People are voting emotionally.

Lack of good storyline.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

*Spoiler/plot- A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, 1966. A Roman slave who can win his freedom if he pairs up his innocent young master with the virgin courtesan next door.*Special Stars- Zero Mostel, Buster Keaton, Phil silvers, MIchael Crawford, Jask Gilford, Leon Greene, Annette Andre.*Theme- Love always finds a way.*Trivia/location/goofs- British, Musical. Is the last film appearance for Buster Keaton. Phil Silvers had to play his role without his glasses and was very distressed because he couldn't see properly on a very dangerous set. He retired to his trailer to protest this fact with the film's director, the director had Jon Pertwee do his role temporarily (Pertwee had done it on Broadway). Mr. Silvers relented and pressed on in the film role, in a very careful manner.*Emotion- An enjoyable and funny film with some recognizable and 'catchy' music tunes. Great to see this theatrical cast to work together on this farcical story in ancient Rome. Well worth you energy, time and interest.*Based on- Broadway theater musical show

Transpose "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" to ancient Rome and you basically have "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum". This story of a slave (Zero Mostel) having to help arrange a romance between two people is worth watching just for the chase scene at the end. If you've been to Spain or Italy, it's neat to see the sites again. But above all, this is what 1960s humor is all about. They must have had fun filming this movie. And personally, I think that it's a good idea that they cut down the musical aspect and left it a straightforward comedy. You're sure to have more than a few laughs.Also starring Phil Silvers, Michael Crawford, Jack Gilford, Buster Keaton, Jon Pertwee and Ingrid Pitt.

As the popularity of big budget Broadway musicals grew over the course of the 1960s, it was inevitable that a series of corresponding film adaptations would follow - a more affordable and easily mass marketed alternative. As such, while it may not have been one of the most well known stage musicals, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum had proved a sufficient hit to make an intelligent transfer to the big screen. And while fans of the live show may find the film somewhat lacking in scope or creative vision, the resulting zany, energetic comic romp is sufficiently cheerful and endearing to easily entertain nonetheless.While Sondheim's musical numbers seem scarce (the majority of the Broadway show's numbers are noticeably excluded cut from the film) and lacking in the energetic zest which would bring them to life with the same engaging spark as a live show or other efforts in the genre, the few tunes prove sufficiently catchy and executed with enough endearing charm to make up for their somewhat lacklustre quality. However, the film truly reaches its potential on the irreverent comedy front, never presuming to take itself overly seriously with breaches of the fourth wall, (including the number "Comedy Tonight", an amusing prologue where Mostel introduces the principle locations and characters, one of the film's highlights) and a madcap final chase sequence which visibly takes influence from the similarly bawdy What's New Pussycat. Director Richard Lester, his musical credentials seasoned by numerous film adaptations of The Beatles, experiments with several similar sequences of blindingly fast editing and cartoon backgrounds, used to suitably comedic effect. Of course the cunning script's requisite slew of slapstick gags and witty repartee proves the film's real highlight, though the period sets and costumes prove comparatively expansive and impressive given the period in which the film was made, suitably immersing the viewer within the realm of ancient Rome. The film's inspired casting lend comedic credulity to the film, bringing the script's cheerful irreverence to life with enthusiastic silliness and charm to spare. Reprising his starring role from the Broadway production, Zero Mostel is nothing less than a scream as cunning slave Pseudolus, a bundle of comedic energy and hysterical mannerisms whose mere presence lights up the screen and makes the movie immediately more enjoyable. Jack Gilford similarly raises many a laugh as bewildered and constantly put upon slave Hysterium, as does Phil Silvers as a quirky brothel owner. Buster Keaton, tragically in his last screen performance is delightfully hysterical in a tiny role as a doddering old man prone to superstitious laps around the city, and while Keaton is given little character to work with, his mere persona and tremendous presence make him hilarious regardless. While bestowed with little character, the lovely Annette Andre adds class and distinction to the film while making quality use of her few comedic lines as ethical virgin Philia, and Michael Crawford is just silly enough without quite going overboard as the young noble who becomes smitten with her. While lacking the profundity of some of Sondheim's later musical efforts and the vivacious splendour of other such musical adaptations, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum offers unapologetic entertainment to a nearly unprecedented degree, excelling as a comedy if not as a movie musical. With delightful performances aplenty, (especially Zero Mostel's dynamo of a performance) the film may have little particularly memorable about it, but proves a suitably joyful and charming diversion, easily worth experiencing for those seeking a warm smile on their face above all else. -7/10

I remember back in the '70s, WLS-TV now commonly known as ABC 7 Chicago used to show this movie from time to time in their afternoon movie. They used to show movies at 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM with tons of commercials. The movies they show were hard to comprehend simply because they have been chopped so badly. This movie I remembered trying to watch a couple of times but it was so badly mangled it was hard to make head or tails. Finally I got to see the complete version and was not disappointed.The movie was a film adaptation of the Broadway hit of the same name. It's about Pseudonious a slave who's always scheming to get himself free. One day he finds the opportunity when his masters' son falls in love with one of the courtesan next door. She's a slave too having just arrived recently. He makes a deal with the son, his freedom in exchange for helping the son get his true love. What neither of them knew is that she's already been sold to a captain in the roman legion. The movie and the play was made for big belly laughs unfortunately many of the jokes has been ripped-off by inferior writers who used it on their own shows. I remember at least a couple of the jokes were used in "Three's Company" almost exactly as they were written here. Many of the jokes has that been there, done that feeling simply because it has been ripped off. Nevertheless what other writers and directors don't have are great comic actors who knows how to deliver a line properly.The performances are very good. Zero Mostel plays Pseudonious and he plays it with zeal. He's a schemer and he constantly try to find ways to make things work for him. Phil Silvers who played television's all time schemer 'Sgt. Bilko' plays the brothel owner next door. He played his character much more subdued at least for him. It makes you wonder how taking the 'Sgt. Bilko' persona to the role of Pseudonious would have work. Jack Gilford plays another slave and with his straight face you never expect a one liner coming form him and that's why his punchlines and one-liners worked so well. The others in the cast were very good also. The great Buster Keaton was also in the movie playing the role that became a trademark for him at this late stage in his career. He played the old man who basically runs around the movie for no good reason.Overall the movie was quickly pace and had more than a joke a minute but so many of those jokes had been ripped off that they were no longer as funny as hearing them for the first time, but the actors certainly knew how to deliver them.