A generation still mourns the passing of Leslie Nielsen four years ago. The twilight of his career was not the greatest – the last notable thing he starred in was Superhero Movie. But Nielsen was also the face of Eighties slapstick, arguably the golden age of the parody genre. He appeared in several of the movies that shaped the genre, including the two Airplane! films.
But other than Shirley jokes, Nielson was best known as Frank Drebin, the crazy police detective who makes Inspector Clouseau look as nimble as a cat burglar. But unlike the Pink Panther films, Drebin’s whole world was made out of surreal comic insanity. This is no surprise, considering it was created by ZAZ or David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker. They practically invented the modern parody film, but The Naked Gun is easily their magnum opus.
Drebin investigates the attack on his partner, played by a then-very popular O.J. Simpson, who stumbled upon a drug ring. But soon the bigger plot – the assassination of a visiting Queen Elizabeth II through mind control – rears its head. Will Drebin get to the bottom of the plot and safe the Queen? Of course he will, but not before body-sliding her down a banquet table first.
In true ZAZ fashion the jokes come in all shapes and sizes. Many of today’s slapstick films go for cheap laughs and limit their repertoire. The genre greats did it all and the jokes in The Naked Gun are as fresh as they were 26 year ago. The jokes fire rapidly and jump seamlessly through visual gags, one liners and skits, fueled by the chaos Drebin causes.
Resurrected from a short-lived comedy show called Police Squad, The Naked Gun lives on today as a fan favourite. It was a huge success and still ranks in the top 10 highest grossing spoof films. Two more hugely successful sequels followed it and after several years in the wilderness Leslie Nielsen started a great run in the parody genre.
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Cinophile is a weekly feature showcasing films that are strange, brilliant, bizarre and explains why we love the movies.
Last Updated: August 4, 2014
Alien Emperor Trevor
August 4, 2014 at 14:36
The best thing about these movies is that they’ve aged so well. I can still still down & watch these, Airplane!, Hot Shots or Top Secret & laugh my ass off.
Rince/Trev4quoteofweek
August 4, 2014 at 14:41
That’s way too much still man.
Alien Emperor Trevor
August 4, 2014 at 14:44
But still :/
James Francis
August 4, 2014 at 16:08
It is easier to marathon the old slapstick films than to get through a single one made in the last ten years…
Admiral Chief Dovahkiin
August 4, 2014 at 15:05
Hot Shots FTW!
James Francis
August 4, 2014 at 16:05
Hell yeah. And don’t forget Spaceballs 🙂
WernerE
August 4, 2014 at 14:47
Proud to say I own the DVDs.
Love the films, and quote from them often. Leslie was fantastic
Lt. Frank Drebin: Now, Jane, what can you tell us about the man you saw last night?
Jane Spencer: He’s Caucasian.
Ed Hocken: Caucasian?
Jane Spencer: Yeah, you know, a white guy. A moustache. About six-foot-three.
Lt. Frank Drebin: Awfully big moustache.
Norm
August 4, 2014 at 15:06
And he even went out with a laugh too. A legend.
James Francis
August 4, 2014 at 16:06
Do you have the TV show as well?
WernerE
August 5, 2014 at 08:54
Sadly no, I did look at a couple of clips on YouTube and was very tempted to order the television series online, but never did.
James Francis
August 5, 2014 at 09:39
It is well worth tracking down and sometimes shows up in local bargain bins.
Norm
August 4, 2014 at 15:04
I still love watching this series.
James Francis
August 4, 2014 at 16:07
I’ve yet to revisit the sequels, but as far as I can remember they were pretty good.
Kervyn Cloete
August 4, 2014 at 16:28
They get progressively weaker, but even at their “lowest point” they’re still waaaaaay better than any of the turds Aaron Seltzer and Jason Friedberg has churned out over the last few years.