It's in the Bag! (1945 film)
It's in the Bag! | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Richard Wallace |
Written by | Ilya Ilf (novel Dvenadtsat Stulyev) Yevgeni Petrov (uncredited) (novel Dvenadtsat stulyev) Lewis R. Foster (treatment) Fred Allen (treatment) Jay Dratler Alma Reville Morrie Ryskind (special contribution) |
Produced by | George R. Batcheller Jr. Walter Batchelor Jack H. Skirball |
Starring | Fred Allen Jack Benny William Bendix Don Ameche Rudy Vallee Jerry Colonna Robert Benchley John Carradine Sidney Toler Victor Moore |
Cinematography | Russell Metty |
Edited by | William Morgan |
Music by | Werner R. Heymann |
Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date | 21 April 1945 |
Running time | 87 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $1 million[1] |
It's in the Bag! is a 1945 comedy film featuring Fred Allen in his only starring film role. The film was released by United Artists at a time when Allen was at the peak of his fame as one of the most popular radio comedians. The film has been preserved by UCLA Film & Television Archive.[citation needed]
Characters and story[]
A flea circus ringmaster (Allen), Fred Floogle, has strange encounters as he searches for his inheritance, hidden in the seat of one of five chairs.
The film is loosely based on the comic novel The Twelve Chairs (1928) of Ilf and Petrov, later filmed by Mel Brooks as The Twelve Chairs (1970). The team of screenwriters included Jay Dratler, Alma Reville (wife of Alfred Hitchcock) and Morrie Ryskind.
Binnie Barnes plays Mrs. Floogle.
Cameo roles are filled by other radio actors who had already, or were beginning to, become known in movies, including Don Ameche, Rudy Vallee, William Bendix, Jerry Colonna, Robert Benchley, John Carradine, Sidney Toler.
For classic radio fans, the highlight of the film will be Floogle's encounter with Jack Benny, who at the time was involved with Allen in their famous 'feud', which ran for over a decade.
There is an alternative version of the film where Allen's voice periodically breaks in on the action with wisecracks a la the opening credits. This version obscures some of the on-screen dialogue, including the punchline. This version has aired on AMC.
Cast[]
- Fred Allen - Fred F. Trumble Floogle
- Jack Benny - Jack Benny
- Don Ameche - Don Ameche
- William Bendix - William Bendix
- Victor Moore - Victor Moore
- Rudy Vallee - Rudy Vallee
- Binnie Barnes - Eve Floogle
- Robert Benchley - Parker
- Jerry Colonna - Dr. Greengrass - Psychiatrist
- John Carradine - Jefferson T. Pike
- - Marion Floogle
- - Perry Parker
- Minerva Pious - Mrs. Pansy Nussbaum
- - Homer Floogle (as Dickie Tyler)
- Sidney Toler - Detective Sully
- George Cleveland - Busby - Hotel Manager
- John Miljan - Mr. Arnold
- Ben Welden - Monty - Bookie
Uncredited character actors alphabetically:
- Johnny Arthur - Finley
- Jack Baxley - Minister
- Brooks Benedict - Headwaiter
- Don Brodie - Reporter
- Steve Brodie - Usher
- John Brown - Joe, Nightclub Doorman
- George Chandler - 1st Elevator Operator
- - Nightclub Patron
- Don Costello - Mickey
- - Police Turnkey
- - Movie Theatre Patron
- Jay Eaton - Jeweler
- Bess Flowers - Woman in Elevator, and in Floogle's Penthouse
- Byron Foulger - Mr. Teckler
- Edward Gargan - Chair Delivery Man
- - Movie Usher
- - Movie Theatre Patron
- Frank Hagney - Nightclub Tough in Fight
- Harry Harvey - Man in Nightclub Kitchen
- Olin Howland - Dr. Greengrass's Doctor
- Lloyd Ingraham - Frederick F. Trumble
- Eddie Kane - Tailor
- - Movie House Patron in Balcony
- Mike Lally - Movie House Patron, and Cabbie
- Rex Lease - Yacht Salesman
- Mary Livingstone - Mary Livingstone (voice only)
- Wilbur Mack - Nightclub Patron
- - Indian Chief
- - Penthouse Guest
- - Nightclub Patron, and Wedding Guest
- Bert Moorhouse - Jeweler / Wedding Guest
- Horace Murphy - Officer
- - Elevator Rider
- - Waiter
- William H. O'Brien - Nightclub Waiter
- Sarah Padden - Woman in Elevator
- Emory Parnell - Mr. Buddoo
- Jack Perrin - Policeman
- Marshall Reed - Hood in Car
- Dewey Robinson - Frogface
- - Elevator Boy in Theatre
- Harry Semels - Chef
- Dan Seymour - Fatso
- Larry Steers - Nightclub Patron / Wedding Guest
- Harry Strang - Diner
- Charles Sullivan - Nightclub Tough in Fight
- Phil Tead - Ninth National Bank Representative
- Walter Tetley - 2nd Elevator Operator
- Emmett Vogan - Man in Elevator
- Harry von Zell - Phil
- Max Wagner - Nightclub Tough in Fight
- Dave Willock - Stratosphere Balcony Usher
- - Waiter
Reception[]
At the time of its release in 1945, Bosley Crowther of The New York Times said that, aside from Mr. Allen's comments on the credits at the beginning of the film, which were superlative spoofing and recommended to everyone, it was a "dizzy, bewildering picture"; "this rat's nest of nonsense defied the sober description of a comparatively rational mind". [2]
A more recent, favorable (3 stars out of 4) review by Leonard Maltin says, "Story similar to THE TWELVE CHAIRS with flea-circus promoter Allen entitled to inheritance; plot soon goes out the window in favor of unrelated but amusing episodes, including hilarious encounter between Allen and Benny."[3]
References[]
- ^ "Indies $70,000,000 Pix Output". Variety: 3. 3 November 1944. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
- ^ https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9C0DE1DE123BEE3BBC4952DFB066838E659EDE
- ^ http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/79584/It-s-in-the-Bag-/
External links[]
- English-language films
- 1945 films
- 1945 comedy films
- American films
- American comedy films
- Films directed by Richard Wallace
- Films based on Russian novels
- Ilf and Petrov
- American black-and-white films