A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

Plot synopsis:
Set in Rome during the first century A.D. during the early years of the Roman Empire, the film opens with one of the musicals most famous songs, "Comedy Tonight," performed by Pseudolus. The lyrics tell the audience they will see some familiar things, others peculiar, some appealing, others appalling, some gaudy, and definitely others that are bawdy, in other words, something for everyone. Ultimately, Pseudolus promises a happy ending. The action, Pseudolus tells the audience, takes place in Rome around three adjacent houses: the house of Erronius (Latin for "wrong"), an old man who has been searching for his children who were stolen by pirates while they were infants; the house of Marcus Lycus, a buyer and seller of beautiful women, and the house of Senex (Latin for "old man" or "senile"), a Roman senator, his wife, Domina (Latin for "mistress"), who is loathed by her husband, their son, Hero, and his slave, Pseudolus, who is attempting to raise enough money to buy his freedom.One day when Senex and Domina leave for a trip, Hero tells Pseudolus that he's in love with a girl in the house next door. Pseudolus seizes the opportunity to bargin for his freedom. Hero agrees if Pseudolus can get the girl for him, he will free him.Pseudolus and Hero visit the house of Lycus to purchase Hero's beloved. Lycus presents several of his courtesans for their inspection: Tintinabula (Latin for "bell"), a bell-wearing beauty, dances to middle eastern music; Vibrata (Latin for "vibrant"), an energetic, lively dark-skinned lovely who is dressed in a leopard skin bikini, dances to jazz; Geminae (Latin for "twins") are a matched pair that Lycus will not separate; Panacea (Latin for "cure all") dances seductively; and Gymnasia (Latin for "nude," which she may have been in the original musical, but in the film she is portrayed as speechless) is a mute from the Island of Silent Women. Gymnasia and Pseudolus communicate in sign language and he immediately falls for her. When Hero's dream woman is not among the girls who are presented, Lycus tells them that she is a virgin who recently arrived from Crete and he has sold her to a famous Roman soldier. Being an excellent fabricator of lies, Pseudolus claims Crete has been ravaged by a plague, and since he has already had the plague, he would happily look after the girl in Senex's house until the soldier comes to claim her. Lycus gulibly agrees to Pseudolus offer.Once they return to the house of Senex, Hero and the girl get to know each other. He learns that her name is Philia (which in Greek means "love"). Philia sings "Lovely" (as "I'm Lovely"), in which she explains that "lovely is the one thing I can do." Hero then sings his reply, "You're Lovely," and they both agree they are happy to have found each other. Even though Philia has fallen in love with Hero, she insists she must honor the contract Marcus Lycus made to sell her.Pseudolus devises a plan to give Philia a sleeping potion. Once she is unconscious, he will tell Lycus that she died from the plague. When they move her body for burial, Hero can then take her away to Greece and Pseudolus will get his freedom. Pseudolus steals a potion book from Hysterium (Latin for "hysterial"), another slave in the house of Senex. The only sleeping potion ingredient he doesn't have is mare's sweat, so he and Hero head in different directions to obtain some.While they are away, Senex unexpectedly returns home and knocks three times on his door. Pseudolus had told Philia that three knocks was the signal of her purchaser, Captain Miles Gloriosus (Latin for "braggart soldier"). Hearing the knocks, Philia assumes Senex is the captain, so she offers herself to him. She tells him that he may have her body but will never have her heart. The old Senator is more than happy to take her body, with or without her heart.Pseudolus returns with the mare's sweat just in time to see Senex and Philia embracing. He tells Senex that the girl is a new maid he has hired. That leads into the hilarious song, "Everybody Ought to Have a Maid." Senex is very much in favor of maids especially those who butter up the master with sexual favors. Hysterium joins Senex and Pseudolus for a chorus of the song, and then they are joined by Lycus, who is checking on the condition of the virgin. These lecherous fellows particularly like maids who wriggle, giggle and jiggle as they putter around the house.After the song, Pseudolus convinces Senex that he needs a bath after his road trip (Senex is actually smelling the mare's sweat) and since his son could be home, he should bathe and receive the girl in Erronius' long-abandoned house next door.Just after Senex heads for his bath, Erronius returns from his exhaustive twenty year search for his two long-lost offspring. The elderly and semi-senial Erronius, who is now almost blind, reveals that each of the children is wearing a ring with a gaggle of geese engraved upon it.When Erronius heads for his house, he hears Senex singing as he bathes. Hysterium, desperate to keep Erronius out of his house, tells the old man his house is haunted. Erronius demands Hysterium find a soothsayer to banish the haunting spirit from his house. Overhearing, Psuedolus pretends to be a soothsayer and orders Erronius to run around the Seven Hills of Rome seven times to banish the spirit.Meanwhile, two Roman Army emissaries of Captain Miles Gloriosus arrive at Lycus' house to make certain everything is in order for their commander to receive his purchased courtesan. They threaten to turn Lycus' women over to the soldiers and burn his house if anything is amiss.Fearing the Captain's wrath, Lycus talks Pseudolus into substituting for him for an hour. Pseudolus is more than happy to oblige since he gets to see Gymnasia again. Pseudolus convinces Lycus that it would be best to move all the girls into Senex's house. Meanwhile, Senex has finished his bath, but orders Hysterium to bring him an energy (love) potion prior to his rendezvous with Philia.When Captain Gloriosus and his troops march into the city, the captain sings "Bring Me My Bride." This conceited soldier claims to be a man among men but is also admired and desired by all women. He is impatient to receive his bride because he has towns to plunder, temples to burn and women to abuse.Pseudolus, pretending to be Lycus, tires to delay delivering Philia. The Captain gives him half an hour to deliver the girl or else. While Gloriosus waits, he dictates his memoirs and his men enjoy Lycus' courtesans.
Meanwhile, Lycus, who is drinking in a nearby bar, learns from a fellow patron there is no plague in Crete. When he tries to return to reveal the lie, he isn't admitted into his own house because everyone, as he had instructed, swears Pseudolus is Lycus.Domina returns from her trip early because she had a premonition that Senex was up to something. She goes to the market to purchase a breeder slave and picks a robust, stocky female specimen. Once they return home, the breeder takes a liking to Pseudolus. He puts her in a room and tells her he will knock on the door three times when he returns. He sends one of the Captain's soldiers to the room and tells him to knock three times (the soldier thinks he's getting one of Lycus' women). Later, Pseudolus sends Senex to the breeder's room (Senex assumes Philia is there), but escapes the breeder slave through the window.When Domina is introduced to the Captain, she is smitten. Then when Hysterium brings the energy potion to Senex, Domina stops him and thirstly consumes the liquid. Pseudolus tells Domina to wait in the Green Room and he will send the Captain to her. About the same time, Senex climbs in the window of the Green Room, where he expects to be joined by Philia. He and his wife are both unpleasantly surprised to end up in the same room.
When Philia hears the voice of the Captain, she recognizes it as the brute who raped her country, "Thrace." She claims he did it three times. Pseudolus questions, "He raped Thrace thrice?"Pseudolus decides to tell the Captain the virgin has died, but in order to make it convincing, he needs a body. After a lot of convincing, Hysterium agrees to dress in drag and pretend to be the dead Philia. Pseudolus sings a reprise of "Lovely" (as "You're Lovely"; a hilarious self-spoof of the musical number sung by Hero earlier in the film) to convince Hysterium he can pull off the ruse. Once convinced, Hysterium sings "I'm Lovely." To complete Hysterium's outfit, Pseudolus gives him the old man's ring - the one with the gaggle of geese.As the funeral procession begins, Hero returns with a cup of mare's sweat. He is so distraught when he learns that Philia is dead that he plans to throw himself to the lions. Before he leaves, however, Senex mistakes the mare's sweat for the energy potion, drinks it and immediately passes out.Pseudolus tells the Captain the virgin died because the sight of his glorious physique was too much of a shock. The conceited Gloriosus competely understands and is saddened that the girl would have died before she experienced him. Gloriosus insists on a proper funeral including cremation of the body. He also composes and sings a funeral dirge ("The Dirge"). When the Captain starts to give the dead virgin a farewell kiss, Pseudolus tells him she actually died of the plague she contracted in Crete. Unfortunately, the Captain had been stationed in Crete and knew there was no plague there. When the Captain says he is going to cut the girl's heart out and take it with him, Hysterium jumps up and runs away. Gymnasia communicates to Philia that Hero thinks she is dead, so he is going to throw himself to the lions. Distraught, Philia decides to sacrifice herself to the gods. Gymnasia then tells Pseudolus that Philia and Hero are both planning to kill themselves.Hero sneaks into a nearby arena during a gladiator training session. Pseudolus finds him there just before the gladitor knocks Hero in the head. He manages to save Hero and tells him that Philia is alive and has gone to the Temple of the Virgins to sacrifice herself. The gladitor then fights Pseudolus and captures him, but Gymnasia saves Pseudolus and they get away in a chariot.Hero climbs to the roof of the Temple and from a hole in the top saves Philia. They ride away in a chariot. A madcap, comic chase ensues with the Captain chasing Hero and Philia and Pseudolus and Gymnasia. Once the Captain captures them, they return to Rome for a quick wedding and a slow execution.Back in the city, Erronius, who has made several circles around the hills of the city, recognizes the gaggle-of-geese ring worn by Philia. Miles also has a gaggle-of-geese ring, which means they are brother and sister - the long-lost siblings of Erronius. That means Philia is a free-born citizen of Rome and cannot be sold as a courtesan. It also means that the Captain cannot marry his sister, so Hero and Philia can marry.A happy ending just as the lyrics of "Comedy Tonight" had promised (a reprise of the song is heard). Hero and Philia get each other, Senex and Domina get each other (whether they like it or not), Miles gets the twins, Erronius gets his family back, the soldiers get Lycus' women, Lycus must get a new supply of girls, and Pseudolus gets his freedom. And the moral? The cast sings, "Morals tomorrow! Comedy tonight!"

Tags: historical fiction

Review:
Some people complain that Lester altered the original show too much, cutting songs and dialogue alike, but this is the only way people can see Zero Mostel's fantastic -- and frenetic -- performance, so count your blessings.
And the fond look at slapstick (speeded up film, drag, pratfalls, etc.) is especially apt here considering the great Buster Keaton is in the cast.Mostel reprises here as the wily slave who drives the manic action.
Mostel is just wonderful and gets to use his full bag of tricks as a comedian as well as sing "Comedy Tonight." Equally good is Phil Silvers, who sells slave girls next door to the snooty matron (Patricia Jessel) her husband (Michael Hordern), and their innocent son Hero (Michael Crawford---yes THAT Michael Crawford).
"Funny Thing" is just as funny as I remembered it to be -- a marvelous opportunity to see the brilliant and hilarious Zero Mostel, plus a dream cast that includes Jack Guilford, Phil Silvers, Michael Crawford (very young), Roy Kinnear, etc.Zero Mostel was an incredible Broadway comedic genius, but his most famous work was probably in "Fiddler on the Roof", where it only exits as the wonderful Broadway cast album.
No one can really approach Mostel for his comic timing, ability to not only sing but sing FUNNY and the expressiveness of his face.Directed by Richard Lester (Hard Days' Night, Three Musketeers), the film is particularly beautiful in its period setting -- Lester had a spectacular eye for detail - and I honestly believe that this is the most realistic film ever done VISUALLY about Ancient Rome.
Crazy, dynamic and modern spirit of Lester's direction fits more or less well into "A funny thing happened on the way to the forum"(not as well as it did in "The Knack" or "A Hard Day's Night, but very well anyway).
On the half-full side we get to see Zero Mostel and Jack Gilford reprising their Broadway roles, and they're joined by a fine supporting cast including Phil Silvers as Lycus (ironically, he would star as Pseudolus in the 1972 Broadway revival) and Buster Keaton in his last film.
And it's too bad this wasn't a roadshow movie with an intermission because Mostel's funny Act One closer would have worked great there as well.All in all it's worth having, but be prepared for your mood to shift from seeing the film as a half-full glass or a half-empty one..
Bad: -Cutting so many songs, specifically "Free" and Hysterium's number (I must say, Jack Gilford was highly underused in this film).-The direction of most remaining musical numbers and some scenes.-Changing the character of Dominia.
For great music, great laughs, and great-looking women, rent "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.".
As such, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM is a useful film - it is one of the few movies that are based on ancient drama.
So A FUNNY THING HAPPENED is actually a comedy of daily regular life in Rome - it is not a realistic view of Roman society, but it is a type of distorted mirror of that society.It is also important for another reason: Zero Mostel.
He (like his friend, and fellow FUNNY THING performer, Jack Gilford) was blacklisted in the McCarthy period, so that Mostel turned to working in nightclubs and developed his interest in painting (his painting always showed great promise).
For that reason alone A FUNNY THING HAPPENED is worth watching and enjoying.The supporting cast is great too, including Buster Keaton in one of his last roles as a befuddled old man, Gilford as Hysterium (Mostel's foil in the household where they are both slaves), Phil Silvers as Lycus the procurer (one of Silver's best performances on screen), and the two Michaels (Hordern and Crawford) as Senex and Hero - father and son (and rivals for the same girl).
Slapstick farce based on a Broadway comedy/musical about some crazy complications when a slave (Zero Mostel) tries to win his freedom in ancient Rome.The script is OK with some funny lines and sight gags, the girls are all very beautiful (and horribly objectified--but this was done in the 1960s) and the comedians (Mostel, Phil Silvers, Jack Guilford, Buster Keaton) are at their peak...but I didn't really enjoy this.For one thing it's WAY too fast and frentic with director Lester spinning the camera all over the place.
Also this movie relies way too much on slapstick--there's a closing chase sequence that goes on forever and has TONS of it.Still, I'm giving it a 7 just for the cast alone (what a pleasure it is to see Keaton not doing a beach party movie and Silvers is hysterical) and some very funny parts.
The music in this film by Steven Sondheim is excellent and I enjoyed most of the songs despite the fact that most of the actors couldn't sing if their lives depended on it.
The filming of these numbers is similarly filled with jumbles of burlesque imagery that in trying too hard to be funny undermine the witty humor those pieces should have emitted.As a commentator before me has pointed out, the failure of this movie (in my opinion) is probably due to the "open-up" cinematography that has adulterated many other Hollywood versions of Broadway shows.
What I can see is only a collage of vibrant colors surrounding slapsticks that are rather on the banal side (the final chariot chase, for instance) --- no complexity or even cleverness.Having limited opportunities for seeing this musical on stage, I could only wish that there would be a remake more faithful to the Broadway original in the future---probably specifically for home video rather than for movie theaters, as (again, in my opinion) how the 2000 film version of Jesus Christ Superstar, which is basically a taped stage play, compensates for the regrets left from the 1973 adaptation, which also has distorted and fragmented the original play with a desert setting, excessive editing, and idiosyncratic gimmicks..
Director Richard Lester lends his frenetic style of direction in this film version of the Broadway musical comedy.
Phil Silvers, Jack Gilford, Buster Keaton, and many other comedy greats drum up some good laughs in their supporting roles.
I didn't like the way they presented "Comedy Tonight" though, over much of the song they showed a montage of scenes from the film that we haven't seen yet.
The same seems to be true here, and it doesn't work in either film.)  The physical business that runs throughout the movie is so far over the top that you end up wondering when the funny bits will start.The pluses are obvious: Zero Mostel and Jack Gilford, two old pros trying to make it all work.
On the other hand, it looks like it was shot in someone's backyard by a peyote-dosing epileptic.Maybe "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum" is the best badly-directed film in the world, a shame because it's not only a terrific show and cast, but a fantastic director, Richard Lester, who just was given the wrong project."Forum" is the story of one Pseudolus, a scheming house slave in ancient Rome who offers to help his master's son hook up with the courtesan next door in exchange for his freedom.
But she is promised to a Roman general, and so Pseudolus must figure out a way to break off this engagement without the vain general breaking off Pseudolus's head.Zero Mostel is Pseudolus, and does the best work I've seen from him on film, better than "The Producers" because in that film he didn't have to fight his director to deliver laughs.
He wastes time on a pointless chariot chase and scenes in a temple and coliseum, and leaves off a terrific Richard Williams titles sequence for the end instead of the beginning, where it would have been more effective.Marry all that to a production design that looks like hastily thrown-together leftovers from "Sparticus," a muddy print, awful sound recording, and hasty editing, and you have a film you have to fight with in order to enjoy.
Maybe the pan-and-scan version I saw does it no justice, but sequences like "My Bride" are so rough-hewn and out-of-joint one wonders if Lester was saving money by getting his coverage from the cutting-room floor.One sees what Lester is trying to do, capture the same success he has had with the Beatle films "A Hard Day's Night" and "Help!" and transfer it to this similarly merry-spirited work.
In this film, "A Funny Thing Happened To Me On the Way To The Forum " Pseudolus is a conniving Roman slave out to win his freedom at any cost.
Many character along the way include, Jack Gilford, great acting as Hysterium, Phil Silvers as Marcus Lycus, Michael Hordern as Senex and the great Buster Keaton as Erronius.
The acting is great, it's nicely directed (with some creative visual effects during the musical numbers), and while the score has been abbreviated what there is is very witty, classic Sondheim.I absolutely cannot believe that some people can complain about this film because of its "misogynic overtones."  It's set in ancient Rome, for God's sake!
Every moment counts, nothing is wasted, and every performance - - from the stars to the bit players -- finely tuned to perfection.A special treat is the final cinematic appearance of the great Buster Keaton, at his understated best, with his deadpan delivery of lines it took the entire film to set up for him.
A cut down version to be sure in terms of songs, but still a tribute to Sondheim in a fashion.The accent is more on comedy however and you cannot give enough praise to both Zero Mostel and Jack Gilford who were the only two from the Broadway cast to repeat their roles.
It's a great sequence even if the idea originated in the Eddie Cantor film, Roman Scandals.This movie was also the return of Zero Mostel to the screen after the blacklist.
One of the many Tony Awards A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum won was for Zero Mostel as Best Actor.On Broadway the show ran for 964 performances from 1962-1964 and also won a Tony for Best Musical.
It revolves essentially around young Hiero, played by Michael Crawford to get the woman he loves who happens to work over at Phil Silvers's pleasure house and his family slave Zero Mostel to obtain his freedom.
It is veryfunny but as the only film version of a stage musical, it's a big Zero.(Zero was excellent when he was given a chance and I didn'tmean to put him down but who can refuse a bad pun?)Besides many songs being cut (Yes "Free" is also a favorite ofmine.), I also found Crawford's voice at this stage to be rather"blatty" as it was also in "Hello Dolly!" and this is strange as he,like the late David Hemmings, worked with Benjamin Britten (Hedid admit that David was better.).
Zero Mostel reprises his leading role on Broadway as a Roman slave who tries to earn his freedom by playing matchmaker with Michael Crawford and Annette Andre, all while trying not to get caught, since Annette is promised to another.
Phil Silvers as a procurer and Leon Greene as a bombastic Roman conqueror are standouts -- the latter's narcissistic introductory aria is, I think, a high point.The film has gotten mixed reviews: some don't like that many songs from the musical were left out of the movie; others have considered Lester's slapstick comic style, while vigorous, to lack depth.
He said the two songs which ended up "working" were "Comedy Tonight" and "Everybody Ought to Have a Maid" - because they were closest to the style of the show.I don't know what the movie execs were thinking in terms of bringing this to the screen (the very essence of this show is the notion that it's live theater) - but, at the very least, it does capture Zero Mostel - of which there are too few recorded performances..
Having directed a very successful amateur production of this piece and just about to don the guise of Senex I feel that stage wise it's one of the best, however the film is somewhat of a let down - alright cut some of the songs but cut the bad ones (if there are any - this is Sondheim)The casting of the film is as near perfect as it should be, Mostel and Gilford are exceptional, Crawford does well with what he has got.
Keaton just makes me roar with laughter and Hordern puts in a performance nearly as great as the one he gave in 'The Slipper and The Rose'Just can't help feeling the film could have been a straight adaptation of the stage play and with the assembled cast it would have been brill.Why wasn't forum mentioned in CH4 (British TV) 100 greatest musicals?.
The story is set in the ancient Rome.Pseudolys, a lazy slave wants nothing more than to be free.He gets that chance when he finds out that the young master has fell in love.The girl is Philia, a virgin in the house of Lycus, a slave dealer who sells beautiful women.If Pseudolys gets the two lovebirds together, he's free.A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is a very funny musical comedy.Zero Mostel is brilliant in the lead.There's also the silent comedy legend Buster Keaton there.It's most hilarious when Senex meets the goddess Philia at the door.And they tell him she's the new maid.Or Lycus doing acrobatics.The chariot race is really something.The song heard in this movie is really catchy.Something familiar, something peculiar, something for everyone: a comedy tonight..
Boasting a priceless cast, a catchy score, and frenetic direction, Richard Lester's film adaptation of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" is solidly entertaining and should not be judged for what could have been.
Crammed with sight gags and slapstick, many drawn from silent comedies, the movie was appropriately Buster Keaton's last film, and he left us laughing.
In addition to Keaton, the irreplaceable trio of Zero Mostel, Phil Silvers, and Jack Gilford are hysterical, and each member of the talented supporting cast, which includes Michael Hordern, Patricia Jessel, and Michael Crawford, has their moment.The art direction by Tony Walton is a beautiful and sometimes humorous evocation of a fanciful Ancient Rome, and Richard Williams's closing title sequence is worth waiting for.
Average musical slapstick comedy that had a good cast and budget but suffered from bad directing style and bad screenplay.The soundtrack was very good due to the great play this film was based on and the opening sequences was very promising.Although the sebsequent scenes continued to degrade with every minute.There is one hilarious scene though when someone gets thrown out a window!Worth a look for big fans of slapstick comedy......
As such, while it may not have been one of the most well known stage musicals, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum had proved a sufficient hit to make an intelligent transfer to the big screen.
Reprising his starring role from the Broadway production, Zero Mostel is nothing less than a scream as cunning slave Pseudolus, a bundle of comedic energy and hysterical mannerisms whose mere presence lights up the screen and makes the movie immediately more enjoyable.
While lacking the profundity of some of Sondheim's later musical efforts and the vivacious splendour of other such musical adaptations, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum offers unapologetic entertainment to a nearly unprecedented degree, excelling as a comedy if not as a movie musical.
The great Buster Keaton was also in the movie playing the role that became a trademark for him at this late stage in his career.
As far as I know, the movie is based on a play with about the same name "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum".
Great to get a chance to see some of the original Broadway cast (Mostel and Gilford) but it's just not the same as seeing it on stage.
Whenever I feel down, whenever the world is getting on top of me, whenever I just need some light-hearted fun, I turn to 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum'.The cast is superb: Zero Mostel ("Was 1 a good year?"); Jack Gilford ("I live to grovel"); Phil Silvers ("I know that sound - and I love it!"); even classical actor Michael Hordern enters into the spirit of things ("All that flesh...
Mixed Bag. Comedy legends Zero Mostel, Phil Silvers and Buster Keaton headline a show by Stephen Sondheim, joined by British actor Michael Hordern, American Jack Gilford and Michael Crawford, a fine light actor and later Broadway's Phantom of the Opera.
While his material typically transfers uneasily to film, this is his most accessible score, with songs like "Lovely", "Everybody Ought to Have a Maid", "Bring Me My Bride", and the great "Comedy Tonight" lifting a movie that might otherwise have gone down without a trace -- even carried on the shoulders of its superb cast.Anyone who doesn't like musicals might want to see it once for its famous stars (particularly Buster Keaton, who has one more trick up his seventy-year old sleeve near the end; and Phil Silvers, for once exposed without his trademark glasses)..
The cast is filled with funny people, including Mostel repeating his Tony winning role (which he wouldn't get to do for "Fiddler on the Roof"), Phil Silvers (who later won a Tony for playing Pseudelous in the first revival), Jack Gilford and Buster Keaton in his last film role.
A Roman slave who can win his freedom if he pairs up his innocent young master with the virgin courtesan next door.*Special Stars- Zero Mostel, Buster Keaton, Phil silvers, MIchael Crawford, Jask Gilford, Leon Greene, Annette Andre.*Theme- Love always finds a way.*Trivia/location/goofs- British, Musical.
Zero Mostel performs the role of Pseudolus very perfectly(I mean, who else can play Pseudolus) and features a few great musical numbers(Comedy Tonight was my personal favorite).