Days of Thrills and Laughter

Mar 21, 1961

1h 33m

★ 5.5

Overview

An appreciative, uncritical look at silent film comedies and thrillers from early in the century through the 1920s.

Genres

Documentary

Production Companies

Robert Youngson Productions

Days of Thrills and Laughter Trailers

No Trailers found.

Cast

Self (archive footage)

Douglas Fairbanks

Self (archive footage)

Charlie Chaplin

Self (archive footage)

Stan Laurel

Self (archive footage)

Oliver Hardy

Self (archive footage)

Pearl White

Self (archive footage)

Mabel Normand

Self (archive footage)

Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle

Self (archive footage)

Ruth Roland

Self (archive footage)

Harry Langdon

Self (archive footage)

Ben Turpin

Self (archive footage)

Harry Houdini

Self (archive footage)

Harry 'Snub' Pollard

2006 was one of the deadliest Everest seasons on record. Experienced mountaineer Lincoln Hall was invited to join an expedition as a high altitude cameraman. It was his second attempt to summit the mountain, having turned back just short 22 years earlier. Shortly after reaching the summit, Hall began to behave irrationally, suffering from lack of oxygen. Aided by his loyal Sherpas for over 9 hours, he eventually collapsed and they declared him dead. His family were informed and the news hit headlines. But something happened that night that science cannot explain. The next morning Lincoln Hall was found alive by approaching climbers and his dramatic rescue began. Never before has a man been declared dead so high on Everest and survived. This is the remarkable true story of Lincoln Hall’s extraordinary journey back from beyond.

7.5

Berlin: Symphony of a Great City

Sep 23, 1927

A day in the city of Berlin, which experienced an industrial boom in the 1920s, and still provides an insight into the living and working conditions at that time. Germany had just recovered a little from the worst consequences of the First World War, the great economic crisis was still a few years away and Hitler was not yet an issue at the time.

7.6

Terry Pratchett: Back in Black

Feb 11, 2017

A poignant and humorous film telling the life story of the hugely popular author of the discworld series of books, in his own words.

6.9

Becoming Bond

Mar 11, 2017

The stranger-than-fiction true story of George Lazenby, a poor Australian car mechanic who, through an unbelievable set of circumstances, landed the role of James Bond despite having never acted a day in his life.

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7.0

The Dawn of Sound: How Movies Learned to Talk

Sep 2, 2007

Film historians, and survivors from the nearly 30-year struggle to bring sound to motion pictures take the audience from the early failed attempts by scientists and inventors, to the triumph of the talkies.

6.7

Gilbert

Apr 20, 2017

The life and career of one of comedy's most inimitable modern voices, Mr. Gilbert Gottfried.

7.9

Buster Keaton: The Genius Destroyed by Hollywood

Feb 7, 2016

In 1926, Buster Keaton was at the peak of his glory and wealth. By 1933, he had reached rock bottom. How, in the space of a few years, did this uncontested genius of silent films, go from the status of being a widely-worshipped star to an alcoholic and solitary fallen idol? With a spotlight on the 7 years during which his life changed, using extracts of Keaton’s films as magnifying mirrors, the documentary recounts the dramatic life of this creative genius and the Hollywood studios.

7.2

The Last Shaman

May 12, 2017

James, giving himself 12 months before he has "a license to kill himself," sets off to the Amazon rainforest with hopes of finding a shaman who can save his life.

0.0

Latham Entertainment Presents: An All New Comedy Experience

Jan 1, 2003

The stand-up comedy concert film Latham Entertainment Presents features a handful of African-American comedians including D.L. Hughley, Bruce Bruce, Earthquake, and Rickey Smiley.

7.1

Nanook of the North

Jun 11, 1922

This pioneering documentary film depicts the lives of the indigenous Inuit people of Canada's northern Quebec region. Although the production contains some fictional elements, it vividly shows how its resourceful subjects survive in such a harsh climate, revealing how they construct their igloo homes and find food by hunting and fishing. The film also captures the beautiful, if unforgiving, frozen landscape of the Great White North, far removed from conventional civilization.

7.8

Man with a Movie Camera

May 12, 1929

A cameraman wanders around with a camera slung over his shoulder, documenting urban life with dazzling inventiveness.

0.0

Voyeur

Feb 18, 2017

An evocative portrait of people having orgasms, lingering on the silent classical face of ecstasy.

7.7

Dave Chappelle: For What It's Worth

Sep 4, 2004

Comedian Dave Chappelle does what he does best in this outrageous and hilarious standup performance, which allows him to push the envelope far beyond what he does on his TV show. Taped in San Francisco at the famed Fillmore, Chappelle lets loose on such topics as black celebrities, what it's like to have raunchy fans of his TV show approach him while he's trying to enjoy Disneyland with his kids, Michael Jackson, Kobe Bryant... and crackheads, of course. It's comedy Chappelle-style and, for what it's worth, no one is safe from his barbs. But you already knew that!

7.6

Robin Williams: Live on Broadway

Jul 14, 2002

2002 HBO Stand-up Special starring Robin Williams. Recorded and broadcast live from New Your City's Broadway Theater at the culmination of his historic 2002 sold-out tour, this special finds the Oscar-winning actor/writer/comedian returning after 16 years to his stand-up roots to deliver what the Washington Post calls "...in its madcap way, a seminal cultural event."

5.0

Urtain, King of the Mountains

Jan 1, 1969

A humorous visit to the turbulent world of the controversial Spanish boxer José Manuel Urtain.

5.8

I Am Road Comic

Apr 14, 2014

Interviews with T.J. Miller, Pete Holmes, Marc Maron, Doug Benson, Jim Norton, Judah Friedlander, Alonzo Bodden, Maria Bamford, Jen Kirkman, Auggie Smith, W. Kamau Bell, Nikki Glaser, Wayne Federman, Seth Milstein, Oni Perez, Alysia Wood, Kris Tinkle, Traci Skene, Brian McKim, Tim O’Rourke, Tom Rhodes, Kyle Kinane and yours truly.

6.8

Bill Maher: But I'm Not Wrong

Feb 18, 2010

In front of a live audience at the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium at the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh, North Carolina, the Emmy-nominated host of Real Time with Bill Maher performs an all-new hour of stand-up comedy. Among the topics Bill discusses in his ninth HBO solo special are: Whether the "Great Recession" is really over; the fake patriotism of the right wing; what goes on in the mind of a terrorist; why Obama needs a posse instead of the secret service; the drug war; Michael Jackson; getting out of Iraq and Afghanistan; racism; the Teabagger movement; religion; the health-care fight; why Gov. Mark Sanford will come out looking good, and how silly it is to ask "Why do men cheat?"; and why comedy most definitely didn't die when George Bush left office.

0.0

Chris Elliott's FDR -- A One-Man Show

Dec 26, 1987

Chris Elliot plays FDR in his live "One Man Show" about the life and times of the president, however, he looks and sounds nothing like the man and he re-enacts events from Roosevelt's life that never happened.

7.8

Totally Bill Hicks

Nov 23, 1998

Consisting of two parts: ‘Revelations’, Bill Hicks’ last live performance in the United Kingdom made at the Dominion Theatre; and a documentary about Hicks’ life ‘Just a Ride’ featuring interviews with friends, admirers, and family.

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10.0

But... Seriously

Mar 25, 1994

A documentary juxtaposing the events of the 20th century with the commentary of stand-up comedians.