Cracked Nuts (1931)

To impress his fiancee's aunt, a young man tries to become king in a small kingdom, but the people there have already crowned one, who has won this honor by gambling. So he plans a coup ... See full summary »

Director:

Edward F. Cline

Writers:

Ralph Spence (dialogue), Al Boasberg (dialogue),

Stars:

Bert Wheeler, Robert Woolsey, Dorothy Lee

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Bert Wheeler	...	Wendell Graham
Robert Woolsey	...	Zander Ulysses Parkhurst
Dorothy Lee	...	Betty Harrington
Edna May Oliver	...	Aunt Minnie Van Varden
Leni Stengel	...	Queen Carlotta
Stanley Fields	...	General Bogardus
Boris Karloff	...	Boris - First Revolutionary
Frank Thornton	...	Revolutionary

Storyline

To impress his fiancee's aunt, a young man tries to become king in a small kingdom, but the people there have already crowned one, who has won this honor by gambling. So he plans a coup d'etat. He tries to achieve this with a bomb, but then something goes wrong...

---

Plot Keywords:

king | aunt | oil | wedding | mythical kingdom | 

---

Genres:

Comedy | Romance

---

Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 April 1931 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

65 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Photophone System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Minnie Van Arden: I have an idea you broke into this apartment.
Wendell Graham: No man with any sense would do a thing like that!
Minnie Van Arden: How do you know what a man with any sense would do?
Wendell Graham: Well, you've got me there.
Minnie Van Arden: Don't stand there acting like a fool!
Wendell Graham: I'm not acting.

---

Soundtracks

"Dance"
(1931) (uncredited)
Music by Harry Tierney
Lyrics by Ray Egan
Sung and Danced by Bert Wheeler and Dorothy Lee

User Reviews

cracked kingdom romp

Wheeler and Woolsey made this romp about revolutions, assassinations, and romantic shenanigans, with a supporting cast including Dorothy Lee (who doesn't have much to do), Edna May Oliver (funny in fits and starts but not on screen enough), Boris Karloff (unmemorable), and Ben Turpin (cross-eyed as ever).

There are some cute and funny bits - the opening sequence with Wheeler and the elevator; the 'What' and 'Which' sequence with the map; the flying bombs; the aunt and the shower; and so on.

The one musical number for Wheeler and Lee is awful, nowhere near their usual standard, and actually becomes tedious and irritating very quickly.

'Cracked Nuts' is mildly diverting but not particularly good as a whole; it is one of the team's weaker efforts. Although W&W are always good value and entertaining, their co-stars have a poor script to work with and not much of a plot.