A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (film)

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Richard Lester
Screenplay by	Melvin Frank Michael Pertwee
Based on	A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum by Burt Shevelove Larry Gelbart
Produced by	Melvin Frank
Starring	Zero Mostel Jack Gilford Phil Silvers Buster Keaton Michael Crawford Michael Hordern
Cinematography	Nicolas Roeg
Edited by	John Victor-Smith
Music by	Ken Thorne Songs: Stephen Sondheim
Distributed by	United Artists
Release date	October 16, 1966 (1966-10-16)
Running time	99 minutes
Countries	United States United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	$2 million
Box office	$3.4 million (US/Canada)[1]

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is a 1966 period musical comedy film, directed by Richard Lester, with Zero Mostel and Jack Gilford reprising their stage roles. It also features Buster Keaton in his final screen role; Phil Silvers, for whom the stage musical was originally intended; and regular Lester collaborators Michael Crawford, Michael Hordern, and Roy Kinnear.

The film was adapted for the screen by Melvin Frank and Michael Pertwee from the stage musical of the same name with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart, which was inspired by the farces of the ancient Roman playwright Plautus (251–183 BC) – specifically Pseudolus, Miles Gloriosus, and Mostellaria – and tells the bawdy story of a slave named Pseudolus and his attempts to win his freedom by helping his young master woo the girl next door.