Make 'Em Laugh (The Funny Business of America)
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Featuring Shemp Howard (Solo)
73 min. (Feature Film)
Fashion model Kitty Carroll is fed up with her job, especially her abusive boss Mr. Growley. She answers Prof. Gibbs' (John Barrymore) classified ad for a volunteer to test an invisibility invention, hoping that if it's successful, she can use it to exact some revenge on Growley. Broke playboy Richard Russell, Gibbs' financier, hopes the invisibility invention will restore his fortunes, and against the wishes of his exasperated and accident-prone butler (Charlie Ruggles), decides to gamble all he has left on Gibbs. Shemp Howard plays Hammerhead Frankie, one of three bumbling hoods who work for an exiled South American gangster "Blackie" Cole. Cole also wants the secret invisibility formula, so he can return to his country. The invisibility formula actually works, but to Kitty's surprise, it's temporary effects may be permanent after the subject drinks alcohol.
Universal's "Invisible Man" franchise turns to comedy with this B budget entry, notable for its starring of stage and screen legend John Barrymore in one of his final roles. Curly Howard may not "look more and more like Barrymore" (MOVIE MANIACS 1936), but Shemp Howard had the opportunity to work with his brother's idol in several scenes.
Virginia Bruce
Kitty Carroll
John Barrymore
Professor Gibbs
Charlie Ruggles
George
John Howard
Richard Russell
Thurston Hall
Mr. Hudson
Margaret Hamilton
Mrs. Jackson
Charles Lane
Mr. Growley
Oskar Homolka
Blackie Cole
Shemp Howard
Hammerhead Frankie
Donald MacBride
Cyrus Foghorn
Edward Brophy
Bill
Eddie Conrad
Hernandez
Harry C. Bradley
Classifieds clerk
Kitty O'Neil
Mrs. Patten
Kernan Cripps
Postman
Mary Gordon
Mrs. Bates
Maria Montez
Marie
Anne Nagel
Jean
Kathryn Adams
Peggy
Kay Leslie
Model
Sarah Edwards
Showroom customer
Kay Linaker
Showroom customer
Frank McLure
Parade of models guest
Eddie Sutherland
Director
Burt Kelly
Producer
Joe May
Original Story
Curt Siodmak
Original Story
Gertrude Purcell
Screenplay
Frederic I. Rinaldo
Screenplay
Robert Lees
Screenplay
Elwood Bredell
Director of Photography
Frank Gross
Film Editor
Jack Otterson
Art Director
Richard H. Riedel
Associate Art Director
Russell A. Gausman
Set Decoration
Bernard B. Brown
Sound Supervisor
Joe Lapis
Sound Technician
Charles Previn
Musical Director
Frank Skinner
Original Music
Vera West
Gowns
Joseph A. McDonough
Assistant Director
Roswell A. Hoffman
Special Photographic Effects
John P. Fulton
Special Photographic Effects
David S. Horsley
Special Effects
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