Hellzapoppin' (1941)

Director:

H.C. Potter

Writers:

Nat Perrin (play)
Nat Perrin (screenplay)

Release Date:

26 December 1941 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

AT LAST IT'S ON THE SCREEN! Greater than the Stage Show!

Plot:

Ole and Chick are making a movie, but the director is not satisfied. So he brings them to a young writer...

Plot Keywords:

Private Detective | Musical Stage Production | Estate | Self Referential | Aristocrat

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Ole Olsen	...	Ole Olsen
Chic Johnson	...	Chic Johnson
Martha Raye	...	Betty Johnson
Hugh Herbert	...	Quimby
Jane Frazee	...	Kitty Rand
Robert Paige	...	Jeff Hunter
Mischa Auer	...	Pepi
Richard Lane	...	Director
Lewis Howard	...	Woody Taylor
Clarence Kolb	...	Andrew Rand
Nella Walker	...	Mrs. Rand
Shemp Howard	...	Louie
Elisha Cook Jr.	...	Harry Selby
Frank Darien	...	Man calling for Mrs. Jones
Catherine Johnson	...	Lena, Lady looking for Oscar

Runtime:

84 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:15

Company:

Mayfair Productions Inc.

Goofs:

Continuity: Betty picks up a rifle with a bayonet attached, but in the next shot it's a double-barreled shotgun.

Quotes:

Man calling for Mrs. Jones: Mrs. Jones! Mrs. Jones!

Movie Connections:

Spoofs The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)

Soundtrack:

Conga Beso

Total chaos on screen makes for total laughs in the audience

Based on Olsen and Johnson's long running Broadway show this film is probably only a shadow of its source, which changed from night to night as material was ad-libbed and current events were made fun of. On stage the show had an anything can happen feel that is nicely mirrored in the opening scenes as Olsen and Johnson throw everything you can think of at the audience in a rapid fire sequence of gags about the making of the Hellzapoppin movie. Not all of them are apparent with many being purely visual and in the background. After about 15 minutes of uncontrolled madness the film settles down as Olsen and Johnson go off to an estate to put on a show. Here the rapid fire nature slows a bit as the film is forced to conform to a "plot", however its still just as funny as characters wander in and out creating an ever changing sense of madness.

I admit thats a poor description of the film, but how to you describe chaos? You can't, you have to experience it, and anyone who loves great movies and great comedy really should see this movie. Its pure mindless fun that will keep you laughing from start to finish. This is the best Olsen and Johnson film that I've seen. While it could be argued that some of the gags in Crazy House are funnier, Hellzapoppin holds all of the insanity, and the occasional musical numbers together better (In Crazy House the madness stops for each song, here the insanity keeps right on going). If you see one Olsen and Johnson film in your life this should be it.

A film to be searched out and watched repeatedly, Hellazapoppin is one of the greatest comedies ever made. (now if someone would be smart enough to put this out on DVD in the US more people could enjoy it)