A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is a 1966 comedy film directed by Richard Lester and starring Zero Mostel, Phil Silvers, Buster Keaton, and Michael Crawford. The film is based on the stage musical of the same name, which is set in ancient Rome.
The story follows the wily slave Pseudolus (played by Mostel), who is desperate to gain his freedom. He cooks up a scheme to unite his young master Hero (played by Crawford) with the lovely virgin courtesan Philia (played by Annette Andre), who has been sold to a famous general in exchange for his freedom. Pseudolus must manipulate the other characters in the story, including the lecherous old man Marcus Lycus (played by Silvers) and the domineering wife of Hero's father Senex (played by Patricia Jessel), to get his plan to work.
Along the way, Pseudolus gets help from the bumbling slave Hysterium (played by Jack Gilford) and encounters various obstacles, including mistaken identities and a series of hilarious misunderstandings. The film features several memorable musical numbers, including "Comedy Tonight" and "Lovely."
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum was well-received by audiences and critics alike, and is considered a classic of the comedy genre. It was nominated for several Academy Awards, including Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor (for Gilford), and Best Music, Original Song Score or Adaptation.