Thursday, July 18, 2013

Comedy Classic: Sid Caesar and Nanette Fabray Act Out Argument to Beethoven's 5th Symphony


Sid Caesar got his start in the Catskill Mountains in 1936 at the age of 14 as a saxophone player. While playing in the dance band at the Vacationland Hotel in Swan Lake, he appeared in sketches and learned the art of comedy.

In 1954, on the TV show Caesar's Hour, Sid performed a classic routine with Nanette Fabray known as "Argument to Beethoven's 5th" in which they pantomime the argument of a married couple. 

They provide the action in complete silence in synchronization with the soaring music of the first movement of Beethoven's famous symphony.

Watch it a few times and it will forever change the way you listen to this symphony.

Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO IS NOT VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)

8 comments:

  1. Fantastic comedians who didn't have to resort to filth to get their laughs.

    ReplyDelete
  2. You just don't see comedy like this anymore. They were fantastic!

    ReplyDelete
  3. from rabbi arthur segal : i don't think i will ever be able to sit thru a beethoven 5th concert without seeing this in my mind's eye, and laughing my head off. thanks! chag sameach tu b'av!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sid Caesar and that crew were geniuses of comedy. This is hilarious.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Loved it.........This reminds me of the silent movies!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Superb and beyond brilliant. Great way to start the New Year, thanks to my Italian friend. No wonder Beethoven never wrote a 6th! Argument over.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Ah, the days of good , creative and funny comedy and comedians - And we need remember, It was LIVE -
    Sometimes technology set us back, does not bring us forward,
    I loved it, thank you

    ReplyDelete
  8. Loved it. Beethoven's 5th will never seem the same to me.

    ReplyDelete