Any Similarity to Persons Living or Dead Is Purely Coincidental (An Anthology of Comics)
HELLZAPOPPIN' (1941)
Film Pick of the Day
Sunday, August 30, 2026
Universal purchased the film rights to Ole Olsen's and Chic Johnson's Broadway hit HELLZAPOPPIN' (1938 - 1941), an 'anything-goes' revue of non-stop jokes and sight gags... with some minor conditions that included the introduction of musical numbers, a linear storyline, and a romantic subplot. Olsen and Johnson complied, and with the help of screenwriter Nat Perrin, lampooned everything that Universal wanted.
The filmed insanity of HELLZAPOPPIN' is unacceptable to the director (Richard Lane), so Ole and Chic break the fourth wall of reality with the help of projectionist Louie (Shemp Howard), and screen an imaginery film with the requisite studio demands. Louie and his film projector control the goings-on around Ole & Chic, with reality-altering complications provided by his fat, short-tempered girlfriend in the projection booth.
Rich Kitty Rand loves struggling stage producer Jeff Hunter, and Jeff's new high-class production of orchestral music and ballet will premiere at a society affair on her parent's vast estate. Kitty's parents disapprove of Jeff and want her to marry dim-witted playboy Woody Taylor. Jeff's partners Olsen & Johnson bring their inspired insanity to the Rand estate, along with Chic's man-hungry sister Betty (Martha Raye), and Jeff's ballet star Pepi (Mischa Auer), a phony, exiled Russian Prince. Betty's late night pursuit of Pepi launches a series of misunderstandings, leading O&J to conclude that Kitty has fallen for Pepi. The comics decide that Jeff's honor is worth more than the success of the show, so Chic and Ole set out to sabotage the premiere, resulting in... HELLZAPOPPIN'! Throughout it all, zany master-of-disguise PI Quimby (Hugh Herbert) plays the Greek chorus, wandering through scenes with a series of trademark 'hoo hoo's' and nonsensical observations.
Don't worry, none of this is supposed to make sense... it's HELLZAPOPPIN!
Details
Average Rating:   [ 6.50/10 ] 4 votes |
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| Featuring | Shemp Howard (Solo) |
|---|---|
| Release Date | Friday, December 26, 1941 |
| Studio | Universal |
| Production Type | Feature Film |
| Duration | 84 min. |
