Web Site Logo

This website is made possible, in part, by displaying a few online advertisements to our visitors.
Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker for this site.
Released December 26, 1941
Featuring Shemp Howard (Solo)
Universal
84 min. (Feature Film)

Universal purchased the film rights to Ole Olsen's and Chic Johnson's Broadway hit HELLZAPOPPIN' (1938 - 1941), an 'anything-goes' revue of non-stop jokes and sight gags... with some minor conditions that included the introduction of musical numbers, a linear storyline, and a romantic subplot. Olsen and Johnson complied, and with the help of screenwriter Nat Perrin, lampooned everything that Universal wanted.

The filmed insanity of HELLZAPOPPIN' is unacceptable to the director (Richard Lane), so Ole and Chic break the fourth wall of reality with the help of projectionist Louie (Shemp Howard), and screen an imaginery film with the requisite studio demands. Louie and his film projector control the goings-on around Ole & Chic, with reality-altering complications provided by his fat, short-tempered girlfriend in the projection booth.

Rich Kitty Rand loves struggling stage producer Jeff Hunter, and Jeff's new high-class production of orchestral music and ballet will premiere at a society affair on her parent's vast estate. Kitty's parents disapprove of Jeff and want her to marry dim-witted playboy Woody Taylor. Jeff's partners Olsen & Johnson bring their inspired insanity to the Rand estate, along with Chic's man-hungry sister Betty (Martha Raye), and Jeff's ballet star Pepi (Mischa Auer), a phony, exiled Russian Prince. Betty's late night pursuit of Pepi launches a series of misunderstandings, leading O&J to conclude that Kitty has fallen for Pepi. The comics decide that Jeff's honor is worth more than the success of the show, so Chic and Ole set out to sabotage the premiere, resulting in... HELLZAPOPPIN'! Throughout it all, zany master-of-disguise PI Quimby (Hugh Herbert) plays the Greek chorus, wandering through scenes with a series of trademark 'hoo hoo's' and nonsensical observations.

Don't worry, none of this is supposed to make sense... it's HELLZAPOPPIN!

Bookmark and Share  
Avg. Rating: [6.50/10]
 
HELLZAPOPPIN' on IMDb

Ole Olsen
Himself

Martha Raye
Betty Johnson

Robert Paige
Jeff Hunter

Jane Frazee
Kitty Rand

Jody Gilbert
Louie's girlfriend

Richard Lane
Director

Lewis Howard
Woody Taylor

Elisha Cook Jr.
Harry Selby

Clarence Kolb
Andrew Rand

Nella Walker
Mrs. Rand

Bert Roach
Robert T. MacChesney

Slim Gaillard
Dancer, Slim & Slam

Slam Stewart
Dancer, Slim & Slam

Ann Johnson
The Harlem Congeroos

Frankie Manning
The Harlem Congeroos

Rex Stewart
Trumpet player

Norma Miller
Cook dancer

Al Minns
Butler dancer

Dean Collins
Jitterbug dancer

Bob Rose
Shorty the butler

Freddie Sanborn
Man playing tic-tac-toe

Frank Darien
Man calling for Mrs. Jones

Catherine Johnson
Lady looking for Oscar

Susan Miller
Mother calling for Junior

Samuel S. Hinds
Showboat captain

Billy Curtis
Bodyguard

Gil Perkins
Butler in pool

Dale Van Sickel
Man in pool

Hal K. Dawson
Photographer at pool

Don Brodie
Theater manager

Gus Schilling
Orchestra conductor

Ellinor Vanderveer
Woman in audience

Bess Flowers
Woman in audience

George Humbert
Chef at bread table

Eddie Acuff
Draftee devil

Angelo Rossito
Midget devil

Ben Hall
Man in Betty's way

Charlie Hall
Taxi driver

Jimmie Lucas
Taxi driver

Harry Monty
Midget taxi driver

Billy Wayne
Photographer

Kathryn Adams
Girl with jewelry

Lyle Moraine
Young man

Sig Arno
Cello player

George Davis
Russian butler

Dave Willock
Trombone player

Ethelreda Leopold
Woman at skeet shoot

Frank Austin
Chauffeur

Julia Griffith
Party guest


H. C. Potter
Director

Jules Levey
Producer

Glenn Tryon
Associate Producer

Alex Gottlieb
Associate Producer

Ole Olsen
Original Play

Chic Johnson
Original Play

Warren Wilson
Screenplay

Nat Perrin
Story and Screenplay

Elwood Bredell
Director of Photography

Milton Carruth
Film Editor

Jack Otterson
Art Director

Martin Obzina
Associate Art Director

Russell A. Gausman
Set Decoration

Bernard B. Brown
Sound Director

Willam R. Fox
Sound Technician

Charles Previn
Musical Director

Ted Cain
Music Supervisor

Sammy Fain
Original Music

Don Raye
Lyrics

Eddie Prinz
Choreographer

Nick Castle
Choreographer

Joseph A. McDonough
Assistant Director

John P. Fulton
Special Photographic Effects


















FAIR USE NOTICE: This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We make such material available in an effort to advance awareness and understanding of the issues involved. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information please visit: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission directly from the copyright owner.