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Connections, in both directions
He's Just Not That Into You (2009)
Directed by Ken Kwapis
influenced by Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1957)
The classic Frank Tashlin comedy “Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?” once described TV specials as “the one-line joke stretched into the 90 minute spectacular,” and “HJNTIY” almost fits that description: Its title started out as a line on “Sex and the City,” which then became a romance-advice book by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo before being turned into a 124-minute movie by Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein.
A zoo is a location made to order for amusing slapstick set pieces and outrageous situations -- just think what Jerry Lewis did with a hotel in "The Bellboy" and with a department store in "Who's Minding the Store?"
Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
influenced by Hollywood or Bust (1956), Artists and Models (1955), The Disorderly Orderly (1964)
Visuals
The frenetic pace of modernism was caricatured by both Tashlin's quick-edit animation sequences and Lewis' mania; the exaggerated physical stunts of Tashlin's cartoons translated into the fractious ruckus of his social satires like Artists and Models, Hollywood or Bust, and The Disorderly Orderly?which, incidentally, have left Jerry Lewis himself in a near-crippled state.
The frenetic pace of modernism was caricatured by both Tashlin's quick-edit animation sequences and Lewis' mania; the exaggerated physical stunts of Tashlin's cartoons translated into the fractious ruckus of his social satires like Artists and Models, Hollywood or Bust, and The Disorderly Orderly?which, incidentally, have left Jerry Lewis himself in a near-crippled state.
The frenetic pace of modernism was caricatured by both Tashlin's quick-edit animation sequences and Lewis' mania; the exaggerated physical stunts of Tashlin's cartoons translated into the fractious ruckus of his social satires like Artists and Models, Hollywood or Bust, and The Disorderly Orderly?which, incidentally, have left Jerry Lewis himself in a near-crippled state.
It may also be the niftiest use of a dog on the big screen since Frank Tashlin deployed a dachshund in CinemaScope in "Bachelor Flat" nearly 50 years ago.
Opening with a dance number set in a traffic jam and a gag lifted from The Girl Can’t Help It , La La Land (Grade: A- / B+) announces itself as a film both energized and limited by its commitment to movie musical tradition.
That’s why other filmmakers compensated by making Cinderella male and goofy (Jerry Lewis’ “Cinderfella” ) or invested with a bit of guile (“Ever After”).
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)
Directed by Edgar Wright
influenced by Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1957)
Visuals
The anarchic Warner Bros. cartoonist turned feature director Frank Tashlin ( Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? ) would have been too happy watching Wright at play: Locations feature pop-up “fun facts,” sounds come with illustrative words (“ding dong!”), a smooch triggers pink hearts.
There's a Wild West sequence that owes as much to "Son of Paleface" as anything else.
Murder on the Orient Express (2017)
Directed by Kenneth Branagh
influenced by The Alphabet Murders (1965)
There are also fans who adamantly admire the Poirots of David Suchet (13 seasons of BBC’s eponymous Poirot ), Peter Ustinov (1978’s Death on the Nile ) and even Tony Randall (1965’s The Alphabet Murders ).