You can't really describe Hellzapoppin' because it's so anarchistic. In fact the bare semblance of a plot in this film was put in because the folks at Universal Pictures thought it needed one. My guess is that if Ole Olsen and Chic Johnson had their way it would have been a straight comedy review as it was on Broadway where it ran for three years.
So when we get the adaption it's about Elisha Cook as the Olsen and Johnson writer describing to director Richard Lane his story idea. And it's typical of so many plots of many Broadway plays and musicals of the time. A romantic triangle between heiress Jane Frazee, playwright Robert Paige, and director Lewis Howard. Olsen and Johnson are written into the story as a pair stagehands who are trying to aid their friend Paige with his romance. Throw in a Russian prince played by Mischa Auer and a private detective in Hugh Herbert and knowing those players and their shtick and you have a funny comedy. And then there's also Martha Raye.
The last 25 minutes gives you some idea of the real Hellzapoppin' as was seen on Broadway. Maybe a better word is experienced because audience participation is taken to new heights. The kind of monkeyshines that Chic and Ole pull in trying to wreck the debut of the play and you see the film to find out why is what went on during the Hellzapoppin' sketches.
It took Rowan&Martin and Laugh-In to really put across on the small screen what Ole and Chic wanted to do. Still the film version of Hellzapoppin' is popping with laughter and wonderful character players to support the madcap leads.
So when we get the adaption it's about Elisha Cook as the Olsen and Johnson writer describing to director Richard Lane his story idea. And it's typical of so many plots of many Broadway plays and musicals of the time. A romantic triangle between heiress Jane Frazee, playwright Robert Paige, and director Lewis Howard. Olsen and Johnson are written into the story as a pair stagehands who are trying to aid their friend Paige with his romance. Throw in a Russian prince played by Mischa Auer and a private detective in Hugh Herbert and knowing those players and their shtick and you have a funny comedy. And then there's also Martha Raye.
The last 25 minutes gives you some idea of the real Hellzapoppin' as was seen on Broadway. Maybe a better word is experienced because audience participation is taken to new heights. The kind of monkeyshines that Chic and Ole pull in trying to wreck the debut of the play and you see the film to find out why is what went on during the Hellzapoppin' sketches.
It took Rowan&Martin and Laugh-In to really put across on the small screen what Ole and Chic wanted to do. Still the film version of Hellzapoppin' is popping with laughter and wonderful character players to support the madcap leads.