Screwball comedy facts for kids

Screwball comedies are a special kind of comedy movie that became very popular in the U.S. during the 1930s and 1940s. This was a time called the Great Depression, when many people were struggling. These movies offered a fun escape from everyday problems.

Screwball comedies often feature funny, fast-paced conversations and silly situations. They usually involve a romantic story where two people, often from different worlds, meet and fall in love after a lot of funny arguments and misunderstandings. The first big hit was It Happened One Night in 1934.

Where Did Screwball Comedies Come From?

The ideas behind screwball comedies aren't new. You can find similar funny situations and quick-witted characters in old plays, like William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream and Much Ado about Nothing. These plays also had characters who argued a lot before falling in love, and they used funny mix-ups to make people laugh.

What Makes a Movie a Screwball Comedy?

Screwball comedies have several things that make them unique and funny:

Funny Situations and Actions

These movies often use farce and slapstick.

• Farce means the story has very silly and unbelievable situations, like characters pretending to be someone they're not, or getting into crazy mix-ups.
• Slapstick involves physical comedy, like someone tripping, falling, or getting hit by something in a harmless, funny way. Think of cartoon characters slipping on a banana peel!

Quick and Witty Talk

Characters in screwball comedies talk very fast and say clever, funny things. They often interrupt each other or have quick comebacks. This makes the conversations feel lively and exciting.

The "Battle of the Sexes"

A big part of these movies is the funny struggle between a man and a woman. The woman is often strong, independent, and smart, and she challenges the man. They argue and try to outsmart each other, but in the end, they usually fall in love.

Crazy Characters and Mix-ups

You'll often see characters who are a bit eccentric or behave in unusual ways. There are also lots of mistaken identities, where characters are confused for someone else, leading to hilarious problems.

Happy Endings

Even with all the chaos and arguments, screwball comedies almost always end happily. The main characters usually get together, and everything works out in the end.

Why Were They Popular During the Great Depression?

During the Great Depression, many people were facing hard times. Screwball comedies offered a much-needed escape. They showed a world where problems could be solved with laughter and love, and where even serious issues could be made light of. They often featured rich characters who were shown to be silly or out of touch, which could be comforting for audiences who were struggling financially.

Famous Screwball Comedies You Might Enjoy

Many classic movies are great examples of screwball comedies:

• Bringing Up Baby (1938): This movie stars Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant. It's about a paleontologist (someone who studies dinosaurs) who gets involved with a wild socialite and her pet leopard named Baby! It's full of hilarious chaos and misunderstandings.
• His Girl Friday (1940): Also starring Cary Grant, this film is about a newspaper editor who tries to stop his ex-wife, a reporter, from getting remarried. It's famous for its incredibly fast dialogue and witty banter.
• The Lady Eve (1941): This movie features Barbara Stanwyck as a con artist who tries to trick a rich, clumsy heir, played by Henry Fonda. Things get complicated and very funny when she falls for him.

These movies continue to be loved today for their clever humor and timeless stories.

Images for kids

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  Bringing Up Baby (1938) is a screwball comedy from the genre's classic period.

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  A screenshot from a trailer for It Happened One Night

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  In The Lady Eve, Jean (center, played by Barbara Stanwyck) passes herself off as an upper-class woman.

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  A promotional photo for the 1940 screwball comedy His Girl Friday

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  A screenshot from a trailer for How to Marry a Millionaire

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  One, Two, Three (1961)

See also

In Spanish: Comedia screwball para niños