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What is a Screwball Comedy?
A comedy that is characterized by fast-paced, witty dialogue, farcical situations, and romantic storylines that often involve a battle of the sexes. They emerged in the 1930s and became popular in the 1940s.
How is it different than a straight up romantic comedy?
Screwball is a genre that focuses less the romantic courtship between two people, and more on the battle of the sexes. It always has a strong female protagonist, and usually a male protagonist trying to keep up with her.
It puts the emphasis on the spoofing of love, rather than the "will they get together" plot.
Where did the term "screwball" come from?
It gets its name from the baseball pitch "the screwball". For those unfamiliar with baseball, it's a pitch a pitcher throws to a batter that moves in the opposite direction than a typical baseball pitch like a fastball, curveball, or slider.
A screwball is an oddball pitch, like the female leads in the 1930s comedy films where they played the "opposite" of your typical female stereotype that were back in the day.
Instead of wanting to find a husband, birth a few babies and be a homemaker - the female leads in the "screwball comedy" are strong, independent from men, and want to focus their life on their passions.
They are attracted to men, but will only begin a courtship of any kind if it was on their terms - not the mans.
Famous screwball comedy films?
It Happened One Night (1934)
Directed by Frank Capra. Starred Clark Gable & Claudette Colbert
Bringing Up Baby (1938)
Directed by Howard Hawks. Starred Katharine Hepburn & Cary Grant
The Philadelphia Story (1940).
Directed by George Cukor. Also Starred Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant. With James Stewart added to the mix.
The brand declined in popularity through the years, but it still shows up in its style. The Coen Brothers have made a few with "Intolerable Cruelty", "The Hudsucker Proxy", and "Hail Caeser"
Bridesmaids (2011), written and starring Kristen Wiig is considered a screwball comedy.
Is any one a fan of Amy Sherman-Palladino TV shows?: Gilmore Girls. The Marvelous Mr. Maisel. Étoile.
Those television shows are more definitely classic Screwball Comedies. From the characters. plot points. fast paced dialogue. Even the way the shows are directed - are classic screwball!
Enjoy the past, present, and future of the Screwball Comedy!
