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ALWAYS LEAVE THEM LAUGHING

Air Date/Released Saturday, November 26, 1949
Station/Studio Warner Brothers

Rising comic Kip Cooper (Milton Berle) becomes ruthless in his quest for stardom, not thinking twice about stepping on coworkers and friends, and stealing material from other comedians to achieve his goal. When legendary clown Eddie Eagan (Bert Lahr) becomes seriously ill, will his advice to Kip be ignored or taken to heart?

When Kip visits Eddie in the hospital, Eddie reminisces about all the comedy greats that have passed on, including W. C. Fields, Ted Healy and Willie Howard.


In real life, Milton Berle considered Ted Healy his idol. One of the country's most popular TV stars as this film was being made, Berle had a say in its production, hence the reference to Healy.

Cast: Milton Berle (Kipling 'Kip' Cooper), Bert Lahr (Eddie Eagen), Virginia Mayo (Nancy Eagen), Ruth Roman (Fay Washburn), Alan Hale (Sam Washburn), Grace Hayes (Mrs. Gracie Kennedy Washburn), Jerome Cowan (Elliott Montgomery), Lloyd Gough (Monte Wilson), Ransom M. Sherman (Henry 'Hank' Richards), Iris Adrian (Julie Adams), Wally Vernon (Wally Vernon), Iphigenie Castiglioni (Madame Rosee), Marian Colby (Ethel), Bill McLean (Phil), Sid Melton (Harry, Clurman's janitor), Charles Meredith (Dr. Finley), Milton Parsons (Tony, dishwasher), Harry Tyler (Oswald, dishwasher), Danny Rogers (Joe), Julius Tannen (Mr. H. Clurman), Cecil Stewart & His Royal Rogues, O'Donnell & Blair, The Moroccans (Specialty acts), Arabella (Strippers), Mary Castle, Lorraine Crawford, Lynn Davis, Flo Farmer, Nita Talbot, Alice Wallace (Showgirls), Carmen Clifford, Lonnie Pierce, Camille Williams, Phyllis Young (Chorines), Jeanne Determann (Elsa in show), Duke Johnson (Juggler), Howard Negley (Police Captain in show), Eddie Parks (Irish tenor), William Reeves (Gregario in show), Raymond Roe (Young comic), Max Showalter (Comet Pen Salesman), Murray Alper, Leo Sulky (New Haven electricians), George Bruggeman (Electrician), Edward Biby (Smoker), Leonard Bremen, Michael Ross (Tough guys), Karl 'Killer' Davis, Ben Jade, Sammy Menacker (Bouncers), Kit Guard, Sid Kane, Robert R. Stephenson (Canal Street Boys Club hecklers), Creighton Hale (Hotel Clerk), Edwin Max (Newark Stage Manager), Al Hill (Newark Assistant Stage Manager), Mike Lally (New Haven Stage Manager), Stuart Holmes (Subject of Kip's bald jokes), Charles Kisco (Piano player), Al Lackey (Passenger), Frank Marlowe (Photographer), Sam McDaniel, Emmett Smith (Porters), Francis McDonald (Wounded messenger in Newark musical), Art Miles (Owner), George Offerman Jr., Rod Rogers (Elevator boys), Paul Panzer, Lottie Williams (Newark audience extras), Joe Ploski (Clurman waiter), Larry Rio (Waiter), Ralph Sanford (Entertainment chairman), Frank J. Scannell (Photographer), Bert Stevens, Nick Stuart (Men in audience), Mark Strong (Station agent), Garrett Craig, Richard Avonde, Eileen Howe, Robert H. Purcell, Claudette Thornton

Crew: Roy Del Ruth (Director), Jerry Wald (Producer), Max Shulman, Richard Mealand (Story), Melville Shavelson, Jack Rose (Screenplay), Arnold Horwitt, Sylvia Rosales (Sketches), Ernest Haller (Director of Photography), Clarence Kolster (Film Editor)
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