third in a series

    A friend from work recently asked for movie recommendations. She is under the impression that I watch a lot of movies, which has become the case more often than not, I suppose. In an effort to satisfy her needs, I am seeking the aid of the American Film Institute's 100 Years... lists. This one lists the best comedies of the last 100 years (as of 2000). In bold are the ones I've seen, and in italics are the ones that I particularly liked.

AFI's 100 Years...100 Laughs

1. Some Like it Hot (1959)
2. Tootsie (1982)
3. Dr. Strangelove, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
4. Annie Hall (1977)--I hate, hate, hate Woody Allen
5. Duck Soup (1933)
6. Blazing Saddles (1974)--I love this.
7. M*A*S*H (1970)--though I liked it less for its comedy than for its drama
8. It Happened One Night (1934)
9. The Graduate (1967)
10. Airplane! (1980)
11. The Producers (1968)--yes, I liked the original better than the remake
12. A Night at the Opera (1935)
13. Young Frankenstein (1974)--I love this. I own this.
14. Bringing up Baby (1938)
15. The Philadelphia Story (1940)
16. Singin' in the Rain (1952)--I love this. I own this.
17. The Odd Couple (1968)
18. The General (1927)
19. His Girl Friday (1940)
20. The Apartment (1960)--A comedy? Whatever.
21. A Fish Called Wanda (1988)--I must be the only person in the world who thought this was a stupid movie.
22. Adam's Rib (1949)
23. When Harry Met Sally... (1989)--Someone I used to know absolutely hated Meg Ryan & all of her movies. That sentiment has rubbed off on me. I think that the diner scene has taken truth and trust re: the female orgasm back several decades.
24. Born Yesterday (1950)
25. The Gold Rush (1925)
26. Being There (1979)
27. There's Something about Mary (1998)--I didn't want to like this one. It is funny, and not nearly as stupid as it looks. Matt Dillon is excellent.
28. Ghostbusters (1984)
29. This is Spinal Tap (1984)--I know I've seen it, but I must've been pretty altered because I remember nothing except the "turn it up to 11" scene.
30. Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) [updated 5-8-07]
31. Raising Arizona (1987)--One of Nick's favorites. I wasn't a Nicolas Cage fan until I saw this film.
32. The Thin Man (1934)
33. Modern Times (1936)
34. Groundhog Day (1993)--{sheepish} I've never seen this. No desire.
35. Harvey (1950)
36. National Lampoon's Animal House (1978)--I could watch this once a week, every week, for the rest of my life. "A PLEDGE PIN? ON YOUR UNIFORM?!"
37. The Great Dictator (1940)
38. City Lights (1931)
39. Sullivan's Travels (1941)
40. It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963)
41. Moonstruck (1987)
42. Big (1988)--a 'naked' movie.
43. American Graffiti (1973)
44. My Man Godfrey (1936)
45. Harold and Maude (1972)
46. Manhattan (1979)
47. Shampoo (1975)
48. A Shot in the Dark (1964)
49. To Be or not to Be (1942)
50. Cat Ballou (1965)
51. The Seven Year Itch (1955)
52. Ninotchka (1939)
53. Arthur (1981)--This may be the last movie I saw at the theater with my parents. An odd choice, eh?
54. The Miracle of Morgan's Creek (1944)
55. The Lady Eve (1941)
56. Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)
57. Diner (1982)--ugh. What an ungodly movie. Yesssh.
58. It's a Gift (1934)
59. A Day at the Races (1937)
60. Topper (1937)
61. What's up, Doc? (1972)
62. Sherlock, Jr. (1924)
63. Beverly Hills Cop (1984)--I love this. Loved all of them, really. Why doesn't Eddie Murphy make movies like this anymore?!
64. Broadcast News (1987)
65. Horse Feathers (1932)
66. Take the Money and Run (1969)
67. Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
68. The Awful Truth (1937)
69. Bananas (1971)
70. Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)
71. Caddyshack (1980)--I love this. Another movie I could watch once a week until I die.
72. Mr. Blandings Builds his Dream House (1948)
73. Monkey Business (1931)
74. 9 to 5 (1980)
75. She Done him Wrong (1933)
76. Victor/Victoria (1982)
77. The Palm Beach Story (1942)
78. Road to Morocco (1942)
79. The Freshman (1925)
80. Sleeper (1973)
81. The Navigator (1924)
82. Private Benjamin (1980)
83. Father of the Bride (1950)--I have seen the Steve Martin version.
84. Lost in America (1985)
85. Dinner at Eight (1933)
86. City Slickers (1991)
87. Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)--Dazed and Confused was much, much better, though. Really. If you haven't seen that one and you like Fast Times, you really should seek it out. It's totally worth it. If Fast Times is a 5, Dazed and Confused is easily an 8.5.
88. Beetlejuice (1988)
89. The Jerk (1979)--I think? Assuming it was among the Beta tapes that I watched while drinking Busch Light and eating sandwiches from the Sub Base, circa 1989/1990.
90. Woman of the Year (1942)
91. The Heartbreak Kid (1972)
92. Ball of Fire (1941)
93. Fargo (1996)--No true home-stater would claim this film!
94. Auntie Mame (1958)
95. Silver Streak (1976)
96. Sons of the Desert (1933)
97. Bull Durham (1988)--I love baseball movies. This one is great.
98. The Court Jester (1956)
99. The Nutty Professor (1963)
100. Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)

Well? What about you-all?

[After all this copying, pasting and editing, I discovered that I'd already posted this. It's been a year and a half, though, and enough changes have been made to make it worthwhile to share again. It does reiterate my annoyance with Blogger's searching capabilities, though. Harrumph.]