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Comedy is a discretionary endeavor. The common pitfall of those who chase it is to either go too far or not go far enough. The compromise between these that will appeal to a wide audience is a goal not attained by many.

The history behind the genre known as comedic film is as diverse as the performers who have delighted us through the years. Film has now been around long enough to classify it as an old art form, not some young, silly upstart with no experience under its belt. And as a respectable institution, it’s history can now be dissected and marveled at.

Movies first gained a wide audience in the early 1900s. Soon after, film makers came to the realization that audiences enjoyed a good laugh just as much as they enjoyed the twists and turns of a fine drama. Thus, the comedic film was born, and has since grown into a wide assortment of sub-genres within the class.

Through the progression of film, it has always had to cater to a moviegoer that is traditionally somewhat of a fickle creature. This reality affects all forms of film. Therefore, all forms have had to adapt over time.

The boundaries imposed by the technology of any given age have also affected the style of movie to be released, and the style of acting therein. In the beginning, films had no sound. The thespians to gain notoriety in this era were forced to amuse audiences solely by means of physical comedy. The unique slapstick of Harold Lloyd comes to mind as example of this.

The innovation of sound in film brought the performers whole new ways of practicing their craft. One of the first to perfect an act centered around this new style of entertainment was The Three Stooges. They are responsible for 190 short films, many of which are beloved to this day.

Television would be next in line to alter the landscape. Many movie concepts were adapted into something of a more episodic nature to facilitate this new medium. Many of us are old enough to remember nights spent watching the antics of Jackie Gleason, or wondering what mischief Lucille Ball would get into this time.

The next clear advancement in comedic endeavors would be due not to a bright, new technology, but to a bold, new style. Woody Allen introduced a way of doing things that entailed infusing his characters with colloquy that was well above average. This brand of exceptional speech represented a clear break from anything that resembled the sight gag, and brought in a new era.

Film serves, in part, as a window into the past. We can count ourselves lucky to live in such times when this window is so easily available to anyone interested in looking through it. The next time you’re searching for something to do, why not rent several comedic releases of bygone times, and witness the progression for yourself.