Movie Movie (1978)

Three movie genres of the 1930s, boxing films, WWI aviation dramas, and backstage Broadway musicals, are satirized using the same cast.

Director:

Stanley Donen

Writers:

Larry Gelbart, Sheldon Keller

Stars:

George C. Scott, Trish Van Devere, Red Buttons

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 6 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
George C. Scott	...	Gloves Malloy / Spats Baxter
Trish Van Devere	...	Betsy McGuire / Isobel Stuart
Red Buttons	...	Peanuts / Jinks Murphy
Eli Wallach	...	Vince Marlow / Pop
Harry Hamlin	...	Joey Popchik
Ann Reinking	...	Troubles Moran
Jocelyn Brando	...	Mama Popchik / Mrs. Updike
Michael Kidd	...	Pop Popchik
Kathleen Beller	...	Angie Popchik
Barry Bostwick	...	Johnny Danko / Dick Cummings
Art Carney	...	Doctor Blaine / Doctor Bowers
Clay Hodges	...	Sailor Lawson
George P. Wilbur	...	Tony Norton
Peter Stader	...	Barney Keegle (as Peter T. Stader)
Jimmy Lennon Sr.	...	The Announcer (as James Lennon)

Storyline

Three movie genres of the 1930s are satirized in this spoof of the traditional double feature. In "Dynamite Hands" a delivery boy turns prizefighter in order to raise enough money for his kid sister's eye operation. Later, however, he turns his back on his father-figure manager and librarian girlfriend when he is distracted by a flashy gangster and sexy night club diva. Intermission has a coming-attractions trailer for "Zero Hour," a World War I aviation drama. In the second feature, "Baxter's Beauties of 1933" a Broadway impresario hears he has only a month to live and is determined to mount one more hit on the boards. When his drunken diva of a star cannot go on opening night, he finds that the ingénue he chooses to replace her is his long-estranged daughter, whom he has not seen since she was a girl. All three stories feature the same cast.

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Plot Keywords:

night club | spoof | double feature | backstage | boxing | 

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Taglines:

It's Two Two, New New Movies In One.

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 September 1979 (France)

Also Known As:

A papa mozija

Filming Locations:

56th Street and Park Avenue. Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

ITC Films Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the original release "Dynamite Hands" was in black-and-white, but it was colorized for its VHS release.

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Quotes

Spats Baxter: Can you play the piano?
Dick Cummings: Like a mink.

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Connections

References 42nd Street (1933)

User Reviews

Funny Funny

I saw this movie when it first came out and remember laughing hysterically. The VHS tape went out of print in the early '80s and I spent more than 15 years looking for a copy. I finally found one and while not quite as funny as I remember, it is a funny movie that found an audience. George C. Scott is great as always. Barry Bostwick is great as the accountant who wants to be a songwriter. The songs should be comedy classics, especially, "It Just Shows to Go Ya."

I've seen a butchered version on TV once that cut out a bunch of the set-ups that are needed to make the jokes work. So if at all possible find a uncut version.