Make 'Em Laugh (The Funny Business of America)
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Released September 13, 1940
Featuring Shemp Howard (Solo)
Featuring Shemp Howard (Solo)
Universal
64 min. (Feature Film)
64 min. (Feature Film)
Dick Roberts' (Richard Arlen) plan to manage his life-long friend Andy Adams (Andy Devine) as a professional wrestler goes awry in a gym brawl, when Robert's fisticuff skills prompts shady boxing promoter Slick Connolly to sign him as "Kid Roberts." Connolly sets up a series of fixed fights in Dick's favor, but in Slick's financial favor only. Sports reporter Pat Danbury runs a series of columns exposing Connolly, so Slick sets up one last promotional fight, with a raffle for Roberts' contract. Naturally, Pat holds the winning ticket.
Pat Danbury is the daughter of an ex-champ, and she hopes to realize her late father's dream of "Camp Danbury," a boxing retirement camp, for coaching and teaching the sport of boxing to youngsters. Her assistants are four ex-champs, lightweight Sailor McNeill (Shemp Howard), welterweight Slugger Mears (Horace McMahon), middleweight Joe Johnson (George Lloyd) and heavyweight Pete Manson (Eddie Gribbon), all down on their luck and living on handouts. The camp's time may have come due to Robert's skill, and an opportunity to box against the new champ, Tim Grogan. But Slick's latest scheme sets Danbury and Roberts up as patsies when a fixed exhibition bout results in their suspension from professional boxing. In bumbling fashion, Andy and the four ex-boxers go after Connolly to exonerate their friends.
Shemp's character of Sailor McNeill is a mute, communicating thru a series of hilarious pantomimes and Shemp's classic "fish face." Shemp recreated this portrayal, although as a different character, in Universal's SIX LESSONS FROM MADAME LA ZONGA (1941).
One of several Universal 'B' features teaming Richard Arlen and Andy Devine, including the earlier HOT STEEL (1940), which costarred Joe Besser. Andy Devine was very popular, coming off several years as the lead supporting cast member on Jack Benny's radio program, and Arlen was a popular leading man, particularly from his Oscar winning WINGS (1927). "Arlen & Devine" were a financially struggling Universal's attempt to create a comedy/drama team series. Their series (including the upcoming LUCKY DEVILS, also with Shemp) ended when Universal hit gold with Abbott & Costello later in 1940.
Avg. Rating: 
[8.00/10]
[8.00/10]
Andy Devine
Andy Adams
Richard Arlen
Dick Roberts
Douglas Fowley
Slick Connolly
Astrid Allwyn
Pat Danbury
Shemp Howard
Sailor McNeill
George Lloyd
Joe Johnson
Eddie Gribbon
Pete Manson
Charles Lane
Henry Mitchell
Horace McMahon
Slugger Mears
Ben Alexander
Dan Brown
Charles D. Brown
J. R. Stevens
Billy McGowan
Tim Grogan
Wade Boteler
Commissioner Dunlap
Noble 'Kid' Chissel
Giovanni
Frank Mitchell
Grogan's manager
Jack Gardner
Pat's friend at gym
Cy Schindell
Wrestling referee
Frank O'Connor
Fight referee
Reid Kilpatrick
Ringside radio commentator
Charles Sullivan
Fighter
Cyril Ring
Ring spectator
Bobby Barber
Man at fight
Arthur O'Connell
Reporter
John Dilson
Doctor
Frances Morris
Nurse
Jack Raymond
Fight promoter
Frankie Van
Referee
Jack Roper
Wrestler pictured in book
John Rawlins
Director
Ben Pivar
Producer
Ben Chapman
Screenplay
Maxwell Shane
Screenplay
Larry Rhine
Screenplay
Stanley Cortez
Director of Photography
Arthur Hilton
Film Editor
Jack Otterson
Art Director
Ralph M. DeLacy
Associate Art Director
Russell A. Gausman
Set Decoration
Bernard B. Brown
Sound Director
Hal Bumbaugh
Sound Technician
Hans J. Salter
Musical Director
Vera West
Gowns
Maurice E. Wright
Dialogue Director
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