Colorful Comedies in Black and White

We live in a complex world, full of every type of joy and tragedy, marked by every contradiction in the book.  There are tons of conveniences which complicate our lives and time-saving devices that only allow us to be busier and busier.  Nothing in life is black and white anymore - but luckily, we've still got those old black and white comedies to make us crack a smile, snicker, chortle, and finally laugh out loud.

Take a look at the Marx Brothers.  Sure, they don't have any fancy special effects, crazy computer animation or even color film, but they've got some of the best comedy lines around.  They have silly puns, wacky antics, witty lines and that touch of hilarious slapstick that will have you rolling on the floor.  Groucho's bushy caterpillar eyebrows, Chico's overdone accent, Harpo's silent silliness, and Zeppo's urbane charm are a recipe for timeless comedy.  Check out "Animal Crackers," "Horse Feathers," and "Monkey Business" for some examples of their finest film work.

Then there are the famous Three Stooges and their hilarious slapstick act.  Larry, Moe and Curly (and don't forget Shep) tripped and poked their way into their audiences' hearts and haven't managed to stumble out as of yet.  Old their movies may be, but their comedy will never be outdated.  Continue on to Abbott and Costello and be dazzled by their rapid-fire wordplay in gems like "Who's on First?" and then branch out from there.  These may be all in black and white, but they're far from boring - and just about as far from most of today's special effects-ridden comedies as it's possible to get.