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Comedy Movies/Trying to find a black and white comedy

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Expert: - 9/24/2006


Question
Hi about ten years ago I saw a very funny black and white comedy set in New York.

The two main characters were in a pub or cafe and pretended to be Secret Agents or Spys to pick up two girls.

In the course of events they think they have been kidnapped by russian spys and think they have been taken in a submarine but they are in the basement of the empire state building or the statue of liberty and decide they will try and sink the submarine by letting in water. They turn on all all water pipes in the buildings cellar boiler room.

It was a very funny film but we can't remember exactly who was in it or what it was called.

Any help would be grately appreciated.

Answer
Michelle, I've been trying to locate this film using the various keywords you've included with no luck.  Are you sure it was in black and white?  That suggests and older film that you saw recently; however, most B & W films would have been prior to the Cold War/Russian spy era (which suggests the 1960s, but most of those films are in color, including all the spy spoofs, of which there are many, such as S*P*Y*S, The Spy With a Cold Nose, The President's Analyst, In Like Flynt, Where the Spies Are, Salt and Pepper, My Favorite Spy, etc.).  

So, I need to know when you think this film was made (not just when you saw it), and whether or not it was really b & w, and if you saw it on TV or in a theatre (if on TV, could it be a TV movie?).  Anything else you can recall from the plot would also be helpful, such as the ages of the characters, perhaps their race/ethnicity, etc.  Otherwise I'm not sure I can provide a definitive answer for you.

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Barbara L. Baker

Expertise

I am a professor of communication at a midwest university, who has expertise on subjects related to film. I can answer general questions on U.S. film comedy (especially satires of the 1960s and 1970s) and comic theory. I also could answer questions related to specific comic genres, such as comedian comedies, screwball comedies, "stupid" comedies, and so forth. The more specific you can make your question, the better (e.g. main plot details, main characters, possible character names, possible actors, how you viewed the show, etc.). I also need to have a release date (or range of dates, or at least the year you viewed the film). Please do not just provide a set of links to someplace else (e.g. imdb discussion threads). I am less able to answer questions about comedies from other countries, made-for-TV movies, and recent comic films and actors (although I would do my best to find out). I cannot answer questions about specific TV shows or series, "Our Gang" episodes, anime/magna or about film collectables. I generally cannot provide movie recommendations, since what I find funny others may not. Nor will I answer obvious homework (although I will point you to resources to help answer the question, if asked). I also can't help you find movie stars, or where to buy movie memorabilia, or tell you how to break into the business.

Experience

Course work in comedy films along with teaching about comedy films for several years; I've also conducted research into comedy films.

Education/Credentials
Ph.D. in Communication, emphasis in film and rhetoric

Awards and Honors
A dissertation award from a national organization plus various paper awards

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My students

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