Carl Reiner Movies

With this all-star Cinerama epic, producer/director Stanley Kramer vowed to make "the comedy that would end all comedies." The story begins during a massive traffic jam, caused by reckless driver Smiler Grogan (Jimmy Durante), who, before (literally) kicking the bucket, cryptically tells the assembled drivers that he's buried a fortune in stolen loot, "under the Big W." The various motorists setting out on a mad scramble include a dentist (Sid Caesar) and his wife (Edie Adams); a henpecked husband (Milton Berle) accompanied by his mother-in-law (Ethel Merman) and his beatnik brother-in-law (Dick Shawn); a pair of comedy writers (Buddy Hackett and Mickey Rooney); and a variety of assorted nuts including a slow-wit (Jonathan Winters), a wheeler-dealer (Phil Silvers), and a pair of covetous cabdrivers (Peter Falk and Eddie "Rochester" Anderson). Monitoring every move that the fortune hunters make is a scrupulously honest police detective (Spencer Tracy). Virtually every lead, supporting, and bit part in the picture is filled by a well-known comic actor: the laughspinning lineup also includes Carl Reiner, Terry-Thomas, Arnold Stang, Buster Keaton, Jack Benny, Jerry Lewis, and The Three Stooges, who get one of the picture's biggest laughs by standing stock still and uttering not a word. Two prominent comedians are conspicuous by their absence: Groucho Marx refused to appear when Kramer couldn't meet his price, while Stan Laurel declined because he felt he was too old-looking to be funny. Available for years in its 154-minute general release version, the film was restored to its roadshow length of 175 minutes on home video; the search goes on for a missing Buster Keaton routine, reportedly excised on the eve of the picture's premiere. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) simply can't understand why Rob (Dick Van Dyke) has not yet shown up at a get-together at the Petrie home with her Aunt Mildred (Amzie Strickland) and Uncle Edward (Harold Peary). What Laura doesn't know is that, earlier in the day, Rob had incurred an accidental head injury with what he thought was a prop violin but which turned out to be the genuine article. Suffering from temporary amnesia, Rob has wandered off to faraway Red Hook, NJ, where, identifying himself as "Antonio Stradivarius," he is currently the star attraction at a wild party!. How is he going to explain this one to Laura once he recovers his wits? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Rob (Dick Van Dyke) feels like a fish out of water when he and Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) are invited to a literary party honoring poet Henry Walden (Everett Sloane). For one thing, he's the only comedy writer in a room full of poets and novelists. For another, it appears that he has been invited by mistake, especially since the hostess (played by Doris Packer) constantly refers to him as "Mr. Petroff." This doesn't stop Rob from getting inveigled into making a huge contribution to a literary scholarship fund in Walden's name. As Rob broods over how he can possibly afford such a donation, Henry Walden himself shows up at the offices of "The Alan Brady Show," wryly explaining that it was he who invited Rob to the party -- and further explaining his rather surprising ulterior motive! Dick Van Dyke Show creator Carl Reiner makes a cameo appearance as bearded avant-garde poet Yale Sampson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Rob (Dick Van Dyke) is stuck in the middle as usual when Buddy (Morey Amsterdam) announces that he intends to divorce his wife Pickles (Joan Shawlee). The grounds? Buddy has found a bunch of checks written by his wife and addressed to a "Mr. Floyd B. Bariscale," and now he's convinced that Pickles is two-timing him. After several sleepless nights (brought about by Buddy's frantic late-night phone calls and other assaults to the senses), Rob visits Pickles to get the whole story. As it turns out, Pickles is innocent -- but the convoluted explanation is absolutely complicated. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Matriculating from noble failure to major success during its second season on the air, The Dick Van Dyke Show sailed into its third season without a ripple on the water. Though it is surely unnecessary by now, it is hereby noted that the series' main cast still consisted of Dick Van Dyke as Rob Petrie, head writer for "The Alan Brady Show;" Mary Tyler Moore as his wife, Laura; Larry Mathews as their chipmunk-cheeked son, Ritchie; Rose Marie and Morey Amsterdam as Rob's wisecracking coworkers Sally Rogers and Buddy Sorrell; and, on occasion, Richard Deacon as Mel Cooley, "The Alan Brady Show"'s long-suffering producer; and Jerry Paris and Ann Morgan Guilbert as the Petrie's next-door neighbors, Jerry and Millie Helper. Season three is launched with one of the series' most famous episodes, "That's My Boy?," in which Rob recalls the time shortly after Richie's birth that he became convinced that his baby son had been switched with an infant belonging to a Mr. and Mrs. Peters. The episode's unforgettable punchline was not only one of the best-kept secrets of the 1963-1964 season, but also yielded one of the longest and most sustained laughs from the studio audience (and in the bargain, it struck a major blow on behalf of racial equality on American television).

Amazingly, the third season manages to uphold the level of brilliance of its opener. "The Masterpiece" guest stars Howard Morris (who directed several other episodes) as a zany art critic who goes into conniptions when the Petries purchase an "original Artanis." "Laura's Little Lie" and "Very Old Shoes, Very Old Rice" comprise a two-part story in which the Petries discover that their marriage may not be legal; and in another two-parter, "The Pen is Mightier Than the Mouth" and "My Part-Time Wife," Laura fills in at the office while Sally guest-stars on "The Stevie Parsons Show," much to Rob's dismay. "Big Max Calvada" features Sheldon Leonard, executive producer of The Dick Van Dyke Show, as a gentlemanly ex-gangster who -- er -- persuades the "Alan Brady Show" staff to write a comedy routine for his untalented nephew. "The Life and Love of Joe Coogan" sets Rob up for a big surprise when he expresses jealousy towards Laura's former boyfriend. Series creator Carl Reiner shows up as flamboyant artist Serge Carpetna, who paints an extremely revealing portrait of the unwitting Laura, in "October Eve." And in "The Return of Edwin Carp," "The Alan Brady Show" nostalgically plays host to three old-time radio favorites: Richard Haydn, Arlene Harris, and Bert Gordon. Mention must also be made of the series' second full-out musical show, "The Alan Brady Show Presents," in which the entire cast -- including little Richie -- perform in a Yuletide special. The Dick Van Dyke Show enjoyed its best-ever ratings during season three, finishing at third place in the Nielsens. As a bonus, Emmy awards were bestowed upon both Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of a two-part story, Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) has confessed to Rob (Dick Van Dyke) that she was only 17 years old when they were married. Though technically speaking, the Petries are still legally man and wife, the rules about "age of consent" vary from state to state, so their lawyer has advised them to undergo a second marriage ceremony just to make sure. However, by the time they show up at the home of justice of the peace Judge Krata (Russell Collins), Rob and Laura are so angry with each other that the judge flatly refuses to perform the ceremony! The day is saved by the two marital witnesses, superbly played by venerable character actors Madge Blake and Burt Mustin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

When Rob (Dick Van Dyke) accidentally marks up the wall with an indelible pen, he and Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) call in an eccentric painter named Vito Giotto (Vito Scotti) to repaint the Petrie living room. Vito immediately ingratiates himself with Rob and Laura by showering them with flowery compliments, and also wins the heart of Ritchie (Larry Mathews) by teaching the boy songs and magic tricks. The painter also happens to be a superb gourmet chef, and regales his hosts with dozens of tasty meals. But at the end of five days, Vito still hasn't painted a stroke -- and it looks as though he never intends to do so! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Driving home after a night out, Rob (Dick Van Dyke) can't understand why Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) is so angry that she refuses to speak to him. Recounting the events of the evening, Rob can only remember that he and Laura ran into Buddy (Morey Amsterdam), Pickles (Joan Shawlee), Sally (Rose Marie), and Herman Glimshire (Bill Idelson) at a restaurant. But wait, there was more. Although Rob hadn't eaten anything at Buddy and Sally's table, he'd insisted upon picking up the check. And that is what has got Laura steamed: using her own brand of logic, Rob's habitual "check-grabbing" is proof that he thinks no one really likes him! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Rob (Dick Van Dyke) agrees to be interviewed by TV host Ray Murdock (Gene Lyons), a Mike Wallace type with a penchant for getting people to say things they shouldn't. Sure enough, after a few minutes of Murdock's intensive grilling, Rob admits that he gets most of the ideas for his "wacky" TV sketches from his own wife Laura (Mary Tyler Moore). Certain that he'll get it in the neck when Laura sees the videotaped program, Rob pretends that the TV set is on the blink -- but he hadn't counted on the fact that practically everyone else in the world would see him being dissected by the wily Mr. Murdock! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Tiptoeing into the house, Rob (Dick Van Dyke) plants a kiss on the back of Laura's neck -- only it isn't Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) he kissed, but instead his former classmate Janie Layton (Joan O'Brien), who has come to pay a visit to the Petries. Laura is at first amused by Rob's confusion, but her amusement fades when it seems that the attractive Janie is playing up to her husband, showering him with compliments and the like. Rob is flattered, but he's a little hesitant to take Janie's attentions at face value -- and he soon finds out what she really wants of him. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

While Rob's neighbor and best friend, dentist Jerry Helper (Jerry Paris), is out of town at a convention, Rob (Dick Van Dyke) breaks a tooth. Loyalty dictates that Rob should wait until Jerry returns to treat the tooth, but unbearable pain dictates that he seek out another dentist immediately. As a result, Rob mopes around the house feeling like a traitor -- and also suffers in anticipation of the inevitable showdown with Jerry. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

When a terrified Ritchie (Larry Mathews) rushes into the house claiming that he has been attacked by a giant woodpecker, Rob (Dick Van Dyke) finds the story rather absurd. Amateur child psychologist that he is, Rob assumes that Ritchie is making up tales to cover up a genuine problem in his life. At least, that's what Rob did assume until he saw the renegade woodpecker himself! Veteran comic actor Cliff Norton appears as the game warden who solves the mystery behind Ritchie's painful plight. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide