Make 'Em Laugh (The Funny Business of America)
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Featuring Joe Besser (Solo)
71 min. (Feature Film)
When drunken millionaire Duke Randall lands in Lawndale OH, he's impressed by its smalltown goodness, especially that of florist Janie Clark. So impressed, that he changes his will and leaves her his fortune, nightclub and racetrack. After Randall is reported dead in a car accident, his business partner Bart Manners and golddigging widow are shocked to learn about the inheritance. Bart is sure it's a scam and sets out to learn Janie's angle. Meanwhile, the citizens of Lawndale turn on her, convinced she's no longer their kind of people. So Janie heads to New York and accept the bequeath, and teach everyone a few lessons in basic human kindness.
Joe Besser costars as Roly Q. Entwhistle, Janie's kindhearted friend and protector, determined to make good on his show biz ambitions. A highlight is Joe calling a squaredance in an NYC nightclub, with a tune titled Oh, You Crazy You.
Jinx Falkenburg
Janie Clark
Forrest Tucker
Bart Manners
Joe Besser
Roly Q. Entwhistle
Jimmy Little
Buffalo
Trudy Marshall
Toni Marlowe
Richard Lane
Duke Randall
Stan Kenton and His Orchestra
Themselves
June Christy
Stan Kenton vocalist
Gene Howard
Stan Kenton vocalist
Paul E. Burns
Garage mechanic
Mira McKinney
Letitia Harrison
Robert Regent
Arthur Harrison
Mary Field
Telephone operator
Dick Elliott
Baldwin
Walter Baldwin
Clem
Jack Davis
Carleton Vane
Jessie Arnold
Lawndale gossip
Constance Purdy
Lawndale gossip
Ruth Warren
Lawndale gossip
Ezelle Poule
Lawndale gossip
Ida Moore
Lawndale gossip
Anne O'Neal
Ladies League woman
Symona Boniface
Ladies League woman
Mark Roberts
Reporter
Jimmy Lloyd
Reporter
John Tyrrell
Photographer
Dan Stowell
Pianist
Frank Sully
Rocky Jordan
Robin Raymond
Peaches Barkeley
Victor Travers
Man in nightclub
Adele Roberts
Chorus girl
Nita Bieber
Chorus girl
Jewel McGowan
Chorus girl
Kernan Cripps
Deputy Sheriff
Wanda Perry
Woman in nightclub
Cy Malis
Stage doorman
Doris Houck
Freddie Lord
George Ford
Gentleman
Tex Swan
Driver
George Sherman
Director
Michael Kraike
Producer
Robert Hardy Andrews
Story
Barry Trivers
Story
Richard Weil
Screenplay
Ted Thomas
Screenplay
Henry Freulich
Director of Photography
James Sweeney
Film Editor
George Brooks
Art Director
James M. Crowe
Set Decoration
George Cooper
Sound Recording
Joseph Fidel
Sound Mixer
Mario Silva
Musical Director
Marlin Skiles
Original Music
Henry Helfman
Costumes
Iva Walters
Costumes
Allan Roberts
Lyrics
Oscar Hammerstein
Lyrics
Doris Fisher
Music
Ben Oakland
Music
Claire Holgate
Hair Stylist
Newt Jones
Makeup
Robert J. Schiffer
Makeup
James Nicholson
Assistant Director
William M. Reineck
2nd Assistant Director
Fayte M. Browne
Camera Operator
Bud O'Malley
Assistant Cameraman
Paul Seckler
Gaffer
C. Robertson
Best Boy
Herb Kessler
Boom
Eddie Blaisdell
Key Grip
Roland Rexroad
Grip
Truck Krone
Cable Operator
Hudson Ratabaugh
Property Master
Frances McDowell
Script Supervisor
Clay Yurdin
Dialogue Coach
Phil Ellison
Still Photography
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