Best Comedy Films of 1971
- The Finest Reviewer
- Jul 20, 2025
- 10 min read
By 1971, comedy had evolved into a bold, socially conscious, and stylistically experimental force. The hangover of the 1960s counterculture was still in the air, and filmmakers responded with dark humor, surreal narratives, and sharply satirical scripts. Whether confronting politics, sex, death, or class, comedies of 1971 weren’t afraid to push buttons—and audiences rewarded their audacity. The genre thrived across the Atlantic as well, with British filmmakers contributing biting wit and absurdist flair.
The Comedy Landscape in 1971
Satire Becomes the Standard
Following the footsteps of M*A*S*H and Catch-22, comedy in 1971 was weaponized. Many films turned their focus on war, capitalism, consumer culture, and traditional gender roles—taking aim with sarcasm instead of sentiment.
Sexual Revolution on Screen
With censorship loosening and cultural norms shifting, 1971 saw comedies become increasingly bawdy. Nudity, infidelity, and open sexuality were treated not just for shock but as punchlines and social commentary.
International Voices Grow Louder
Comedic filmmaking from Europe, particularly the UK and Italy, embraced irony, surrealism, and slapstick with renewed vigor. These international comedies often blended visual gags with deeper thematic critiques, influencing American filmmakers in turn.
Top 10 Comedy Films of 1971
A Clockwork Orange
Runtime: 2hr 16min
While often classified as dystopian sci-fi, Stanley Kubrick’s controversial masterwork is soaked in pitch-black comedy. Its satire of free will, youth culture, and state violence is as biting as its violence is stylized.
A Clockwork Orange, directed by Stanley Kubrick and adapted from Anthony Burgess’s novel, is a disturbing, stylized satire that explores themes of free will, violence, and state control. The film follows Alex DeLarge (played by Malcolm McDowell), a charismatic yet sociopathic teenager who leads a gang in committing acts of ultraviolence in a dystopian near-future Britain. After being captured, Alex is subjected to a controversial government experiment—the Ludovico Technique—that conditions him against violence, stripping him of his ability to choose. With its bold visuals, unsettling use of classical music, and provocative philosophical questions, A Clockwork Orange sparked controversy upon release but has since become a landmark in cinema, challenging audiences with its moral ambiguity and brutal brilliance.
Bananas
Runtime: 1hr 22min
Woody Allen’s absurd political farce is a slapstick satire of revolution, media, and identity. It's rapid-fire, ridiculous, and pure early Allen—messy, madcap, and brimming with jokes-per-minute.
Bananas, directed by and starring Woody Allen, is a madcap political satire that blends slapstick, absurdism, and revolutionary parody. Allen plays Fielding Mellish, a hapless New York product tester who, in an attempt to impress an activist (played by Louise Lasser), finds himself entangled in a Latin American revolution. Through a series of ridiculous misadventures, Mellish accidentally becomes the president of the fictional country of San Marcos. The film lampoons everything from U.S. foreign policy to media sensationalism, with Allen’s trademark neurotic humor and rapid-fire gags. Zany, anarchic, and packed with visual and verbal jokes, Bananas is a quintessential early Woody Allen comedy that revels in chaos while skewering political and cultural absurdities.
Harold and Maude
Runtime: 1hr 31min
Hal Ashby’s cult classic is a morbid, life-affirming love story between a suicidal teenager and a 79-year-old woman. Blending black comedy with tenderness, it's one of the most unique films of its time—and one of the most beloved.
Harold and Maude, directed by Hal Ashby, is a dark romantic comedy that tells the unconventional love story between Harold, a wealthy, death-obsessed 20-year-old (Bud Cort), and Maude, a vivacious, free-spirited 79-year-old woman (Ruth Gordon). United by their fascination with mortality and rebellion against societal norms, the two form a deep emotional bond that challenges traditional views of love, age, and meaning. With its blend of morbid humor, tender moments, and a memorable Cat Stevens soundtrack, the film became a cult classic celebrated for its offbeat charm and countercultural message. Harold and Maude remains a poignant and daring exploration of life, death, and the joy of truly living on one’s own terms.
Carnal Knowledge
Runtime: 1hr 38min
Mike Nichols’ bold dissection of male desire and romantic dysfunction features sharp dialogue and an acidic tone. Though more dramatic in parts, its brutal honesty and satirical edge place it firmly in the comedy conversation.
Carnal Knowledge, directed by Mike Nichols and written by Jules Feiffer, is a bold, uncompromising exploration of male desire, emotional repression, and the evolving sexual landscape of postwar America. Spanning decades, the film follows the friendship and romantic failures of two college roommates—Jonathan (Jack Nicholson), a cynical womanizer, and Sandy (Art Garfunkel), a more sensitive but equally confused counterpart—as they pursue love, lust, and meaning in their relationships with women. Featuring standout performances, including Ann-Margret’s acclaimed turn as Jonathan’s emotionally devastated partner, Carnal Knowledge strips away romantic illusions to reveal the emptiness and cruelty often lurking beneath sexual conquest. Provocative and ahead of its time, the film sparked controversy for its frankness but is now regarded as a searing, intelligent character study and a milestone in adult-themed cinema.
The Hospital
Runtime: 1hr 43min
Written by Paddy Chayefsky (Network), this dark satire of the American healthcare system is brilliantly cynical, with George C. Scott delivering a world-weary, pitch-perfect performance.
The Hospital, directed by Arthur Hiller and written by Paddy Chayefsky, is a biting black comedy and scathing satire of the American medical system. George C. Scott stars as Dr. Herbert Bock, a deeply cynical and emotionally unraveling chief of medicine at a chaotic Manhattan hospital where patients keep mysteriously dying. As Bock navigates professional burnout, a crumbling personal life, and bureaucratic madness, he finds unexpected solace—and moral complication—in a romantic connection with a patient’s daughter (played by Diana Rigg). Blending existential despair with razor-sharp wit, The Hospital skewers institutional dysfunction, medical indifference, and the erosion of humanity in modern life. Chayefsky’s Oscar-winning screenplay delivers rapid-fire dialogue and grim absurdity, making the film a darkly hilarious and unsettling portrait of systemic collapse.
The Abominable Dr. Phibes
Runtime: 1hr 34min
A horror-comedy hybrid starring Vincent Price as a vengeance-seeking doctor. Gothic and gleefully theatrical, it walks the line between gruesome and hilarious with operatic flair.
The Abominable Dr. Phibes, directed by Robert Fuest, is a macabre horror-comedy that blends gothic atmosphere with darkly humorous revenge. Vincent Price stars as the titular Dr. Anton Phibes, a disfigured genius and organist who believes his beloved wife was killed due to medical incompetence. Driven by grief and madness, Phibes devises elaborate, biblically-themed murders to punish the team of doctors he holds responsible—each death more theatrical and gruesome than the last. Set in a stylized 1920s London, the film’s lavish art deco sets, eerie organ music, and campy flair elevate it beyond typical horror fare. With its blend of absurdity, tragedy, and visual inventiveness, The Abominable Dr. Phibesbecame a cult classic and a defining example of horror-meets-humor in early ’70s cinema.
The Owl and the Pussycat
Runtime: 1hr 35min
A mismatched romance between a struggling writer and a foul-mouthed actress, this film thrives on the chemistry between George Segal and Barbra Streisand and its sharply written banter.
The Owl and the Pussycat, directed by Herbert Ross and based on the play by Bill Manhoff, is a sharp, screwball-style romantic comedy starring Barbra Streisand and George Segal. Streisand plays Doris, a brash, foul-mouthed aspiring actress and part-time prostitute who is unexpectedly thrown together with Segal’s Felix, a reserved and intellectual aspiring writer. After Felix reports Doris to the landlord for her profession, she retaliates by barging into his life—and the mismatched pair find themselves entangled in a chaotic night of arguments, misunderstandings, and unlikely chemistry. Powered by rapid-fire dialogue, culture clash humor, and Streisand’s dynamic screen presence, The Owl and the Pussycatexplores the collision of brains and bawdiness, eventually revealing a tender core beneath the verbal sparring. The film is a fast-paced, character-driven romp that captures the quirky charm of early ’70s romantic comedies.
Bedknobs and Broomsticks
Runtime: 2hr 19min
This Disney live-action/animation hybrid is whimsical family comedy with wartime satire baked in. Angela Lansbury brings charm to this magical tale that blends fantasy with slapstick.
Bedknobs and Broomsticks, directed by Robert Stevenson, is a whimsical blend of live action and animation from Disney, following in the magical footsteps of Mary Poppins. Set during World War II, the story centers on Eglantine Price (Angela Lansbury), an eccentric apprentice witch who takes in three evacuated London children. Together, they embark on a fantastical quest to find a missing spell that could help defend Britain from a Nazi invasion. Traveling on a bewitched bedstead, they journey through enchanted lands, animated worlds, and mystical encounters—including a memorable underwater ballroom and a soccer match with anthropomorphic animals. With a charming performance by Lansbury, lively songs by the Sherman Brothers, and inventive effects for its time, Bedknobs and Broomsticks is a charming, imaginative adventure that mixes wartime spirit with Disney’s signature magic.
Support Your Local Gunfighter
Runtime: 1hr 31min
A follow-up (but not a sequel) to Support Your Local Sheriff, this Western spoof has James Garner in top form, poking fun at cowboy clichés with laid-back wit and dry humor.
Support Your Local Gunfighter, directed by Burt Kennedy, is a lighthearted Western comedy and a spiritual follow-up to Support Your Local Sheriff! It stars James Garner as Latigo Smith, a smooth-talking gambler who stumbles into the mining town of Purgatory while trying to avoid both a marriage and his mounting gambling debts. Mistaken for a notorious gunslinger, Latigo is hired to protect one of the town’s feuding mining operations—but true to form, he schemes his way through with charm, deception, and a heavy dose of luck. Suzanne Pleshette co-stars as a fiery saloon owner’s daughter who wants more from life than small-town chaos. With its playful tone, witty dialogue, and tongue-in-cheek send-up of Western tropes, Support Your Local Gunfighter delivers breezy entertainment and showcases Garner’s signature comedic charisma.
Duck, You Sucker (A Fistful of Dynamite)
Runtime: 2hr
Sergio Leone’s revolutionary spaghetti Western isn’t a straight comedy, but its ironic tone, mismatched buddy dynamic, and genre-bending humor give it a sly comic undercurrent that rewards repeat viewings.
Duck, You Sucker, also known as A Fistful of Dynamite, is a gritty, darkly humorous Spaghetti Western directed by Sergio Leone. Set during the Mexican Revolution, the film follows the unlikely partnership between Juan Miranda (Rod Steiger), a crude, self-serving bandit, and John Mallory (James Coburn), an Irish explosives expert with a tragic past. What begins as a simple train robbery escalates into a complex tale of betrayal, revolution, and reluctant heroism. Leone balances intense action sequences with political commentary, using slow-motion, dramatic close-ups, and Ennio Morricone’s haunting score to great effect. Though more somber than Leone’s earlier films, Duck, You Sucker offers moments of sly humor and human connection, ultimately emerging as a bold, morally complex meditation on violence, friendship, and the cost of revolution.
Underrated Picks Worth Your Time
Cold Turkey
Runtime: 1hr 41min
A Norman Lear satire in which a small town quits smoking en masse to win a million-dollar prize. Ridiculous, dry, and ahead of its time.
Cold Turkey, directed by Norman Lear, is a sharp-edged satirical comedy that takes aim at American consumerism, addiction, and media spectacle. The film follows a small, struggling town in Iowa that agrees to quit smoking for 30 days in order to win a $25 million prize offered by a cynical tobacco company trying to prove no one can kick the habit. Led by an ambitious minister (played by Dick Van Dyke), the townspeople initially see it as an easy way to improve their fortunes—until withdrawal symptoms, national media scrutiny, and corporate sabotage begin to unravel the community. With its ensemble cast, absurd scenarios, and biting social commentary, Cold Turkey skewers both corporate hypocrisy and the desperate lengths people will go for money and attention. It’s a quirky, underappreciated gem that blends slapstick with satire in true early-’70s fashion.
Plaza Suite
Runtime: 1hr 54min
Adapted from Neil Simon’s play, it showcases three vignettes of dysfunctional relationships with sharp dialogue and theatrical flair.
Plaza Suite, directed by Arthur Hiller and based on Neil Simon’s hit stage play, is a trio of comedic vignettes all set in Suite 719 of New York’s luxurious Plaza Hotel. Walter Matthau stars in all three segments, playing very different men grappling with various forms of relationship turmoil: a husband trying to rekindle romance with his estranged wife; a Hollywood producer attempting to seduce his old high school flame; and a frantic father trying to coax his daughter out of the bathroom on her wedding day. Each story blends Simon’s signature wit with a touch of poignancy, exploring themes of love, nostalgia, and midlife anxiety. With sharp dialogue and Matthau’s versatile comedic performance, Plaza Suitedelivers laughs and heart in equal measure, offering a stylish snapshot of urban romance and dysfunction in early '70s America.
Little Murders
Runtime: 1hr 50min
An absurdist, violent satire of urban paranoia and familial breakdown, starring Elliott Gould and written by Jules Feiffer.
Little Murders, directed by Alan Arkin and based on the play by Jules Feiffer, is a pitch-black comedy that satirizes the madness and moral decay of urban American life in the early 1970s. The film stars Elliott Gould as Alfred Chamberlain, a detached, apathetic photographer who becomes romantically involved with a fiercely optimistic woman named Patsy (Marcia Rodd) amid a backdrop of rising violence, random shootings, and societal collapse in New York City. What begins as a quirky romance quickly spirals into absurdity and existential dread, as the characters confront the futility of logic, justice, and love in a world gone off the rails. With its surreal tone, pointed social critique, and bleak humor, Little Murders captures the paranoia and disillusionment of the era, offering a daring, unsettling, and darkly funny portrait of a culture on the brink.
Comedy Highlights & Trivia
Kubrick’s Sick Sense of Humor: A Clockwork Orange sparked outrage, but its satirical tone and ironic soundtrack choices (like “Singin’ in the Rain” during a violent scene) underlined Kubrick’s commitment to disturbing comedy.
Woody Allen’s Political Phase: Bananas is the most overtly political film Allen ever made, mocking Cold War paranoia and revolutionary ideologies alike.
Cult Beginnings: Harold and Maude bombed at the box office, but its offbeat charm and message of embracing life made it a cult sensation in later years.
Hospital as Precursor to Network: Paddy Chayefsky’s cynical bite in The Hospital laid the groundwork for his even more cutting media satire in Network (1976).
Where to Watch These Today
Harold and Maude – Streaming on The Criterion Channel and available on Blu-ray
A Clockwork Orange – Streaming on MAX; available in 4K
Bananas – Available to rent or buy on Amazon and Apple TV
The Hospital – Often found on MGM platforms or on DVD
The Abominable Dr. Phibes – Streaming on Shudder and Tubi
Closing Thoughts
The comedies of 1971 were anything but safe. Bold, subversive, and often deeply strange, they reflected a world in transition—and they dared to laugh in its face. Whether through nihilism, irony, or anarchic joy, these films expanded what comedy could be. They didn’t just seek laughs—they provoked, questioned, and lingered long after the credits rolled. In a decade of cinematic change, 1971 proved that comedy was not only surviving—it was evolving.
