Laughter isn't just the best medicine -- it's life's saving grace.
Laughter is the ultimate stress buster during hard times.
When times are rough, people need something to de-stress their life and lighten the load—even if it’s only for a short time. I think this is why during the 1930’s, during the Great Depression and as Europe was gearing up for WWII, some of the greatest comedy teams were born: Marx Brothers, The Three Stooges, and Laurel and Hardy. Abbot and Costello were popular on radio. Remember, during this time period, radio shows were the main form of entertainment. The movies of the time featured a variety of comedies, from silly slapstick to romantic comedies.
The styles were different but they achieved their purpose. Making people laugh and forget for a time their troubles. The subject/premise of comedies were either light and fluffy or dealt with darker issues with an overlay of comedy. Parroting life, you could say. What made them work? A reasonable, though many times an improbable, premise. Good dialog, fast paced, proper build up of tension, and comedic timing.
For example, Laurel and Hardy’s Sons of the Desert (actually most of their movies) was a balance of laugh-out-loud dialog, plus fast-paced slapstick. Every frame of the script and dialog built up to and led into the next, and comedic timing. This was the pattern taken up by Jackie Gleason and Art Carney and later Sienfeld used the same sort of humor. Monk and Psych, seen on TV today, borrow from this general style. It works.
The styles were different but they achieved their purpose. Making people laugh and forget for a time their troubles. The subject/premise of comedies were either light and fluffy or dealt with darker issues with an overlay of comedy. Parroting life, you could say. What made them work? A reasonable, though many times an improbable, premise. Good dialog, fast paced, proper build up of tension, and comedic timing.
For example, Laurel and Hardy’s Sons of the Desert (actually most of their movies) was a balance of laugh-out-loud dialog, plus fast-paced slapstick. Every frame of the script and dialog built up to and led into the next, and comedic timing. This was the pattern taken up by Jackie Gleason and Art Carney and later Sienfeld used the same sort of humor. Monk and Psych, seen on TV today, borrow from this general style. It works.
Romantic comedies like Bringing up Baby, with Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn were popular. The premise was improbable but it worked. Main characters were well drawn, a straight-laced paleontologist trying to raise money for a museum and an impulsive and beautiful heiress, and their adventures. This was pure madcap comedy. I think an improbable premise works well for comedy. What made the comedy work are good dialog, fast pacing, and impeccable comedic timing.
The Thin Man is a classic and based on a novel by Dashiell Hammet. This was really a dark tale of solving multiple murders. Yet the movie makes you laugh. The dialog is sharp and clever, a combination of dry wit and unexpected silliness. It’s fast paced and never allows your attention to wander. The main characters are well developed; glamorous, stylish, intelligent, and they have tremendous fun as they work together to tracked down the murderer. From this style of light and dark, humor and danger, sprang many movies, TV shows, and books…Magnum, P.I., Remington Steel, and Burn Notice. Even Robert B Parker’s Spencer books are a blue-collar take on the Thin Man.
In the past few years we've seen a lot of tragedy and hard times and they haven’t ended. Like in
Romantic comedies like What Women Want and Two Weeks Notice are throwbacks to the screwball comedies of the 1930's and 1940's with witty repartee between characters, a rather improbable premise, well-paced comedic timing, and some gags/physical humor.
Many of these comedies were developed as movie scripts and a few were based on novels. Setting up a premise, crafting your scenes, and writing dialog for a thriller or suspense are different than writing dialog for comedy. The same holds true if you write romance, romantic suspense as opposed to romantic comedy. A different mind set is required.
There is a market for laughter and well developed comedy in today's hard times. Romantic comedies are popular and authors like Janet Evanovich have been very successful with the milieu.
Elements necessary in writing good comedy:
- Solid premise. As we've seen, it doesn't have to be particularly realistic, in fact, being slightly improbable works well.
- Well developed characters. Usually having a straight man/woman and the comic.
- Tightly written scenes that build one on the other pull your readers forward.
- Sharp, fast paced dialog.
- Use of gags or physical slapstick situations or even fight scenes work well.
- One of the most important aspects of writing good comedy is having impeccable comedic timing.
Do you enjoy watching comedies? Have any favorites?
Do you feel a story/movie can have a blend of both serious aspects and comedy, and be successful?
I've a bit scarce the past few weeks. I'm dealing with a few serious issues and hope to be back on schedule soon. Just bear with me. :-)
15 comments:
Hope things are going okay for you and you sort out your personal issues.
Yes, comedy is great to lighten hard times. I like watching them, but no way could I write them.
Thank you Natalie and yah, I'm hoping the issue is just a hill and a few bumps with a nice slide into homefree.
I find laughter a great healer and great for resetting the mind and attitude.
I hope things get better soon and these are just mere speed bumps on the way to a great 2014 :)
And YES comedy is such a great medicine. Whenever I am going through tough times, comedy and laughter have always helped me so very much.
Writing comedy is tough. Hats off to those who do it well.
Last really funny movie I saw was Zombieland.
And Psych is awesome. So many rapid-fire exchanges and pop culture references.
My taste is a little strange when it comes to comedy. I LOVE Zombieland (like Alex) and Scott Pilgrim VS the World, and Princess Bride...although that's probably not considered comedy. *shrugs* I love that there are so many different things out there to appeal to every taste.
Laughter is definitely needed in hard times. I wish you well in your current situation.
Thanks for stopping by and talking about the A-Z. I just wanted to clarify that choosing a category is optional. I don't have one. Don't like to be boxed in, so don't worry about that!
Tina @ Life is Good
A to Z Team @ Blogging From A to Z April Challenge 2014
@TinaLifeisGood, #atozchallenge
Sia, wishing you quick resolution to whatever you are facing. I love comedies, especially romantic ones. Some of my faves are Some Like It Hot, When Harry Met Sally, You've Got Mail, Something's Gotta Give
When I was involved in dramatics, it was always said anyone can play good drama but it takes expertise to play good comedy.
I'm sorry you've had issues.
I think the movie industry calls those "dramadies."
Sia, I hope your serious issues are resolved soon and in the way you want them to be. I enjoyed your take on the comedies and you highlighted some of my favorites. Cary Grant has some great movies that always make me laugh like His Girl Friday, but I also like a lot of Katherine Hepburn movies too.
Keith, from your mouth to God's ear. Please. I can deal with speed bumps. I've had some practice, you understand. Lol!
Alex, Psych cracks me up. And the comedic timing is very good. Perfect straight man the comic. They also employ some good physical gags, too. I haven't seen Zombieland.
Crystal, Princess Bride is an absolute fav of mine. Good comedy. Excellent straight man vs comedic couplings at several points. Timing and scene building pull the viewer forward and emotional impact too. Lots of gags and slapstick. Improbable premise but some great emotional threads of reality.
Looks like I'm going to have to see Zombieland. :-)
Tina--Good to hear. I'm not the type that likes boxes either. And thank you.
Karen--love those choices. As for my stuff. We'll see. It's still going through checking and elimination.
Jo--absolutely.
Diane--thank you. :-) When it's a combo, yah, they sometimes call them dramadies.
Mason--Thank you,me too.
I LOVE Cary Grant movies. They were all old when I saw them but I love that era and I think another of my favorites is Arsenic and Old Lace--little more physical comedy and his comic beat was impeccable as were his facial expressions. I'd say I like majority of Hepburn's movies. Loved her dry sense of humor.
I hope everything's okay! I think you're point about not comparing ourselves to other's hits home the most with me. I find myself doing that a lot, especially when I sit down to an amazing book.
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