"Miles Gloriosus," literally translated, is the Latin term for "glorious soldier." But it is also Latin slang for "blowhard" and "braggart."
"Senex" is the Latin word for "old man".
Buster Keaton's final film.
Phil Silvers had to go without his trademark glasses for this film, as director Richard Lester did not want any historical anachronisms.
Jack Gilford was nominated for the 1963 Tony Award (New York City) for Supporting or Features Actor in a Musical for "A Funny Happened On The Way To The Forum" as Hysterium which he recreated in the movie version.
Zero Mostel and Jack Gilford reprised their roles from the original Broadway production. Phil Silvers had been offered the role of Psuedolus on Broadway, but turned it down because he couldn't wear his glasses, and feared an onstage accident. Silvers went on to play Psuedolus in a 1972 revival.
Michael Crawford (Hero) did most of his stunts himself.
Between takes, Zero Mostel clowned around throughout the production. He dressed himself in a red tunic and danced the Flamenco, fondled statues of cherubs, and batted his eyes for at the women in the cast.
During filming, actor Phil Silvers locked himself in his trailer and refused to come out. Director Richard Lester asked Jon Pertwee to step into the role of Lycus, as he already knew the part after performing it on stage. Once Silvers heard he had been replaced, he came out of his trailer, bursting with new enthusiasm for the project. Pertwee was given the (much) smaller role of Crassus as compensation.
Every actor who has opened in the role of Pseudolus on Broadway (Zero Mostel, Phil Silvers and Nathan Lane) won a Best Actor Tony for their performance. In addition, Jason Alexander, who performed as Pseudolus in one scene in "Jerome Robbins' Broadway", also won a Tony for Best Actor in a Musical.
First film of Leon Greene.
Since movie musicals were losing popularity in the late 1960s, most of the play's songs were cut, including Zero Mostel's popular tour de force "Free", which would've been sung immediately after he fell out of the tree upon making his deal with Hero.
The line "Was 1 a good year?" was originally intended for the stage play, but was omitted because it was thought too leading. Somehow, though, it found its way into the film.
The names of some of the characters, such as Pseudolus and Miles Gloriosus, are actually the titles of ancient Roman plays by Plautus who was known for his comedies.
The original Broadway production of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" opened at the Alvin Theater on May 1, 1962, ran for 964 performances and won the 1963 Tony Awards for the Best Musical and Best Book.
The picture's four main stars, Zero Mostel, Phil Silvers , Jack Gilford and Michael Crawford, were dubbed "The Forum Quorum" on the set.
While Buster Keaton often used a stunt double due to his illness, he improvised running into a tree branch and falling backwards onto the ground - much to the horror of the director and crew.