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The Balladeers - Nat King Cole and Stubby Kaye

posted 17 years ago by onepotato2
14 replies | jump to latest

Loved these two. Kaye doesn't have much to do but Cole was great. The idea got borrowed for There's Something About Mary with Jonathan Richmond.

[–] raymondoedwards 17 years ago

I loved those balladeers too; sometimes this film plays in the background as I do something else and I always stop to watch the balladeers or the classic Marvin moments.

But I do not think the idea was borrowed or stolen by TSAM. Musical interludes to explain or emphasise plot points have always been used, in every form of entertainment. The only similarity (apart from the fact they are both very popular comedies) is in the choice of music style; acoustic ballad.

[–] onepotato2 16 years ago

"Musical interludes to explain or emphasise plot points have always been used, in every form of entertainment."

I can't think of a single other movie that does this. Do you have one in mind?

[–] rockmail 16 years ago

How about every "musical" ever made?

I'm not making a list unless you pay me though.

There are many with balladeers as well, in fact most any western with musical interludes (Roy Rogers for one) would qualify as movies with "baladeering" going on.

Try watching a few Danny Kaye movies for another flavor, or Monty Python and the Holy Grail for a tongue in cheek version.

I will give you the point that the music/narration style in Cat Ballou is reminiscent of TSAM, but that can actually happen coincidentally. You'd have to ask the actual creators if they were inspired by another movie.

[–] nocomputer1962 16 years ago

The Farrelly brothers mentioned in an interview once that Cat Ballou was one of their four most influential comedies. (Airplane and Blazing Saddles were two of the others.) I agree with the OP that the use of Jonathan Richman in TSAM was inspired by, and may actually be an homage to, Nat King Cole and Stubby Kaye. Notice how, in both movies, the minstrels are often so close to the action that they are actually part of the scene.

[–] raymondoedwards 16 years ago

To nocomputer1962,

That is interesting information; nice to see two of my favorite comedies have connections... actually four of my favorite comedies because I love Airplane and Blazing Saddles too. Can you remember what the fourth influential comedy was that the Farrelly brothers mentioned? If it is something I have not seen it needs to go on my Must See list.
And well done OP, nicely spotted.

[–] nocomputer1962 16 years ago

Raymond:

I haven't been able to successfully google the interview. However, after racking my brain, I'm pretty sure the fourth movie was Animal House. It pretty much changed the face of comedy for people in the Farrelly brothers' age group (which includes me.)

[–] raymondoedwards 16 years ago

nocomputer1962:

Animal House makes sense, I am in that same age group and that is in my top comedies of all time.
Thanks for the info.

[–] DLunarum 16 years ago

And how, pray tell did CB borrow anything from TSAM? Did a DeLorean with a flux capacitor perhaps have something to do with it?

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] information_police 16 years ago

Actually, the idea came from the chorus in Greek dramas.

[–] rck_n_rll 14 years ago

I thought that was great too..it's what drew me in to watch it actually.

[–] Zuider_Zee 12 years ago

Oddly enough, the shouters were what I most vividly remembered about this movie. I saw it at the drive-in when I was 5 or 6 or so and rented the video cassette in the eighties. I had forgotten the entire storyline except for Cole, Kaye and the drunken horse.

[–] Prismark10 12 years ago

Well the Cat Ballou song was catchy!

Its that man again!!

[–] greenbudgie 10 years ago

They are a good pair of minstrel story-tellers for the film. I never knew Nat King Cole played guitar before seeing this movie. I've heard some of his great piano playing on records. A very talented and versatile musician.