf." - Lt. Tony Carlson

Why watch this? I can watch Chevy and Goldie all day.

Plot Summary: Gloria Mundy is a mild-mannered librarian who becomes embroiled in a murder plot after picking up a hitchhiker. She finds herself pursued by mysterious figures and a seemingly clueless police detective. As the situation escalates, the two must uncover the truth behind the conspiracy before it's too late.

Edward K. Millkis, Thomas L. Miller;
Paramount Pictures
 

Genres: Comedy-Physical, Comedy-Screwball, Crime-Comedy, Comedy-Parody, Romance-Comedy, Romance-Thriller Dad's Genres: SNL-Alumni

The Most Tickling and Tantalizing Entertainment That Ever Sparkled From The Screen...

Director: Gregory La Cava, Rated Approved

Starring: William Powell, Carole Lombard, Alice Brady, Gail Patrick, Eugene Pallette, Jean Dixon, Alan Mowbray, Mischa Auer, Pat Flaherty, Robert Light, Ernie Adams, Jimmy Aye

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"The only difference between a derelict and a man is a job." – Godfrey

Why watch this? Wit and romance abound in this Depression-era comedy.

Plot Summary: During a high-society scavenger hunt, a flighty socialite encounters a sharp-witted forgotten man living in a city dump and hires him as her family's new butler. As he navigates the chaotic antics of the eccentric and wealthy Bullock household, he subtly begins to influence their lives while hiding his own mysterious past. His presence eventually forces the family to confront their superficiality, leading to a series of revelations that redefine his relationship with the woman who found him.

Charles R. Rogers; Universal Pictures
 

Genres: Comedy-Satire, Comedy-Screwball, Romance-Comedy

Footloose bachelor...beautiful career girl...and the world's most fascinating pastime!

Director: Michael Gordon, rated Passed

Starring: Rock Hudson, Doris Day, Tony Randall, Thelma Ritter, Nick Adams, Julia Meade, Allen Jenkins, Marcel Dalio, Lee Patrick

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"If there's anything worse than a woman living alone, it's a woman saying she likes it." - Alma

Why watch this? Doris Day was the classic "girl next door" - cute, innocent, and spunky.

Plot Summary: Jan Morrow is a successful interior decorator and Brad Allen is a playboy songwriter. They both are forced to share a telephone party line. Jan becomes increasingly frustrated with Brad's incessant phone chatter and his womanizing ways. In an attempt to win her over, Brad disguises himself as a Texas rancher, unaware that Jan already knows and despises his true identity. Their feud and the romantic entanglement are further complicated by the interventions of their mutual friend, Jonathan Forbes, who is also enamored with Jan.

Arwin Prod., Avernus Productions;
Universal Pictures
 

Genres: Comedy-Screwball, Romance-Chick-Flick, Romance-Comedy

At least 5 times as funny as the play!

Director: Frank Capra, rated Approved

Starring: Cary Grant, Raymond Massey, Peter Lorre, Priscilla Lane, Jack Carson, Josephine Hull, Jean Adair

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Insanity runs in my family... It practically gallops." – Mortimer Brewster

Why watch this? An eerie comedy (today we'd call it a "black comedy") from the great Frank Capra.

Plot Summary: A drama critic, Mortimer Brewster, discovers a shocking secret about his beloved, eccentric aunts. On his wedding day, he must navigate this alarming discovery while also dealing with his other peculiar family members, including a brother who thinks he's Teddy Roosevelt. Mortimer tries to protect his new wife from the unsettling truth while figuring out how to handle his family's unusual circumstances.

Frank Capra, Jack L. Warner; Warner Bros.
 

Genres: Comedy-Dark, Comedy-Horror, Comedy-Screwball, Crime-Comedy, Crime-Serial Killers, Dad's Genres: Old-Farts

What if that date you thought would never end, didn't?

Director: Martin Scorsese, rated R for language, some nudity

Starring: Griffin Dunne, Rosanna Arquette, Verna Bloom, Thomas Chong, Linda Fiorentino, Tery Garr, John Heard, Cheech Marin, Catherine O'Hara, Dick Miller, Will Patton

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"What do you want from me? What have I done? I'm just a word processor, for Christ sake!" - Paul Hackett

Why watch this? An ordinary office worker unwillingly has a NYC night like no other.

Plot Summary: Paul Hackett, a word processor, embarks on a seemingly innocent late-night adventure in SoHo, New York, after meeting a mysterious woman. His initial encounter leads to a series of increasingly bizarre and frustrating situations that trap him in a nightmarish loop. Paul desperately attempts to return to his normal life, but the city seems determined to prevent him from doing so, throwing strange characters and obstacles in his path.

Double Play; The Geffen Company
 

Genres: Comedy-Dark, Comedy-Screwball, Drama-Psychological, Dramedy, Romance-Comedy

The Great Pulitzer Prize Play Now the Screen's Outstanding Picture!

Director: Frank Capra, Rated Approved

Starring: Jean Arthur, Lionel Barrymore, James Stewart, Edward Arnold, Mischa Auer, Ann Miller, Spring Byington, Samuel S. Hinds, Donald Meek, H. B. Warner, Halliwell Hobbes, Dub Taylor, Mary Forbes, Lillian Yarbo, Eddie Anderson

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"You may be a high mogul to yourself, Mr. Kirby, but to me you're a failure - failure as a man, failure as a human being, even a failure as a father. When your time comes, I doubt if a single tear will be shed over you." – Grandpa Martin Vanderhoff

Why watch this? It's a splendid story about living a life with meaning, not possessions.

Plot Summary: An ordinary young woman from an eccentric family falls in love with the son of her wealthy, straight-laced boss. The young lovers hope for a future together despite the extreme differences between their families' attitudes towards life and money. During a disastrous dinner party, the couple's unconventional relatives collide with the snobbish, conservative family of the fiancé.

Frank Capra; Columbia Pictures
 

Genres: Comedy-Family, Comedy-Screwball, Dramedy-Family, Romance-Comedy Dad's Genres: Old-Farts

Every girl or fellow who ever kept a "Blind Date" will get a bang out of this comedy!

Director: Ernst Lubitsch, rated G

Starring: Margaret Sullivan, James Stewart, Frank Morgan, Joseph Schildkraut, Sara Haden, Felix Bressart, William Tracy

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Well I really wouldn't care to scratch your surface, Mr. Kralik, because I know exactly what I'd find. Instead of a heart, a hand-bag. Instead of a soul, a suitcase." – Klara Novak

Why watch this? This is a lovely holiday romance about pen-pals who yearn to meet.

Plot Summary: Alfred Kralik and Klara Novak are co-workers at a Budapest gift shop who constantly bicker, unaware they are each other's anonymous romantic pen pal. While their work relationship is filled with tension, their correspondence reveals a deeper, more tender connection. The story follows their interactions both in person and through letters, showcasing how their true feelings emerge despite their outward animosity.
 

Dad's Preview: In the hustle and bustle of life, sometimes we can't, or don't want to, see something right in front of us. It's safer to have romantic notions about a far off pen-pal we've never actually met. After all, reality has a way of shattering the dream. This tender comedy is an underrated holiday treasure. It was also the inspiration for the Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan sappy tear-jerker You've Got Mail. You'll love the playful exchanges between Stewart and Sullivan. This is a shop you'll want to visit soon.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Loew's Inc.
 

Genres: Comedy-Screwball, Dramedy, Romance-Comedy Dad's Genres: Holiday-Cheer

A tale of murder, lust, greed, revenge, and seafood.

Directors: Charles Crichton, John Cleese, rated R for language, crude humor

Starring: John Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline, Michael Palin, Maria Aitken, Patricia Hayes, Tom Georgeson, Geoffrey Palmer

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"To call you stupid would be an insult to stupid people. I've known sheep that could outwit you. I've worn dresses with higher IQs!" - Wanda, yelling at Otto

Why watch this? This very smart comedy gave us that little taste of Python we were needing.

Plot Summary: A London gangster, his right-hand man, and a duo of American con artists team up for a jewel heist. Wanda Gershwitz, one of the Americans, and her partner Otto West, plan to betray their British collaborators and keep the loot for themselves, but a double-cross within the gang leaves the jewels' location unknown. Wanda then sets out to seduce George's stuffy barrister, Archie Leach, in hopes of discovering where the diamonds are hidden, all while dealing with her jealous partner and the bungled attempts to silence a key witness.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Prominent Features;
MGM/UA Communications Co.
 

Genres: Comedy-Dark, Comedy-Physical, Comedy-Screwball, Crime-Caper, Crime-Comedy, Crime-Crooks, Romance-Comedy Dad's Genres: Likable-Irreverence

The Picture Everyone Wants To See.

Director: Ernst Lubitsch, rated Approved

Starring: Carol Lombard, Jack Benny, Robert Stack, Felix Bressart, Lionel Atwill, Stanley Ridges, Sig Ruman, Tom Dugan, Charles Halton, George Lynn, Henry Victor, Maude Eburne, Halliwell Hobbes, Miles Mander

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"It's becoming ridiculous the way you grab attention. Whenever I start to tell a story, you finish it. If I go on a diet, you lose the weight. If I have a cold, you cough. And if we should ever have a baby, I'm not so sure I'd be the mother." – Maria Tura to her husband, Josef

Why watch this? It's a comedy about Nazis... and it's very funny.

Plot Summary: In 1939 Warsaw, a hammy theatrical troupe led by a vain husband-and-wife acting team finds their lives upended by the Nazi invasion of Poland. When a handsome Polish pilot discovers a spy in their midst, he enlists the help of the actors to thwart a dangerous collaborator planning to betray the resistance. Using their professional skills for disguise and performance, the actors execute a series of high-stakes impersonations to outwit the Gestapo.

Ernst Lubitsch, Romaine Film Corp.;
United Artists
 

Genres: Comedy-Dark, Comedy-Parody, Comedy-Physical, Comedy-Satire, Comedy-Screwball, Dramedy, Thriller-Political, War-WWII

Roberta is desperate to be Susan. Susan is wanted by the mob. The mob finds Roberts instead...

Director: Susan Seidelman, rated PG for language, brief nudity

Starring: Rosanna Arquette, Madonna, Aidan Quinn, Robert Joy, Mark Blum, Laurie Metcalf, Anna Levine, Will Patton

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Yeah, well, fortunately, for everybody, I'm here and I'm thinking." - Susan

Why watch this? A great story of mistaken identity... and misplaced adoration.

Plot Summary: Roberta Glass is a bored New Jersey housewife fascinated with a mysterious woman named Susan, whose life she follows through personal ads in the newspaper. This fascination, and a knock on the head, leads Roberta to be mistaken for the free-spirited Susan. Roberta becomes entangled in a wild mix-up involving some dangerous characters. As Roberta navigates Susan's life, she finds herself discovering more about who she truly wants to be.

Sarah Pillsbury, Midge Sanford;
Orion Pictures
 

Genres: Comedy-Screwball, Crime-Comedy, Dramedy, Romance-Comedy

The New Year's red-hot comedy!

Director: Howard Hawks, rated Approved

Starring: Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyck, Oscar Homolka, Henry Travers, S. Z. Sakall, Tully Marshall, Leonid Kenskey, Richard Haydn, Aubrey Mather, Allen Jenkins, Dana Andrews, Dan Duryea, Ralph Peters

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"That is the kind of woman that makes whole civilizations topple!" - Miss Bragg, the maid

Why watch this? You are officially witnessing my new love affair with the amazing Barbara Stanwyck.

Plot Summary: Our story starts with a group of seven men, all unmarried bachelors. Each is over the age of 65, except one young, innocent, and quite handsome chap, Prof. Bertram Potts. They live together in a massive mansion, their years long charge is the creation of a new Encyclopedia. Each fellow has an area of expertise: math, science, etc. Mr. Potts, the English savant, realizes that his slang interpretations are out-dated, so he must venture out among real people. On his journey he chances upon glitzy, glamour girl Katherine "Sugarpuss" O'Shea, who happens to be the squeeze of local mob boss, Joe Lilac.

Samuel Goldwyn Prods; RKO Radio Pictures
 

Genres: Comedy-Screwball, Crime-Comedy, Crime-Crooks, Romance-Comedy

Dashiell Hammett's Master Mystery

Director: W.S. Van Dyke, rated TV-PG

Starring: William Powell, Myrna Loy, Maureen O'Sullivan, Nat Pendleton, Minna Gombell, Porter Hall, Henry Wadsworth, William Henry, Harold Huber, Cesar Romero, Skippy

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Waiter, will you serve the nuts? I mean, will you serve the guests the nuts?" - Nora Charles

Why watch this? This is screwball comedy ground zero, and it's wonderful.

Plot Summary: When an eccentric inventor mysteriously vanishes and his former associate is found murdered, his desperate daughter pleads with a retired private detective to take the case. Although initially reluctant, the laid-back investigator and his sharp, wealthy wife dive into the increasingly tangled investigation for their own entertainment. The couple navigates a web of eccentric suspects and dangerous encounters, ultimately hosting an elegant dinner party to expose the true culprit.

Hunt Stromberg, Cosmopolitan Prod.,
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Loew's Inc.
 

Genres: Comedy-Screwball, Crime-Comedy, Crime-Cops, Dramedy, Romance-Comedy, Thriller-Mystery

Caroline's a rising executive. Jack just lost his job. Jack's going to have to start from the bottom up.

Director: Stan Dragoti, rated PG

Starring: Michael Keaton, Teri Garr, Martin Mull, Ann Jillian, Christopher Lloyd, Jeffrey Tambor, Frederick Koehler, Graham Jarvis

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"My brain is like oatmeal. I yelled at Kenny today for coloring outside the lines! Megan and I are starting to watch the same TV shows, and I'm liking them! I'm losing it." - Jack Butler

Why watch this? It's funny, tender and great to see the "shoe on the other foot".

Plot Summary: Facing unexpected unemployment, Jack Butler, a Detroit automotive engineer trades roles with his wife, who returns to the advertising workforce after years as a homemaker. He then embarks on a steep learning curve of domestic duties and childcare, including navigating chaotic grocery trips and managing mischievous children. Meanwhile, his wife faces the challenges of the corporate world, including a predatory boss.

Sherwood Productions; 20th Century Fox
 

Genres: Comedy-Physical, Comedy-Screwball, Dramedy-Family, Romance-Comedy

The MOST comedy ever made! The BIGGEST comedy ever made!
The HOTTEST comedy ever made!

Director: Billy Wilder, rated Approved

Starring: Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Lack Lemmon, George Raft, pat O'Brien, Joe E. Brown, Nehemiah Persoff, Joan Shawlee, Billy Gray, George E. Stone, Dave Barry, Mike Mazurki

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Will you look at that! Look how she moves! It's like Jell-O on springs. Must have some sort of built-in motor or something. I tell you, it's a whole different sex!" - Jerry after Sugar strides by

Why watch this? Marilyn. Monroe.

Plot Summary: Two male musicians witness a mob hit and, to escape the gangsters, disguise themselves as women and join an all-female band heading to Florida. While maintaining their false identities, one falls for the band's beautiful singer, Sugar, while the other is pursued by a millionaire. Their attempts to evade the mobsters and navigate these romantic complications lead to a series of comedic and often precarious situations.

Billy Wilder, Mirisch Co.; United Artists
 

Genres: Comedy-Buddy, Comedy-Physical, Comedy-Screwball, Crime-Comedy, Crime-Crooks, Romance-Comedy Dad's Genres: Likable-Irreverence, Queer-Tier

Her ex-husband just robbed a bank... and she's taking his case.

Director: Jay Sandrich, Rated PG-13 for language

Starring: Chevy Chase, Goldie Hawn, Charles Grodin, Robert Guillaume, Yvonne Wilder, Harold Gould, T. K. Carter

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I hope they shoot you! I hope they shoot you in my kitchen! And when they drag your dead body out of here, I hope they shoot you again!" - Glenda Parks

Why watch this? This is my favorite Chevy Chase film. Goldie Hawn is adorable.

Plot Summary: Nick Gardenia, a writer, is kidnapped and forced to rob a bank, becoming a fugitive from the law. He seeks refuge with his ex-wife, Glenda, a public defender who is now married to the District Attorney, Ira, who happens to be pursuing Nick's case. Glenda hides Nick in their home, leading to a series of comedic misunderstandings and near-discoveries as she tries to protect him from her husband and the authorities.

Raster; Columbia Pictures
 

Genres: Comedy-Screwball, Crime-Courtroom, Romance-Comedy Dad's Genres: SNL-Alumni

Everyone's talking about Mary...

Directors: Peter and Bobby Farrelly, rated R for language, crude humor

Starring: Cameron Diaz, Matt Dillon, Ben Stiller, Lee Evans, Chris Elliott, Lin Shaye, Jeffrey Tambor, Markie Post, Keith David, Sarah Silverman

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I want a guy who can play 36 holes of golf, and still have enough energy to take Warren and me to a baseball game, and eat hot dogs, I'm talking sausage hot dogs and beer, not Lite beer, but beer. That's my ad, print it up." - Mary

Why watch this? This film has certainly grown on me. It's gross and crude, but what the hell - it very much fits me.

Plot Summary: Ted attempts to reconnect with his high school crush, Mary, whom he hasn't seen since a disastrous prom night incident. He hires a private investigator to find her, but the detective, Pat Healy, also becomes infatuated with Mary and tries to win her over by sabotaging Ted's efforts. This leads to a comedic entanglement as various men, including Mary's friend Tucker, resort to increasingly desperate and deceptive measures to secure her affection.

Michael Steinberg, Bradley Thomas, Charles B.
Wessler, Frank Beddor; 20th Century Fox
 

Genres: Comedy-Physical, Comedy-Screwball, Musical-Great-Soundtrack, Romance-Comedy Dad's Genres: Likable-Irreverence, Slime-Time

Two great lovers of the screen in the grandest of romantic comedies!

Director: Frank Capra, rated Approved

Starring: Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert, Walter Connolly, Roscoe Karns, Alan Hale, Jameson Thomas, Arthur Hoyt, Blanche Friderici

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Any guy that'd fall in love with your daughter ought to have his head examined." - Pete Warne

Why watch this? It's one of those sweet, innocent films that don't get made today.

Plot Summary: Heiress Ellie Andrews escapes her domineering father, who disapproves of her impulsive marriage, and attempts to travel to New York to reunite with her new husband. On a cross-country bus trip, she meets a cynical, unemployed newspaper reporter, Peter Warne, who recognizes her from news reports about her disappearance. He offers to help her evade the detectives in exchange for an exclusive tell-all story. As they navigate their journey, encountering various adventures and misadventures, their initial animosity evolves into a mutual appreciation.

Frank Capra, Harry Cohn; Columbia Pictures
 

Genres: Comedy-Screwball, Romance-Comedy

The things they do among the playful rich. Oh Boy!

Director: George Cukor, rated Approved

Starring: Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, James Stewart, Ruth Hussey, John Howard, Virginia Weidler, John Halliday, Mary Nash, Rex Evans

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"That's the gist of it; because you'll never be a first-class human being or a first-class woman, until you've learned to have some regard for human frailty." – C. K. Dexter Haven

Why watch this? Witty banter, social snobbery, misplaced affection, what's not to love?

Plot Summary: Socialite Tracy Lord is about to marry for the second time, but her upcoming wedding plans are complicated by the unexpected arrival of both her charming ex-husband and an inquisitive magazine reporter. As the wedding approaches, Tracy finds herself questioning her carefully constructed image and her feelings towards the three men in her life. The film explores themes of class, self-discovery, and the complexities of love as Tracy navigates these turbulent waters.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Loew's, Inc.
 

Genres: Comedy-Screwball, Romance-Comedy