Best Comedy Films of 1974
- HaHa Jokester
- Jul 22
- 10 min read
1974 was a landmark year for comedy. Irreverent, self-aware, and fearless, the films of this year dismantled genre tropes, satirized history, and poked fun at everything from race to horror to Hollywood itself. It was a time when comedians and directors were testing limits—and audiences were eager for the ride. This was the year Mel Brooks broke down the fourth wall, Gene Wilder became a household name, and sketch-style comedy started gaining cinematic clout. From bawdy farce to brilliant satire, 1974 was an explosion of comic creativity that helped define the rest of the decade.
The Comedy Landscape in 1974
Satire Reigns Supreme
Whether it was the Old West, classic horror, or silent film homages, 1974's top comedies gleefully deconstructed familiar genres. The result? Parody elevated to an art form.
Rise of Comedy Icons
This year solidified careers. Gene Wilder, Richard Pryor, Cleavon Little, and Peter Boyle were all launched—or cemented—as comic legends thanks to breakout roles in culturally daring films.
The Sketch Comedy Aesthetic Emerges
Comedies started to embrace a looser structure, drawing from TV sketch comedy and absurdist theater. Scenes felt like vignettes, with running gags and direct audience engagement.
Top 10 Comedy Films of 1974
Blazing Saddles
Runtime: 1hr 33min
Mel Brooks’ anarchic Western parody is as provocative as it is hilarious. With racial satire, fart jokes, and a plot that literally breaks the fourth wall, it's one of the boldest and most quoted comedies of all time.
Blazing Saddles, directed by Mel Brooks, is a raucous and irreverent Western satire that skewers racism, politics, and Hollywood tropes with fearless comedy. When a corrupt politician appoints a Black sheriff named Bart (Cleavon Little) to oversee a small frontier town as part of a land-grab scheme, he doesn't anticipate Bart's quick wit, charm, and alliance with the drunken gunslinger Jim (Gene Wilder). Together, they outsmart the villains and win over the skeptical townsfolk. Packed with slapstick, fourth-wall-breaking gags, and outrageous characters, the film is both a loving homage to and a biting parody of classic Westerns, cementing its legacy as one of the most iconic and subversive comedies of all time.
Young Frankenstein
Runtime: 1hr 46min
Brooks again—this time lovingly spoofing 1930s horror. Shot in black-and-white and filled with brilliant performances (Gene Wilder, Marty Feldman, Madeline Kahn), it’s a near-perfect blend of homage and hilarity.
Young Frankenstein), directed by Mel Brooks and co-written with Gene Wilder, is a loving parody of the classic Universal monster movies, especially the Frankenstein films of the 1930s. The story follows Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (pronounced "Fronkensteen"), a respected American neurosurgeon and reluctant grandson of the infamous Victor Frankenstein. When he inherits his family's Transylvanian estate, he becomes drawn into his grandfather’s legacy and ultimately reanimates a corpse, leading to hilarious consequences. Shot in black and white and filled with affectionate nods to the original films, the movie blends slapstick, wordplay, and absurdity with genuine cinematic craftsmanship, making it one of the most beloved and quotable comedies in film history.
Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore
Runtime: 1hr 52min
Martin Scorsese’s tender, funny drama about a widow starting over features heartfelt moments and sharp humor, carried by Ellen Burstyn’s Oscar-winning performance.
Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, directed by Martin Scorsese, is a poignant and emotionally rich drama with moments of sharp humor, centered on a woman’s journey of self-discovery and independence. After the sudden death of her husband, Alice Hyatt (Ellen Burstyn) sets off with her young son to pursue a long-abandoned dream of becoming a singer. Along the way, she faces financial hardship, romantic disappointment, and the challenges of single motherhood, eventually finding work as a waitress in a small Arizona diner. Burstyn’s Oscar-winning performance grounds the film with authenticity and vulnerability, while Scorsese’s direction brings a raw, intimate energy to this deeply human story of resilience and hope.
The Front Page
Runtime: 1hr 45min
Billy Wilder directs Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau in this rapid-fire newspaper comedy remake. Full of classic wisecracks and newsroom chaos, it's a throwback with 1970s bite.
The Front Page, directed by Billy Wilder and based on the classic play by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, is a fast-talking, sharp-witted comedy about the chaotic world of newspaper journalism. The film stars Jack Lemmon as Hildy Johnson, a star reporter eager to leave the business for a quieter life, and Walter Matthau as his manipulative editor Walter Burns, who will do anything to keep Hildy on the job—especially with a major scoop unfolding around an escaped death row inmate. Set in 1920s Chicago and filled with cynical banter, political satire, and rapid-fire dialogue, the film captures the frantic pace and moral ambiguities of the press, while showcasing the comedic chemistry of Lemmon and Matthau at its peak.
Harry and Tonto
Runtime: 1hr 55min
Art Carney won an Oscar for his role as a man traveling cross-country with his cat. More gentle and melancholy than zany, but laced with warmth and observational humor.
Harry and Tonto, directed by Paul Mazursky, is a heartfelt road movie that follows retired teacher Harry Coombes (Art Carney in an Oscar-winning performance) as he embarks on a cross-country journey with his beloved cat, Tonto, after being evicted from his New York City apartment. What begins as a reluctant disruption turns into a soulful and often humorous exploration of aging, change, and connection. Along the way, Harry visits old friends, reconnects with family, and encounters a diverse cast of characters that highlight both the loneliness and unexpected joys of later life. Gentle, observant, and deeply human, the film is a moving meditation on resilience, memory, and finding purpose in life’s final chapters.
The Groove Tube
Runtime: 1hr 15min
A sketch comedy film that predated Saturday Night Live, filled with TV parodies, fake commercials, and absurdist bits. Raw and uneven but culturally significant in its experimental style.
The Groove Tube, directed by Ken Shapiro, is a raunchy, irreverent sketch comedy film that satirizes television culture, advertising, and the absurdity of media in the post-’60s era. Built from a series of loosely connected skits, it features a blend of surreal humor, social commentary, and adult content that pushes boundaries with its offbeat style. Among the film’s most memorable segments are parodies of children's programming, news broadcasts, and commercials—all performed with a countercultural, anything-goes spirit. Featuring an early appearance by Chevy Chase, The Groove Tube was part of the underground comedy movement that laid the groundwork for shows like Saturday Night Live, making it a cult classic of its time.
California Split
Runtime: 1hr 48min
Robert Altman’s character study of two gamblers (Elliott Gould and George Segal) is loose, funny, and surprisingly poignant. Altman’s overlapping dialogue and naturalistic style elevate the laughs.
California Split, directed by Robert Altman, is a loose, character-driven dramedy that explores the highs and lows of gambling culture through the evolving friendship of two men. George Segal plays Bill, a down-on-his-luck magazine writer, and Elliott Gould is Charlie, a charismatic and compulsive gambler. As the two dive deeper into the world of poker, racetracks, and casinos, their bond is tested by addiction, risk, and the illusion of freedom that gambling offers. Altman's signature overlapping dialogue and naturalistic style create an immersive, almost documentary-like experience, capturing the thrill and emptiness of the betting life. With sharp performances and a melancholic undertone, California Split is a reflective, quietly powerful film about chance, friendship, and the cost of always chasing the next win.
The Nine Lives of Fritz the Cat
Runtime: 1hr 19min
The X-rated animated sequel to Fritz the Cat, this film continued the mix of political satire, sex, and countercultural commentary—though with diminishing returns, it still reflected the era’s underground sensibility.
The Nine Lives of Fritz the Cat, directed by Robert Taylor, is a surreal and provocative animated anthology that serves as a sequel to Ralph Bakshi’s controversial Fritz the Cat. Picking up with Fritz as a disillusioned family man in a New York apartment, the film sends him on a series of fantastical, drug-fueled daydreams that explore alternate versions of his life. These vignettes place him in exaggerated settings—from Nazi Germany to outer space to a post-apocalyptic wasteland—each offering a satirical critique of politics, race, war, and American culture. Though less cohesive and more fragmented than its predecessor, the film retains its anarchic tone and X-rated edge, continuing to push the boundaries of adult animation in the 1970s.
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot
Runtime: 1hr 55min
A heist buddy film with Clint Eastwood and Jeff Bridges, blending crime and comedy. Bridges’ youthful charm and unexpected tenderness give this one its comic heart.
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, directed by Michael Cimino in his directorial debut, is a stylish and unconventional blend of buddy comedy and crime drama. The film stars Clint Eastwood as Thunderbolt, a seasoned bank robber, and Jeff Bridges as Lightfoot, a charming and impulsive drifter. After a chance meeting, the two team up to recover stolen loot and eventually plot a daring heist with a pair of former associates. What sets the film apart is its rich character development and the warm, often humorous dynamic between its leads—especially Bridges, whose Oscar-nominated performance adds depth and heart. Set against expansive American landscapes, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot mixes action, melancholy, and offbeat humor to create a compelling story about friendship, loyalty, and the fading dream of easy riches.
Phantom of the Paradise
Runtime: 1hr 32min
Brian De Palma’s glam-rock horror musical satire is a cult classic. With Faustian deals, rock industry mockery, and a wild visual style, it’s part Rocky Horror, part The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.
Phantom of the Paradise, directed by Brian De Palma, is a dazzling, genre-blending cult classic that fuses horror, rock opera, satire, and tragedy into a wildly original cinematic experience. Loosely inspired by The Phantom of the Opera, the film follows Winslow Leach, a gifted but naïve composer who is betrayed by the sinister music mogul Swan, disfigured in a record press accident, and transformed into the masked Phantom. As he haunts Swan’s lavish concert hall, the Paradise, Winslow seeks revenge while trying to protect the woman he loves, singer Phoenix. With flamboyant production design, a memorable soundtrack by Paul Williams (who also plays Swan), and De Palma’s stylish direction, Phantom of the Paradise is a biting critique of the music industry and a hypnotic cult spectacle that has earned enduring fan devotion.
Underrated Picks Worth Your Time
Hearts and Minds
Runtime: 1hr 52min
A documentary with moments of grim irony and satire about Vietnam; not a comedy per se, but its editing and commentary deliver biting, ironic laughs.
Hearts and Minds, directed by Peter Davis, is a powerful and unflinching documentary that examines the human, political, and emotional costs of the Vietnam War. Using a mix of archival footage, interviews with soldiers, policymakers, and civilians, and stark contrasts between American life and the devastation in Southeast Asia, the film exposes the contradictions and moral ambiguity at the heart of U.S. involvement in the conflict. It challenges official narratives by juxtaposing patriotic rhetoric with scenes of suffering, loss, and disillusionment. Winning the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, Hearts and Minds remains a landmark of political filmmaking—both a searing indictment of war and a reflection on the deep cultural rifts it leaves behind.
The Great Gatsby (1974)
Runtime: 2hr 24min
While not a comedy, Robert Redford’s cool detachment and the film’s opulent excess have been reinterpreted through a dry, ironic lens by modern audiences.
The Great Gatsby, directed by Jack Clayton and adapted by Francis Ford Coppola, is a lavish and faithful adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel, set against the opulence and moral decay of the Roaring Twenties. Robert Redford stars as the enigmatic Jay Gatsby, a wealthy and mysterious man who throws extravagant parties in hopes of rekindling a lost romance with Daisy Buchanan (Mia Farrow). Narrated by Gatsby’s neighbor Nick Carraway (Sam Waterston), the film delves into themes of longing, illusion, and the hollowness of the American Dream. With its sumptuous costumes, period-accurate production design, and melancholic tone, the film captures the elegance and tragedy of Fitzgerald’s world, though its restrained emotional core has divided critics. Nevertheless, it stands as a visually striking interpretation of one of America’s most enduring literary works.
Rhinoceros
Runtime: 1hr 44min
Gene Wilder and Zero Mostel in a surreal adaptation of Eugène Ionesco’s absurdist play. Strange, stiff, but loaded with philosophical humor.
Rhinoceros, directed by Tom O’Horgan, is an absurdist comedy based on Eugène Ionesco’s existential play of the same name. Starring Gene Wilder as the bewildered everyman Stanley and Zero Mostel as his bombastic friend John, the film follows a bizarre and allegorical storyline in which ordinary citizens of a city begin transforming into rhinoceroses. As the epidemic of conformity spreads, Stanley struggles to retain his individuality and sanity in a world succumbing to mindless herd behavior. Laden with surreal humor and undercurrents of political and philosophical commentary, Rhinoceros critiques the dangers of fascism, conformity, and mass hysteria. Though its stage origins and offbeat tone divided audiences, the film is a fascinating product of 1970s counterculture cinema, driven by the manic chemistry between Wilder and Mostel.
Comedy Highlights & Trivia
Mel Brooks’ One-Two Punch: Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein both came out in 1974—and both became instant classics. Brooks proved parody could be smart, outrageous, and enduring.
Breaking the Fourth Wall: Blazing Saddles literally ends on a movie studio set, shattering narrative conventions and paving the way for more meta-humor in mainstream film.
The Rise of Sketch Comedy in Film: The Groove Tube previewed the kind of irreverent, segment-based humor that Monty Python and SNL would bring to even greater heights.
Oscar-Winning Comedy: Harry and Tonto showed that even quiet, reflective comedy had a place at the Oscars, with Art Carney beating out Nicholson and Pacino for Best Actor.
Where to Watch These Today
Blazing Saddles – Streaming on MAX and available on Blu-ray
Young Frankenstein – Available on Hulu and Blu-ray
California Split – Streaming on The Criterion Channel
Harry and Tonto – Available on DVD and digital rental platforms
The Groove Tube – On cult streaming services and DVD
Phantom of the Paradise – Streaming on Shudder and available from Shout! Factory
Closing Thoughts
1974 was a comedic revolution. Mel Brooks pushed the boundaries of what could be mocked, sketch comedy invaded the big screen, and characters full of contradictions brought humanity to the laughs. Whether through grotesque parodies, melancholic road movies, or newsroom farce, the comedies of 1974 reshaped the genre—daring it to be smarter, weirder, and funnier. It remains one of the most influential years in comedy film history.
