Make 'Em Laugh (The Funny Business of America)
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Released November 13, 1936
Featuring Ted Healy (Solo)
Featuring Ted Healy (Solo)
MGM
71.33 min. (Feature Film)
71.33 min. (Feature Film)
Actor Philip Trent is tired of playing his film detective character and takes a cruise to get away from it all. His publicist (Ted Healy), and "Peter" Dean, the female author of the detective novels Trent's character is based on, decide to turn the cruise into a publicity stunt. But a phony murder publicity act turns into the real thing when a wealthy passenger is found dead in Trent's stateroom, without the famous Chinese diamond he was carrying. Edgar Kennedy plays the police detective investigating the murder, doing a slow burn as Trent, Pete and Mert also find themselves trying to solve the crime. Once docked in San Francisco, the mystery leads the characters to a Chinese opera theater.
Based on Joseph Santley's novel "Murder in a Chinese Theatre."
Healy stooge Dick Hakins plays 'Shorty,' 'Mert's' assistant, and the two engage in several gags lifted from Ted's stooge vaudeville act, including "the three watches."
Healy and Edgar Kennedy have good comedic chemistry, used to better effect one year later when the two co-starred in Warner Brothers' HOLLYWOOD HOTEL.
Avg. Rating: 
[7.00/10]
[7.00/10]
Edmund Lowe
Philip Trent
Elissa Landi
Peter Dean
Zasu Pitts
Mrs. Fay Kinney
Ted Healy
Mert Morgan
Dick Hakins
Shorty
Edmund Gwenn
Williams
Edgar Kennedy
Donovan
Herbert Rawlinson
Capt. Bromley
Russell Hicks
Chief Gibbs
Walter Kingsford
Ben Kelvin
Charles Trowbridge
Doctor
Raymond Hatton
Cokey Joe Ferris
Wilbur Mack
Mayor Howell
Harlan Briggs
Mr. Kinney
Gustav Von Seyffertitz
Hendrick Van Mier
Soo Yong
Li Tai
Richard Loo
Li Yat
Rafaela Ottiano
Ning
King Baggot
Director
Adrian Rosley
Official guide
Chester Gan
Vendor
Sherry Hall
Radio operator
Harry Rapf
Producer
George B. Seitz
Director
Dolph Zimmer
Assistant Director
Joseph Santley
Story
Edgar Allan Woolf
Screenplay
Florence Ryerson
Screenplay
Joe Ruttenberg
Photography
George Boemler
Film Editor
Cedric Gibbons
Art Director
Edwin B. Willis
Associate Art Director
Stanwood Rogers
Associate Art Director
Douglas Shearer
Recording Director
Dolly Tree
Costume Design
William Axt
Original Music
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