MovieChat Forums > Irma la Douce (1963) Discussion > Laughless film goes on for 2 hrs. 23 min...

Laughless film goes on for 2 hrs. 23 min.

posted 13 years ago by edwardholub
18 replies | jump to latest

Danny Devito once said that a good comedy should be an hour and a half long. Get in, get out, leave the audience wanting more. Shirley Maclaine signed on to do this film without reading the script thinking that Lemmon and Wilder knew what they'd be doing. She ended up being VERY disappointed with the finished product, was surprised she received an Oscar nomination and said the if she'd won, she wouldn't have cared. Shame on you Wilder. Actual nudity would have been less sleazy than all those dirty jokes and innuendoes.

There is no "off" position on the genius switch.

[–] ThomasMuf 9 years ago

Irma was Wilder's greatest commercial success, so obviously audiences of the time don't agree with you. It's a very funny and charming film, especially the first hour. And it's great to look at. Lemmon's physical comedy is wholly admirable. It does go on too long, and the Lord X subplot is rather awkward, but otherwise it's an enjoyable, if not totally smooth ride.

[–] ElizabethJoestar (946) 3 years ago

The first half is fun, but it just drags at the end. However, Wilder would have far worse misfires in the future, like the campy FEDORA. At least IRMA is dumb but mildly amusing for a while.

[–] HarlemEagle42 (17740) 2 years ago

I liked it fine but yeah it could had been cut by twenty minutes.