The list of Failures is long, & that is without adding the number of Comedians, Stand - up Comics, etc. that have tried to go into Films & wish they hadn't. I wont embarrass them any further by mentioning any. You'll find some incidents within these Pages, I felt that if I was going to Praise then I should include some kind of Balance.

I also found that, when trying to think of Great Comedy Films, it wasn't as easy as I thought it was going to be. Most of the Ideas have been done time & time again, with mixed results. So, as much as I can, I will try to stick to the Originals. If anyone out there can trace things back further, or better, Email me Here & Ill check it out.

The Films I will mention on this Page will generally not be Immediately Associated with TV Series, though some may well have had a TV Spinoff.

Similar to Airplane which has a lot in common with Police Squad, & numerous others. If you haven't seen it yet watch The Big Bus, which was made by the more or less the same people that made Airplane & shows how this type of Humour was developed (of course All Humour can eventually be simplified to about a Dozen or so Themes - let's not Ruin things by Naming them, eh ;-)

It is Re - Watching a Comedy Film that is the only way I can really tell if it is One Level above the Ordinary & if I can still Laugh when I think of it. The Life of Brian does this for me time & time again (you may be able to tell that from the Amount of Times I have mentioned it already :-)

I'll make a Special Mention of Army of Darkness (Evil Dead III). It's one of those Films that is so over - the - top that the Horror, rather than being Horrific, just adds to the overall Entertainment Value (I'm not sure if it works as well if you haven't seen the Prequels which are equally over the top, although not as funny. The main Character Ash was Played by Bruce Campbell (who co - produced the Films as well) who also Plays Autolycus in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys & Xena: Warrior Princess (for more on these click Here)

You may have noticed that the Films below have a Common Theme, Music (click Here for more on my Musical Preferences). Each handles the inclusion of Music in quite Distinctive ways. I'll go into more Detail on how under the Films own bit.

The Highlight of the Show is Tim Curry, as Frank N Furter (also did a guest slot in LEXX: The Dark Zone) the Sweet Transvestite... from Transsexual... Transylvania... a... a! He takes Cross - dressing, Swinging Hips & Facial Expressions to a whole new Dimension.

Other members of the Cast include Richard O'Brien, of Crystal Maze Fame, (who also Wrote & Directed it) as Riff - Raff the disgruntled MAN - Servant; Meatloaf - the Recently Deceased Eddie, puts in an Appearance & a Song; Susan Sarandon as Janet is one of the Innocent (?) Victims (??), if you don't know who Susan is then there's no hope for you ;-)

It also boasts an Appearance from Christopher Biggins (only of possible interest to UK Audiences of a certain age ;-)

I know I put this a lot, you'll be amazed (hopefully) of how many times I mentioned a Film, TV Series or something to be met with Totally Blank Expressions, although some have suggested this may just be me. If you haven't seen this Film, or the Live Version (I've seen several), do so.

For the Best possible Experience it's a must to go & see it in the Cinema, or Theatre, for the Full Audience Par... tic... i... pa... tion! There is a Running Commentary & Props, not forgetting the Opportunity to Dress Up quite Outrageously, that makes the whole thing just Brilliant. Don't forget to take a Newspaper, Rice, Toast, Chocolate & a Washing Up Liquid Bottle (with Water, of course) if They'll let you take it in!

When I first watched The Blues Brothers it was bang in the middle of my Punk Phase (Click Here for more). I was initially put off by some of the Tracks although I generally found the Film to be One Laugh after Another. Dan Ackroyd & John Belushi are certainly the most Unusual Anti - Heroes I'd come across.

The Mission (from God - who else?) is to get $5000 to the Tax Office in Time to Save the Orphanage where Jake (Ackroyd) & Elwood (Belushi) Blues grew up. On their Quest to raise the Money (by getting the Band back together) the Brothers get into some real predicaments. It also boasts the Biggest Car Chase in Movie History, I have tried to count the Number of Police Cars that are involved in the Chase, it's not easy. Illinois Nazis, a Country & Western (both types) Band's Camper Van & the US National Guard all join in.

Along the way you'll encounter the following Characters;

An overpowering Nun, who has no time for Filthy Minds & Filthy Mouths

Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia from Star Wars) who has a Beauty Salon, Curl Up & Dye, & seems intent on Killing the Brothers, or at least one of them

'The Reverend' James Brown, Do You See The Light? Do You See The LIght?

Cab Calloway & his Song Minnie the Moocher

John Candy, of Uncle Buck Fame, Orange Whip? Orange whip? Three Orange Whips!

Johnny Lee Hooker Singing on the street

The Sharp Shooting Ray Charles who wants you to Shake Your Tails Feathers

The most Excellent Aretha Franklin who asks you to Think!

...I First Watched This Is Spinal Tap in my Teens. At times it had the feel of a Genuine Fly - On - The - Wall Documentary. Then, what would seem like an Ordinary Situation would turn into a Situation Comedy. There are some Excellent Spoofs on the Big Names of the 60's, in particular the Led Zeppelin one stands out. Spinal Tap boasts a Song so Profound that All should Listen - No I'm not talking about Big Bottom, Stonehenge or (Listen To The) Flower People, I'm Referring to that Statement about LIfe that is Hell Hole! (Well Big Bottom has a Message in there, Somewhere, as well as being the only Track to have 3 + 1 Bass Guitars - one's Twin Neck!!! ;-)

I must add that I have encountered a number Musicians, Singers & Others in the Industry who it would hard not to imagine in this Film (politeness dictates that I shouldn't Name these Individuals, you know who you are, don't you? ;-). For more on some of the People I have encountered in my Quest for Musical Enlightenment, Click Here.

The Film is full of the Mishaps, Catastrophes & Lapses in Sanity that come with the Creative Personality, along with the Conflict that arises when Individual Talents collide. Guitar Problems (been there), Accident - Prone Drummers (been there again), although none have Exploded - at least to my knowledge!

The Songs are the Real Parody, with un - Politically Correct, bordering on the downright Offensive, yet done with a certain amount of Professionalism, I was unfortunate not to have seen them Perform Live when they were in England. Feedback indicates that they were very Entertaining.

On a similar note, it's worth mentioning the Comic Strip's Bad News, & the Sequel More Bad News, Starring 3 of the Actors from the Young Ones. If you've seen these Shows then you'll have the an Idea of what it's about, although Spinal Tap is a bit more Americanized, & a bit less In Your Face.

If you're Interested, there is also a Spinal Tap Album available, if you can find it. It has Full Versions of the Songs from the Film, if you really feel you want even more of the same. I must add that the Film may only Appeal to People with a Passionate Interest in the Music Business, a Sense of Humour & a Willingness to see the Heavy Metal / Rock Industry in a far less than Perfect Light.

There is a Web Site if you would like more at: www.spinaltap.com