MovieChat Forums > It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) Discussion > Jack Benny should have played Culpepper

Jack Benny should have played Culpepper

posted 10 years ago by edwardholub
6 replies | jump to latest

Benny would have been hysterical. Spencer Tracy got the role simply because he made a lot of movies with Kramer.

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

[–] ScotchRox 10 years ago

Not taking your medication Ed ?

[–] bookman7772000 10 years ago

Ummmm...no. For Culpepper, you needed an actor who projected authority, someone who would be believable as a police captain. Jack Benny was not that actor.

[–] mtw120 10 years ago

As it turns out, writer William Rose originally wanted Benny to portray Culpepper. He probably later figured that a more serious actor needed to play the role.

[–] hammer4 10 years ago

Where did you get this information (that William Rose wanted Benny to play Culpepper)?

[–] powersroc 10 years ago

Never,ever would have worked!

[–] !!!deleted!!! (49761343) 10 years ago

No way that would have worked! Tracy's casting was perfect. You were supposed to think right up until the twist that Culpepper was this stand up guy. Had Benny been cast, it would've been obvious right from the beginning that he wasn't trustworthy and was planning something.

---
Emojis=💩 Emoticons=