Released at a time when television was just starting to become a major threat to motion pictures, Champagne for Caesar (1950) is not just an amusing satire of the new medium but also a good-natured spoof of the game show phenomenon that was sweeping the nation in the early fifties. The film is no less timely today in its attitude toward audiences who will gleefully embrace every new media trend in their unending need to be entertained constantly. In many ways, the naysayers of quiz shows like Bottomley in this film aren't much different from some of today's TV critics who call fans of Survivor, Joe Millionaire and other reality based shows total idiots.
Now available on DVD from Image Entertainment, Champagne for Caesar might not be the long lost cult comedy the liner notes proclaim it to be but it is nonetheless worth seeing for several reasons, one of them being Ronald Colman's performance in a rare comedy role. He's very amusing in the first half of the film when he's tormenting Happy Hogan (Art Linkletter), the buffoonish host of the "Masquerade for Money" show. It's also fun to see Vincent Price in a non-horror role though his performance here is extremely broad and often over the top. Animation buffs will recognize Mel Blanc's voice (Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, etc.) emerging from the mouth of Caesar, the talking parrot.
Other trivia: Champagne for Caesar was one of Art Linkletter's few attempts at an acting career (he also starred in People Are Funny in 1946), although he found great success as a TV host on such shows as Life With Linkletter, House Party, The Art Linkletter Show and his Screen Snapshots series. And it's interesting to note that Barbara Britton, who plays Bottomley's sister, Gwenn, later went on to work on the TV quiz show, The $64,000 Question.
The Image DVD of Champagne for Caesar sports a mostly crisp black and white film transfer though there is one ugly incident of frame damage that occurs between reel changes during the film's second half. Overall, the audio is well balanced though you might notice some slight distortion during the scenes where the TV audience applauds. As for extras, there is only a still and lobby card gallery. But if you like the premise and the actors mentioned above and don't expect a comedy on the level of say - a Preston Sturges film - you should find Champagne for Caesar an enjoyable way to spend 100 minutes.
For more information about Champagne for Caesar, visit Image Entertainment, Inc.. To purchase a copy of Champagne for Caesar, visit TCM Shopping.
by Jeff Stafford
