We’ll look at the content, techniques and variety of twentieth-century American film comedy by examining some of its key moments. We’ll also consider the basic questions of “what is comedy” and “why we laugh.” The six films we will view are likely to be the following: Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times (1936), Bringing Up Baby (Howard Hawks, 1938), Some Like it Hot (Billy Wilder, 1959), Mash (Robert Altman, 1970), Blazing Saddles (Mel Brooks,1974) and Annie Hall (Woody Allen, 1977).

This class for those 50 and over will meet for three hours each Monday from October 17 through November 28, except for October 24 and will be led by instructor Ira Konigsberg, Professor Emeritus of Film at U of M.