Top 10 Funniest Bloopers from Classic Hollywood Movies
#10: Playing Santa Claus
“Times Square Playboy” (1936)
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When someone is yelling something nonsensical in your face, it can be hard to keep your composure. In this scene from “Times Square Playboy,” Gene Lockhart is getting up in William’s face. In a funny little voice, he accuses the other man of “playing Santa Claus,” pronouncing “Santa” like “Santy.” And something in the delivery was too much for William. Hey, maybe just the mention of the jolly guy gets him in the mood to belly laugh. And we gotta commend Warren William for keeping it cool as long as he did.
#9: There We Are, Boys
“Dive Bomber” (1941)
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Errol Flynn was one of the greatest physical actors of his time. But even the best of us must fall sometimes, or tumble as it were. In this blooper from 1941’s “Dive Bomber,” Flynn is sitting in the back of an airplane. His character has to make his way up to the front seat. That proves harder than one might think. Flynn launches himself over the front seat, but gets stuck midway. With his torso hanging one way and his legs hanging the other, Flynn makes a dry crack about his derrière that makes us laugh every time.
#8: Pratfall
“Cowboy From Brooklyn” (1938)
Far it be it from us to criticize anyone trying to look good while riding a horse. But after one fall off your mount, you’d think you’d get over it. This blooper from “Cowboy from Brooklyn” has it all. During the first part of the clip, a man on horseback rides out, shoots a gun twice, and promptly slides sideways off his horse. Things get worse from there. The second time, he gets through five gunshots before he slides off the horse in a very ungainly manner. The slapstick and silly physicality of this blooper is too good to pass up.
#7: Wig Falls Off
“Submarine D-1” (1937)
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The toughest thing about wigs? Making sure they stay on. This dismissed take from 1937’s “Submarine D-1” proves just how hard it is to keep hairpieces in place. In this scene, George Brent gives Pat O’Brien a swift shove, knocking him to the ground. In a fit of frenzy, O’Brien pushes himself up from the floor and promptly, accidentally, takes his hairpiece off of his head.
The way O’Brien takes this moment in stride adds to its charm. No wonder that Brent, relatable king that he is, can’t stop laughing in the background.
#6: Getting Any Lately?
“The Voice of the Turtle” (1947)
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Sometimes, one accidental gag provokes another. And in this next clip, Ronald Reagan and Eve Arden keep feeding off of each other’s mistakes. In “The Voice of the Turtle,” the actors begin to flirt as they catch up. Arden, leaving out a very important word in her question, accidentally bypassing coy flirting and getting right to the point. They laugh it off, and keep going. Reagan takes the next faux pas, turning the scene once and for into something quite modern. The mistakes themselves are hilarious, but we love Reagan and Arden’s interplay more than anything.
#5: Never Interfere
“The Man Who Came to Dinner” (1942)
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Monty Woolley may have misspoken here, but that doesn't mean he’s wrong. His character Sheldon Whiteside is never one to mince words to begin with. But while sharing a scene with Bette Davis in “The Man Who Came to Dinner,” Woolley has a little Freudian slip. Listen, it may not have been the right line, but the man has a point! The slip itself is extremely funny, but nothing beats Davis’s reaction to her scene partner’s mistake. Davis was, of course, an amazing actress, but her laugh puts a huge smile on our faces.
#4: I Can’t Work Around Here
“No Time For Comedy” (1940)
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Jimmy Stewart was one of the most important and popular actors of his generation. Even today, he’s one of the main classic Hollywood actors that everyone can still pretty much recognize and name. So it’s fun to see that even old pros can still get distracted. In this scene from “No Time For Comedy,” Stewart finishes up a rousing moment with an angry storm out. As he walks away, he realizes he’s a lot closer to the camera than he anticipated. It’s the classic Stewart warble that really gets us. And it’s refreshing to see that even seasoned actors can make mistakes.
#3: Bucket to the Face
“The Bride Came C.O.D.” (1941)
Back in the day, this pairing of Bette Davis and James Cagney was destined to make a major splash. But in this outtake, that expectation is taken quite literally! When Davis gestures with a bucket full of water, she accidentally bops Cagney in the face with it while wetting him. Even for a goofy comedy, that isn’t exactly what the scene called for! We see Davis quickly apologizes and shake it off– in true Hollywood pro fashion. But it’s also quite interesting to hear her voice shift out of character in this quick blooper!
#2: Nozzle Mishap
“Women Are Like That” (1938)
Accidentally spraying water in someone’s face will never not be funny. In this clip from “Women Are Like That,” Pat O’Brien and Kay Francis make a silly mishap that much funnier. While in the midst of discussing their future together, O’Brien starts to make himself a drink only to find that the nozzle isn't necessarily aimed at his glass. O’Brien accidentally directs the spray right into Francis’s beautiful face. She handles the inadvertent spray with as much poise as possible, but her reaction is still adorably funny. Seeing these beautiful, classic movie stars be just as silly as us is a treat.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Potty Mouth, “Devotion” (1946)
No One Could Curse Quite Like Olivia de Havilland
Who’s Happy, “Green Light” (1937)
Questions of Motivation Arise
I’m a Surgeon, “Green Light” (1937)
Errol Flynn Takes His Work Seriously
#1: Shall We Dance?
“Each Dawn I Die” (1939)
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It’s always a fun time when the scene goes in a different way than you were expecting. But in this clip from “Each Dawn I Die,” we can’t imagine anyone was expecting this. George Raft runs at James Cagney, looking for all the world like he’s about to punch him. Then, a beautiful orchestra kicks in and the two suddenly begin to waltz. Without even a moment's hesitation, the two actors playing officers behind the duo also join in! But it gets better still. It’s a nonsensical blooper, but one that makes us laugh out loud every time.
