Nazty Nuisance (1943)

Director:

Glenn Tryon

Writers:

Earle Snell (original screenplay) &
Clarence Marks (original screenplay)

Release Date:

6 August 1943 (USA)

Genre:

Short | Action | Adventure | Comedy | Fantasy | War

Tagline:

GET READY FOR ROARS! THEY'RE GOING TO DROP HITLER ON BERLIN...When Hal Roach Presents "That Nazty Nuisance! (original poster)

Plot:

Germany's Adolf Hitler, with his Axis-stooges, Italy's Mussolini and Japan's Suki Yama, although he tried to avoid taking them...

Plot Keywords:

Submarine | Hitler | American | Damsel In Distress | Magician

Cast

Bobby Watson	...	Adolph Hitler
Joe Devlin	...	Benito Mussolini
Johnny Arthur	...	Suki Yaki
Jean Porter	...	Kela - Magician's Assistant
Ian Keith	...	Chief Paj Mab
Henry Victor	...	Kaptian von Popoff
Emory Parnell	...	Capt. Spense
Frank Faylen	...	Seaman Benson
Ed Lewis	...	Paj Mab's Guard (as Ed 'Strangler' Lewis)
'King Kong' Kashey	...	Paj Mab's Guard #2 (as Abe 'King Kohn' Kashey)
Rex Evans	...	Hermann Goering
Charley Rogers	...	Josef Goebbels (as Charles Rogers)
Jiggs the Monkey	...	The Monkey
Wedgwood Nowell	...	Heinrich Himmler

Also Known As:

Double Crossed Fool (International: English title) (TV title)
That Nazty Nuisance (USA) (working title)
The Last Three (International: English title) (new title)

Runtime:

43 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #8864) | USA:Passed

Company:

Hal Roach Studios

Movie Connections:

Follows The Devil with Hitler (1942)

Completely moronic, but somehow still kind of fun

Considering that this film is LESS sophisticated and the humor is even broader than the Three Stooges in I'LL NEVER HEIL AGAIN (where the three play the leaders of the Axis Powers), it's no surprise that I only gave it a score of 3. Like many of the Hal Roach short movies of the early 1940's, this one is pretty poorly written and the humor is far from sophisticated--in fact, it's downright childish. This film is about as close as you'll find to "Bevis and Butthead" in this era--it's THAT silly. But, like Bevis and Butthead, you might in spite of the lameness, actually find yourself laughing at some of their antics. Just don't let anyone see you watch this dopey propaganda film if you want to impress them with your sophistication or intelligence!!!

As for the plot, it's a fantasy involving Hitler, Mussolini and, oddly, a Japanese general named "Suki Yaki"--instead of Hirohito or even Tojo. All three go to a fictional Arabic country to sign a treaty with a self-important despot. At the same time, a dingy full of Americans sailors from a sunken ship arrive and are able to thwart the evil trio's plans. It is fun to watch them beat up Hitler and it's a great historical insight into the times, but don't expect a great film. Dumb, silly and yet somehow watchable--this is NAZTY NUISANCE.

A couple of tidbits--First, the film refers to Hitler as "the paper hanger", though Hitler never worked putting up wallpaper (a common myth of the time). Second, I recognized the young lady who starred in the film (Jean Porter) but at first had trouble placing her. Among other films, she starred in an Andy Hardy film as well as a couple of the William Tracy army films made by Roach Studios.