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IMDbPro

The Inspector General

  • 19491949
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
3.3K
YOUR RATING
Danny Kaye in The Inspector General (1949)
Watch ’Trailer’
Play trailer0:53
1 Video
10 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Musical
  • Romance
A town's corrupt officials think a fool is actually an investigator in disguise.A town's corrupt officials think a fool is actually an investigator in disguise.A town's corrupt officials think a fool is actually an investigator in disguise.
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
3.3K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Henry Koster
  • Writers
    • Philip Rapp(screenplay)
    • Harry Kurnitz(screenplay)
    • Nikolay Gogol(suggested by a play by)
  • Stars
    • Danny Kaye
    • Walter Slezak
    • Barbara Bates
Top credits
  • Director
    • Henry Koster
  • Writers
    • Philip Rapp(screenplay)
    • Harry Kurnitz(screenplay)
    • Nikolay Gogol(suggested by a play by)
  • Stars
    • Danny Kaye
    • Walter Slezak
    • Barbara Bates
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 42User reviews
    • 10Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 0:53
    Trailer

    Photos10

    Danny Kaye and Barbara Bates in The Inspector General (1949)
    Danny Kaye in The Inspector General (1949)
    The Medicine Man (1930)
    Danny Kaye and Barbara Bates in The Inspector General (1949)
    Danny Kaye, Alan Hale, Lew Hearn, and Sam Hearn in The Inspector General (1949)
    Danny Kaye in The Inspector General (1949)
    The Inspector General (1949)
    The Inspector General (1949)
    The Inspector General (1949)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Danny Kaye
    Danny Kaye
    • Georgias Georgi
    Walter Slezak
    Walter Slezak
    • Yakovas Yakov
    Barbara Bates
    Barbara Bates
    • Lezaas Leza
    Elsa Lanchester
    Elsa Lanchester
    • Mariaas Maria
    Gene Lockhart
    Gene Lockhart
    • The Mayoras The Mayor
    Alan Hale
    Alan Hale
    • Kovatchas Kovatch
    Walter Catlett
    Walter Catlett
    • Col. Castineas Col. Castine
    Rhys Williams
    Rhys Williams
    • Inspector Generalas Inspector General
    Al Bain
    Al Bain
    • Villageras Villager
    • (uncredited)
    Benny Baker
    Benny Baker
    • Teleckias Telecki
    • (uncredited)
    Oscar Blank
    • Villageras Villager
    • (uncredited)
    George Boyce
    • Party Guestas Party Guest
    • (uncredited)
    Chet Brandenburg
    Chet Brandenburg
    • Sentryas Sentry
    • (uncredited)
    Leonard Bremen
    Leonard Bremen
    • Lieutenantas Lieutenant
    • (uncredited)
    Harriett Brest
    • Villageras Villager
    • (uncredited)
    Albert Cavens
    • Party Guestas Party Guest
    • (uncredited)
    Dick Cherney
    • Sentryas Sentry
    • (uncredited)
    Robert Cherry
    Robert Cherry
    • Peasantas Peasant
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Henry Koster
    • Writers
      • Philip Rapp(screenplay)
      • Harry Kurnitz(screenplay)
      • Nikolay Gogol(suggested by a play by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Nikolay Gogol's play, "The Inspector General" opened in St. Petersburg, Russia. in April 1836.
    • Goofs
      When Yakov first reads the note from Leza we can see it says "They are trying to kill you. Don't go near the barn." Later, when the woodchopper reads it he says "Don't go near the barn. They are trying to kill you."
    • Quotes

      Georgi: Be big, be strong, be firm, says Yakov! But if it doesn't work - whose neck will they jerk? Whose block will they knock off? Not Yakov. Be an Inspector General... What does an Inspector General do, inspect generals? No. An Inspector General generally inspects, that is... they expect him to inspect generally; if they're inspecting an Inspector General. But an exceptionally generous Inspector General who made an exception and had no inspection, would cause suspicion, which in my condition, I couldn't accept... Thank you. However... If people are suspecting, now expect - without detecting, an imposter who's not posted as a pedigreed inspector... could this palpable imposter stay a gypsy, an accoster, could he possibly get past them by his posture? In two words - un-likely. So, it is not a question of, to flee or not to flee, but to be or not to be, and if so... How? Should I be elegant? Should I be arrogant? Should I be smart? A roaring Russian Hussar, or very British empire? Or like the KGB in Nice, who already eats the cheese, while he says, 'No thank you please.' Be smart! I must examine every side of me; the long, the narrow, the wide of me, The Dr. Jekyll and the Hyde of me. If I value my anatomy, the skinny and the fat of me, how shall I start to play the part? Should I be elegant? Arrogant? Or smart?

    • Connections
      Featured in The Dick Cavett Show: Danny Kaye (1971)
    • Soundtracks
      The Medicine Show
      (1949) (uncredited)

      (aka "Yakov's Elixir")

      Music and Lyrics by Sylvia Fine

      Played by Musicians at the Medicine Show

      Sung by Danny Kaye

      Variations played in the score

    User reviews42

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Danny Kaye Is Wonderful
    An illiterate stooge in a traveling medicine show wanders into a strange town and is picked up on a vagrancy charge. The town's corrupt officials mistake him for the inspector general whom they think is traveling in disguise. Fearing he will discover they've been pocketing tax money, they make several bungled attempts to kill him.

    Unfortunately, this film is in the public domain and that means that Alpha Video seems to be the primary supplier. Maybe another version exists, but I saw the Alpha one. While it's not as bad as many public domain films, it has clearly aged and a new transfer would benefit the film greatly.

    This film stands out as being a wonderful showcase for Danny Kaye. His best-known films (like "White Christmas") seem to have him more often as the sidekick. This film proves he can be a leading man in his own right, with plenty of humorous acting and some incredible singing. Kaye should be recognized as a bigger star than Bing Crosby.
    helpful•4
    1
    • gavin6942
    • Aug 1, 2016

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 31, 1949 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Happy Times
    • Filming locations
      • Corriganville, Ray Corrigan Ranch, Simi Valley, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,873,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 42 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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