Crazy House (1943 film)
Crazy House | |
---|---|
Directed by | Edward F. Cline |
Written by | Robert Lees Frederic I. Rinaldo |
Produced by | Erle C. Kenton |
Starring | Ole Olsen Chic Johnson Cass Daley |
Cinematography | Charles Van Enger |
Edited by | Arthur Hilton |
Music by | George Hale |
Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release dates |
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Running time | 80 min. |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Box office | $1 million (US rentals)[1] |
Crazy House is a 1943 comedy film starring Ole Olsen and Chic Johnson.
Crazy House is notable for its impressive cast of supporting comedians (Percy Kilbride,
Plot
Two
Cast
- Ole Olsen as himself
- Chic Johnson as himself
- Cass Daley as herself and her stand-in, Sadie Silverfish
- Martha O'Driscoll as Marjorie Nelson, alias Marjorie Wyndingham
- Patric Knowles as Edmund "Mac" MacLean
- Percy Kilbride as Col. Cornelius Merriweather
- Hans Conried as Roco, set designer
- Leighton Noble as himself, bandleader
- Richard Laneas Hanley, production broker
- Thomas Gomez as N. G. Wagstaff, Universal executive
- Billy Gilbert as Sid Drake, offering camera rentals
- Edgar Kennedy as Judge
- Andrew Tombes as Horace L. Gregory, offering laboratory services
- Chester Clute as Mr. Fud, offering costume rentals
- Franklin Pangborn as hotel clerk
- Shemp Howard as Mumbo
- Fred Sanborn as Jumbo
- Joseph Crehan as Wagstaff's doctor
- Count Basie Orchestra with Jimmy Rushing and Thelma Carpenter
- The Delta Rhythm Boys
- Ray Walker as radio host at drive-in
- James Dime as dead end character[2]
- Cameo appearances by Allan Jones, Leo Carrillo, Andy Devine, Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Johnny Mack Brown, Robert Paige, Ramsay Ames
Reception
Crazy House was the first of three Olsen & Johnson vehicles following up the success of their 1941 film Hellzapoppin'. The team's wild style of comedy had always been a matter of taste, more for "plain folks" than sophisticates, and contemporary exhibitor reports ran the gamut: "Just made for small towns. Some people said it was the best picture we had shown in months." (F. R. Crist, Crist Theatre, Loveland, Ohio.)[3] "These boys are not appreciated here. However, it was played to average business and drew many laughs from those who came in." (C. A. Smith, Regent Theatre, Chapleau, Ontario.)[4] "This picture is just what the name implies. We did below average business and I received no favorable comments from my patrons." (Charles A. Brooks, Ritz Theatre, Marshfield, Missouri.)[5] "This is the first Olsen and Johnson I've ever played and it's the last. This feature is terrible." (O. E. Simon, Roxy Theatre, Menno, South Dakota.)[6]
The film did well in first-run engagements, grossing more than one million dollars. However, the high budget cut into the profit margin, so Universal economized on Olsen & Johnson's next two features, Ghost Catchers and See My Lawyer.[7]
References
- ^ "Top Grossers of the Season", Variety, January 5, 1944, p. 54
- ^ "James Dime". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
- ^ Motion Picture Herald, December 25, 1943, p. 55.
- ^ Motion Picture Herald, March 14, 1944, p. 82.
- ^ Motion Picture Herald, May 27, 1944, p. 58.
- ^ Motion Picture Herald, December 25, 1943, p. 70.
- ^ Scott MacGillivray and Jan MacGillivray, Gloria Jean: A Little Bit of Heaven, iUniverse, Bloomington, IN, 2005, p. 146. ISBN 978-0-595-67454-1.
External links
- Crazy House at the American Film Institute Catalog
- Crazy House at IMDb
- Crazy House at AllMovie
- Crazy House at the TCM Movie Database