Since the silent film days, comedic film duos have brought laughter to audiences. Often times, the pair is different in various ways, including intellect or physical and visual differences. These differences play into their jokes and comedic sketches.

Here are a few comedy teams from the classic era of film:

Comedy is medicine. Laughter releases endorphins, decreases stress, and increases our body’s infection-fighting antibodies. Cinematic comedy could be as simple as a perfectly timed slip on a banana peel or a clever twist of phrase – but make no mistake, the fine art requires a deft touch with language or a physical performer blessed with the natural gift of timing. There’s nothing simple about making us laugh; in fact, it’s much harder to earn an honest laugh than it is to make us cry or our pulses pound.

Consequently, I believe there’s no greater gift than the gift of laughter – the kind that surprises, the kind that originates from an unexpected source. Our old favorites provide a natural comfort and familiarity, but few experiences match the discovery of a new comedy that makes us laugh out loud – perhaps in the company of others, perhaps alone. Can you put a price on the kind of laughter that happens organically, when no one else is watching? That’s a rare occurrence, one that’s even more important now as many of us are isolated and alone with nothing more than our Netflix queue to keep us company.

I’ve offered the following ten comedies as suggestions of movies that you might not have seen, that might help ease anxieties, release those endorphins, and provide protection from the stress of the world in which we live. You’ll find one for each of the last ten decades of cinema, starting with the 1920s. Every one of these films is a personal favorite of mine that’s provided an essential release at some point in my life. My hope is that you’ll discover a joy to make your own and pass along to your family and friends, boosting immunity and spreading that cinematic love.