A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

1966, Comedy/Musical, 1h 39m

22 Reviews 5,000+ Ratings

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Movie Info

This screen adaptation of the stage musical of the same name finds the Roman slave Pseudolus (Zero Mostel) scheming his way to freedom by playing matchmaker for his master's son, Hero, who is smitten with the blonde and beautiful Philia. However, things don't go at all according to plan. The complications that ensue involve blackmail, funny disguises and long-lost children, while Pseudolus desperately tries to keep up with his end of the bargain.

Cast & Crew

Zero Mostel
Pseudolus
Phil Silvers
Marcus Lycus
Jack Gilford
Hysterium
Buster Keaton
Erronius
Michael Crawford
Hero
Annette Andre
Philia
Michael Hordern
Senex
Leon Greene
Captain Miles Gloriosus
Richard Lester
Director
Melvin Frank
Screenwriter
Michael Pertwee
Screenwriter
Melvin Frank
Producer
Nicolas Roeg
Cinematography
John Victor-Smith
Film Editing
Tony Walton
Production Design
Tony Walton
Costume Design
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Critic Reviews for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

All Critics (22) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (19) | Rotten (3)
Full Review… Variety Staff Variety Full Review… Nell Minow Movie Mom Full Review… Danielle Solzman Solzy at the Movies Full Review… Eve Tushnet Patheos Full Review… J.C. Maçek III PopMatters Full Review… Wesley Lovell Cinema Sight Full Review… Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Full Review… Douglas Pratt DVDLaser Full Review… Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com Full Review… Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Full Review… Steve Crum Video-Reviewmaster.com Full Review… Emily Blunt Blunt Review
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Audience Reviews for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

  • May 10, 2012
    Not exactly my kind of thing and neither did I find it good. Their where some funny moments but nothing laugh out loud. It's recommended for mature audiences and that's because it has hidden adult humor. To tell you the truth I'm an adult and the crude humor escaped my mind. What I didn't like about this was the plot. It seemed weak and the build up was lousy. The writing was okay. Their where some good lines. The production values are what scared me the most. The direction could have been better. I understand that this was a famous play but they toke out most of the songs. If you like musicals then by all means watch it. If you aren't so fawned by musicals then don't.
    Eduardo T Super Reviewer
  • Sep 05, 2010
    This movie is really very funny, much more so than I expected. The cast is great, but I really felt that Keaton needed a bigger role in the story. Anyway, the story is very interesting in a classical way, it's like something Shakespeare could have written. I liked this movie.
    Aj V Super Reviewer
  • May 20, 2010
    just-for-the-hell-of-it comedy with zero mostel mugging unmercilessly through the midsummer nights dream circumstances of a hapless slave seeking his freedom w/chicanery aforethought. the roman locale is only one superficiality of the story. yeah, it got laughs out of me. i didn't wanna, but they took 'em from me! it was a riot.
    Kevin M. W Super Reviewer
  • Jun 09, 2007
    A kind of american version of Up Pompeii, this roman comedy based on a musical is actually pretty funny. But with a cast including the likes of Zero Mostel and Phil Silvers, you can't really go wrong...
    xGary X Super Reviewer
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