Actor James Garner died July 19, 2014, in Los Angeles of an apparent heart attack. He was 86. For his obituary in The New York Times, access:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/21/movies/james-garner-actor-dies-at-86.html?emc=edit_tnt_20140720&nlid=15809705&tntemail0=y
This movie is not very good at all. Maybe in 1963 it was somehow funny. Not anymore though.
"I will not go down in history as the greatest mass-murderer since Adolf Hitler!" - Merkin Muffley
Humor evolves with the passing of years, that's a fact. What seemed comical or even amusing in 1963 (over half a century ago!) today falls flat on its face. The world around us changes and so do we.
There were movies that, in my teenage years, I found hilarious. Now, at age 77, I find them dull. The jokes fall flat. The comedians no longer connect with me.
You're right. Maybe this movie was funny 51 years ago.
UPDATE: As it happens, The New York Times today published an interesting article on the subject of time and humor. I recommend it:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/28/arts/television/a-case-of-retro-tv-overload.html?WT.mc_id=D-NYT-MKTG-MOD-93953-07-29-HD&WT.mc_ev=click&WT.mc_c=${CAMPAIGN_ID}