Titles tagged with ‘comedy’
59 titles - sorted alphabetically or by year prev 1 2 next
1890s
Patineur Grotesque historical – 1896
This footage of a man performing on rollerskates for a crowd in a park is thought to be Australia’s earliest surviving film.
1920s
The Kid Stakes feature film – 1927
The Kid Stakes is one of the greatest comedies of the silent era, although it was largely dismissed at the time as simply a children’s film.
The Sailors spoken word – 1927
A theatrical comedy routine by vaudeville performers Stiffy (Nat Phillips) and Mo (Roy Rene) recorded in 1927.
Browne, George: Our movie memories 1928–1934 home movie – 1928
These amateur role-plays are a real treat to watch and were clearly a source of great amusement for all involved.
1930s
Athol Tier as Napoleon historical – c1931
Athol Tier’s performance as Napoleon was one of the many routines filmed for the Efftee Entertainers series of variety shorts.
George Wallace: Australia’s Premier Comedian historical – 1931
This screen test by seasoned vaudeville comic George Wallace led to roles in several feature films.
His Royal Highness feature film – 1932
The performance of George Wallace, star and writer, is a road map of comic techniques from the passing vaudeville era.
Harmony Row feature film – 1933
George Wallace’s talent for physical comedy is fully evident in the boxing match which serves as the film’s climax.
Strike Me Lucky feature film – 1934
The Holocaust made vaudeville star Roy Rene’s Jewish caricatures unacceptable in later years, but this wasn’t the case in 1934.
Magical Powers short film – 1936
The idea behind Magical Powers was to show the audience some of the illusions and simple tricks that can be created with a moving image camera.
1940s
Family Antics documentary – 1945
This is very strange but oddly compelling: a father, his son, and three fox terriers do acrobatics and balancing acts for the camera.
1950s
A Hero’s Reward home movie – 1950
This delightful ‘family farce’ home movie production was filmed over a weekend around the Lindfield area in Sydney.
Four’s a Crowd documentary – 1957
Four’s a Crowd comically portrays four types of workers in the waterfront industry – Glass-arm Harry, Tiddly Pete, Nick-away Ned and Ron the Roaster.
Aeroplane Jelly Advertisement: Spaceship advertisement – 1959
The iconic Aeroplane Jelly jingle was recorded in 1938 by seven-year-old Joy King, who won a state-wide talent quest to record the official version of the song.
1960s
The Piano Tuner short film – 1960
Amateur filmmakers the Straford Brothers started making this comedy short to test their newly purchased 16mm Bolex camera.
Shell Animated Commercial: Poster Man advertisement – 1960
This advertisement was made to screen only in cinemas prior to a feature film program despite being made after the introduction of television.
The Mavis Bramston Show – Series 1 Episode 1 television program – 1964
A weekly variety show featuring topical satire, sketches and songs.
The Mavis Bramston Show – Series 2 Episode 1 television program – 1965
Although Mavis Bramston’s topical satire is no longer current, it is still sharp.
My Name’s McGooley, What’s Yours? – End of the Line television program – 1967
McGooley, starring Gordon Chater and set in Balmain in the ’60s, was Australia’s first homegrown sitcom success.
1970s
The Aunty Jack Show – Series One television program – 1972
Grahame Bond’s Aunty Jack was a cross-dressing bikie hostess who threatened to jump out of viewers’ television sets and 'rip their bloody arms off’.
The Aunty Jack Show – Series Two television program – 1974
The Aunty Jack theme song was one of the earliest video clips, showcasing a great character and a memorable tune that stays with you.
The Gunston Tapes television program – 1975
Garry McDonald plays Norman Gunston, an egotistical but inept talk-show host. His rich and famous interview subjects often didn’t know the show was a parody.
The Naked Vicar Show – Series 2 Episode 2 television program – 1978
The Naked Vicar Show is a sketch comedy series that lampoons suburban Australian society.
1980s
Kingswood Country – There’s No Place Like Rome television program – 1980
A sitcom that lampoons suburban Australian culture, while being equally fascinated with it.
D-Generation – Series 1 Episode 1 television program – 1985
While the D-Generation credits read like a who’s who of two decades’ worth of Australian comedy, at the time these comedians were unknowns.
Gillies documentary – 1987
Max Gillies, probably best know for his portrayal of Bob Hawke, feels more confident and secure when he creates a character to hide behind.
The Comedy Company – Series 1 Episode 11 television program – 1988
The Comedy Company, with its array of familiar, daggy suburban characters, was a popular sensation.
The Big Gig – Series 1 Episode 1 television program – 1989
There’s a rowdy beer-hall type atmosphere to this comedy-variety show, which tapped into a vibrant ‘80s live comedy scene in Melbourne.
The Money or the Gun – Heroin television program – 1989
Denton defends comedy as a means of being serious as he tackles the topic of heroin.
Round the Twist – Series One – Skeleton on the Dunny television program – 1989
This first episode gives a real taste for the eclectic range of themes and elements which combine to create the Round The Twist magic.
Round the Twist – Series One – Spaghetti Pig Out television program – 1989
This is a clever and funny episode, based on a simple ‘What if…’ premise. There is loads of silly slapstick, and a spectacular dose of yuck at the end.
1990s
Let the Blood Run Free – Episode 2 television program – 1990
When it first screened in 1990, this was one of the earliest examples of interactive television, allowing viewers to phone in and vote on what would happen next.
More Winners – The Big Wish television program – 1990
The faeries in the Enchanted Realm are in trouble. Today is the last day to grant seven wishes to humans or they will lose their magic power – forever!
DAAS Kapital – Faith television program – 1992
The Doug Anthony All Stars serve up heavy doses of the nonsensical and the bizarre, plus dashes of sexual innuendo, cartoon-style violence and deliberate tastelessness.
Fast Forward – Series 4 Episode 3 television program – 1992
A sketch comedy show from the late 1980s and early ‘90s featuring some big names in Australian comedy.
Round the Twist – Series Two – Nails television program – 1992
This episode is quite different from many others in the Round the Twist series. While it still has lots of humour, it is a rather more serious, romantic and sad story.
Round the Twist – Series Two – Next Time Round television program – 1992
The second series introduced new actors in many key roles but the change of cast didn’t have any impact on the popularity of Round the Twist.
The Damnation of Harvey McHugh – From Here to Maternity television program – 1994
Amid TV’s throng of lawyers, doctors and cops, public servant Harvey McHugh stands out as an unlikely small screen hero.
It’s Ruth: Ruth Cracknell, Actor documentary – 1994
It’s Ruth begins as a romp with Ruth as Maggie Beare through some of the zaniest scenes of Mother and Son, and ends with her as Winnie in Happy Days.
Full Frontal – Series 3 Episode 4 television program – 1995
This sketch comedy series features early work from performers like Eric Bana and Shaun Micallef.
The Genie From Down Under – It’s my Opal … (and I’ll cry if I want to) television program – 1995
This episode shifts the action to Australia and introduces ‘the tour guide from hell’ and his sneaky nephew, both in pursuit of a magical opal.
Redback short film – 1995
In this playful animated short, a redback spider wreaks the ultimate humiliation on his male tormentor.
Swinger short film – 1995
A story of changing luck told through messages on an answering machine and a messy apartment.
Love and Other Catastrophes feature film – 1996
A light-hearted comedy that follows five Melbourne university students encountering love, study and house-share problems in the mid-‘90s.
Fetch short film – 1998
This short film is a comic escalation of mishaps with a double-barrelled payoff. It was selected to compete at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival.
The Games – Series 1 Episode 8, Rural and Environment television program – 1998
In mockumentary style, The Games charts the progress of the fictitious Logistics and Liaison Division of SOCOG in the run-up to the Sydney Olympics.
Bananas in Pyjamas – Banana Breakfast television program – 1999
The combination of visually appealing characters with the 'Bananas in Pyjamas’ song created a highly popular and commercially successful preschool series.
2000s
Horace and Tina – Settling In television program – 2000
This program is an unusual combination of live action and animatronic puppets with Jasmine Ellis, the actor playing Lauren, the animation model for Angela Anaconda.
Effie: Just Quietly – Make-Ups and Makeovers television program – 2001
Effie was a sitcom character before wandering out of fiction into documentary. Her comic persona allows a bluntness that 'serious’ interviewers might not get away with.
Wicked Science – Episode 1, The Gift television program – 2003
The spectacular dinosaur scenes and the transformation from nerd to villainous ice queen make this a not-to-be-missed episode.
