Olsen and Johnson, a pair of stage comedians, try to turn their play into a movie and bring together a young couple in love, while breaking the fourth wall every step of the way.
Direction
H.C. Potter wrangles pure mayhem into actual narrative coherence.
Editing
Gags interrupt gags interrupt gags—editing as comedy weapon.
Practical Effects
Every gag physical, every chaos handmade, zero CGI nonsense.
Director
H. C. Potter
Ole Olsen
Ole Olsen
Chic Johnson
Chic Johnson
Martha Raye
Betty Johnson
Hugh Herbert
Quimby
Jane Frazee
Kitty Rand
Robert Paige
Jeff Hunter
Mischa Auer
Pepi
Richard Lane
Director
Lewis Howard
Woody Taylor
Clarence Kolb
Andrew Rand
Nella Walker
Mrs. Rand
Shemp Howard
Louie
Elisha Cook Jr.
Harry Selby
Frank Darien
Man Calling for Mrs. Jones
Kay Johnson
Lena - Lady Looking for Oscar
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This is arguably the most influential comedy you've never heard of—every fourth-wall break, every Zucker-Abrahams gag, every Fleischer Studios chaos owes it rent.
The 'projectionist' running the film within the film is actually the director H.C. Potter himself, literally wrestling his own movie into submission.
US
