Humor is a subjective art. It is prone to being offensive or not offensive enough, and arriving at the perfect middle ground between these two extremes is a talent that’s difficult to master. Only a handful of performers throughout the years have been able to accomplish this most daunting of tasks.

The history behind the genre known as comedic film is as diverse as the performers who have delighted us through the years. Film has now been around long enough to classify it as an old art form, not some young, silly upstart with no experience under its belt. And as a respectable institution, it’s history can now be dissected and marveled at.

The general public first started to recognize films en masse in the early part of the twentieth century. Film makers quickly grasped the scope of what could be done with the medium, and veered away from producing only dramatic works. Realizing the appeal of laughter as a worthy form of entertainment, they gave birth to what we now know and love as the comedic film.

The preferences of movie buffs have always been somewhat of an unstable thing. All forms of entertainment have had to adapt to this through the years. The comedic film is no exception to this rule.

Limitations of technology through the years have also most certainly played a part in the resulting films that have come out of any given era. The first films were silent, therefore the stars of that era had to work with what they had. Timing and physical comedy held a major role in the show. Consider the slapstick humor made famous by people such as Charlie Chaplin.

The innovation of sound in film brought the performers whole new ways of practicing their craft. One of the first to perfect an act centered around this new style of entertainment was The Three Stooges. They are responsible for 190 short films, many of which are beloved to this day.

Television would be next in line to alter the landscape. Many movie concepts were adapted into something of a more episodic nature to facilitate this new medium. Many of us are old enough to remember nights spent watching the antics of Jackie Gleason, or wondering what mischief Lucille Ball would get into this time.

The next notable change in the way things were done came about due to new talent, not new toys, when Woody Allen brought about an entire style all his own. Everyone has their own favorite picks out of the truly staggering amount of films this genius has produced throughout his career. His trademark was the use of unusually witty dialogue to exaggerate normal conversation.

Film serves, in part, as a window into the past. We can count ourselves lucky to live in such times when this window is so easily available to anyone interested in looking through it. The next time you’re searching for something to do, why not rent several comedic releases of bygone times, and witness the progression for yourself.

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