It's in the Bag! (1945 film)
| It's in the Bag! | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Richard Wallace |
| Produced by |
George R. Batcheller Jr. Walter Batchelor Jack H. Skirball |
| 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) |
| Starring |
Fred Allen Jack Benny William Bendix Don Ameche Rudy Vallee Jerry Colonna Robert Benchley John Carradine Sidney Toler Victor Moore |
| Music by | Werner R. Heymann |
| Cinematography | Russell Metty |
| Edited by | William Morgan |
| 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.
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 alternate 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
Gloria Pope - Marion Floogle
William Terry - Perry Parker
Minerva Pious - Mrs. Pansy Nussbaum
Richard Tyler - 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
James Conaty - Nightclub Patron
Don Costello - Mickey
Kernan Cripps - Police Turnkey
Mike Donovan - 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
Jack Gargan - Movie Usher
Dick Gordon - 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
Kenner G. Kemp - 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
Chief Many Treaties - Indian Chief
Thomas Martin - Penthouse Guest
Harold Miller - Nightclub Patron, and Wedding Guest
Bert Moorhouse - Jeweler / Wedding Guest
Horace Murphy - Officer
Forbes Murray - Elevator Rider
Roger Neury - 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
Matty Roubert - 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
Marek Windheim - Waiter
Reception
At the time of its release in 1945, Bosley Crowther of The New York Times said aside from Mr. Allen's comments on the credits at the beginning of the film, which are superlative spoofing and recommended to everyone, it was a "dizzy, bewildering picture" and "this rat's nest of nonsense defied the sober description of a comparatively rational mind". [2]
A more recent 3 out of 4 star favorable 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-/