Jackie Mason Movies

Important issues that may affect a child's life are portrayed in a lighthearted but sincere manner in this HBO special based on Rosie O'Donnell's book by the same name. O'Donnell shows how laughter and a sense of humor are a vital part of dealing with things that might be beyond one's immediate control. The 30-minute program mixes short animated tales that contain a particular lesson or theme with short clips of children talking candidly about what things they think are funny. Issues that are addressed in this innovative format are slavery, heaven, and the death of a classmate. A good show for families to watch and discuss together. Net proceeds are donated to the For All Kids Foundation, a group that awards grants to programs helping disadvantaged children throughout the United States.

~ Sarah Block, All Movie Guide

Jackie Mason takes on Oxford University in this video, which features the professionally Jewish comedian in a typical stand-up performance for a crowd of eager college students. Originally filmed in 1996, Mason was honored at Oxford and given the prestigious honor of having a chair ("The Jackie Mason Lectureship in Contemporary Judaism") named after him. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide

Bart Simpson (voice of Nancy Cartwright) is a loyal fan of children's entertainer Krusty the Clown (voice of Dan Castellaneta), but when Krusty finally takes Bart up on an invitation to dine with his family, he learns the clown is not a very happy man. After Krusty is asked to say grace, the Simpsons discover that he's Jewish and that the source of his depression is his father, Rabbi Krustofski (voice of Jackie Mason), who disowned his son when he chose to go into show business rather than become a rabbi in accordance with family tradition. As Lisa (voice of Yeardley Smith) so eloquently puts it, "A man who envies our family is a man who needs help," so Bart and Lisa take it upon themselves to reunite Krusty with his father; they soon learn, however, that Rabbi Krustofski is a very stubborn man. "Like Father, Like Clown" first aired on October 24, 1991. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

This comedy returns to the exclusive but crazy country club golf course seen in the original Caddyshack. This time its the blue-bloods against the blue collars as a loud, vulgar self-made millionaire tries to join the stuffy upper-crust club after his daughter falls in love with the son of one of the members. Naturally, the boisterous millionaire is rejected by the genteel jerks. He retaliates by buying the golf course and turning it into an ultra-tacky amusement park. Merry mayhem ensues, but in the end, the snobs learn a valuable lesson, the millionaire gets to join, and his daughter and her lover are finally united. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Mel Brooks produced, directed, wrote, and starred in this episodic comedy in the spirit of Monty Python and the 1957 studio travesty The Story of Mankind. The film is divided into five sequences that play like blue-toned Eddie Cantor vaudeville sketches -- "The Dawn of Man," "The Stone Age," The Spanish Inquisition," "The Bible," and "The Future." Also included is a Brooksian depiction of The Last Supper and a long-winded sequence about the French Revolution. The film starts with a 2001: A Space Odyssey parody, narrated by Orson Welles, in which a collection of ape-men learn to stand erect (in more ways than one). The Stone Age reveals the origins of both the first homo sapien and homosexual marriages. Brooks then appears in an Old Testament sequence as Moses, descending from Mount Sinai with three heavy stone tablets bearing the 15 Commandments; after he drops one of these tablets, the laws of God become 10 Commandments. The Roman period picks up with Brooks as Comicus, attempting to get a gig as a "stand-up philosopher" at Caesar's Palace. The Spanish Inquisition is a musical production number with monks torturing Jews to lively Broadway musical strains. The final French revolution section is a broad parody of The Man in the Iron Mask story. The film closes with coming attractions of "History of the World, Part II" that features a rousing Star Wars parody (anticipating Space Balls) called "Jews in Space" that includes a jaunty theme song. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

Comedian Jackie Mason made one of his many comeback attempts after the 1966 Ed Sullivan Show "flipping the finger" debacle with the low-budget The Stoolie. Mason plays a cheap crook who cops a plea with the law by offering to trap other thieves with bait money. But Mason can't leave well enough alone; he steals $7500 of the money himself and high-tails it to Miami Beach. Now he must continually look over his shoulder as both the police and the crooks try to catch up with him. Seedily effective at times (though not during the love scenes between Mason and leading lady Marcia Jean Kurtz), The Stoolie was produced in Florida and New Jersey by Jackie Mason himself; it received very limited release in 1972, then was given a second unsuccessful distribution in 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

From White Star comes this comedic concert film starring the legendary Jackie Mason live on Broadway. The winner of a Tony Award, an Emmy, and countless other accolades, the 1989 one-man show Jackie Mason: The World According to Me features the inimitable funnyman offering his unique take on a wide range of topics in front of a packed house. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide