In the 1950s, the genre of acting known as "slapstick" was often considered sillier than other styles. Slapstick comedy relies on physical humor, exaggerated movements, and often involves characters getting hit or hurt in comical ways. While it has a long history in theater and film, in the 1950s, the rise of more sophisticated and nuanced acting styles led to some critics dismissing slapstick as a simplistic and crude form of humor. However, slapstick continued to be popular with audiences, and many successful comedies of the era incorporated elements of slapstick into their stories and performances.