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The basic story involves a Roman slave, Pseudolus
(Zero Mostel), who can win his freedom if he pairs up his innocent
young master, Hero (Michael Crawford) with the "virgin"
courtesan, Phelia (Annette Andre), next door, that his young
master has fallen in love with.
Pseudolus, more than anything, really wants
to be free. He comes up with a simple plan to get the already
sold virgin for his young master. However, as it often happens,
such a simple plan runs into unexpected complications, as well
as known obsticles. All these problems would've stopped most
men, but not Pseudolus. He schemes, plots, cajoles, gambles,
blackmails, plays any role and endures dangerous situations,
in an effort to get his freedom. This all leads to hilarious
situations, involving the head slave, Hysterium (Jack Gilford),
the man next door, Erronius (Buster Keaton), Captain Miles Gloriosus
(Leon Greene), the Master Senex (Michael Hordern)and Mistress
Domina (Patricia Jessel), and Lycus (Phil Silvers), who runs
the House of Courtesans on the other side of Hero's house.
The resulting film is most entertaining, with
a humorously funny, hysterical in parts, screenplay by Melvin
Fank and Michael Pertwee, based on the Tony winning play by
Larry Gelbart and Burt Shevelove, all which is enhanced by top-notch
musical numbers and terrific direction, by the talented Richard
Lester.
The songs, music and lyrics, by Stephen Sondheim,
are great. Classics include: "Comedy Tonight," "Lovely,"
and "Everybody Ought to Have a Maid," among many others.
My favorite scene involves the song, "Everybody Ought to
Have a Maid." In this flawlessly directed sequence, anticpating
the style of music videos, the scene constantly shifts, humorously
bringing to life the fun lyrics.
Zero Mostel is wonderful as Pseudolus. He brings his Tony Award-winning
role to the screen with great humor, zest, and enthusiasm.
Other screen greats, including Phil Silvers, Jack Gilford, and
silent comedy master, Buster Keaton, are seen to good effect.
Michael Crawford, who plays the virginal Hero, would, years
later, wow stage audiences in "The Phantom of the Opera."
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