{"id":11967,"date":"2010-08-06T17:51:57","date_gmt":"2010-08-07T00:51:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=11967"},"modified":"2021-01-19T18:23:46","modified_gmt":"2021-01-20T01:23:46","slug":"hellzapoppin-1941","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=11967","title":{"rendered":"Hellzapoppin&#8217; (1941)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;It&#8217;s a picture about a picture about Hellzapoppin.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/Hellzapoppin-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/Hellzapoppin-Poster-196x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-64535\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/Hellzapoppin-Poster-196x300.png 196w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/Hellzapoppin-Poster-668x1024.png 668w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/Hellzapoppin-Poster-83x128.png 83w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/Hellzapoppin-Poster-176x270.png 176w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/Hellzapoppin-Poster.png 723w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 196px) 100vw, 196px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nOle Olsen and Chic Johnson make a movie based on their Broadway play about a love triangle between a poor but proud musician (Robert Paige), his wealthy love interest (Jane Frazee), and her fiance (Lewis Howard).\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Comedy<\/li>\n<li>Elisha Cook Jr. Films<\/li>\n<li>Fantasy<\/li>\n<li>Love Triangle<\/li>\n<li>Musicals<\/li>\n<li>Play Adaptation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nThe comedic team of <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Olsen_and_Johnson\">Ole Olsen and Chic Johnson<\/a> aren&#8217;t nearly as well known as Abbott and Costello or the Marx Brothers, but they possess a small cult following, and merit some attention by film fanatics simply for the uniquely zany sensibility they brought to their work. Their most famous production was the Broadway play <a href=\"http:\/\/ibdb.com\/show.php?id=10069\"><em>Hellzapoppin&#8217;<\/em><\/a>, which ran for over three years (from 1938 to 1941), and was finally turned into this enormously creative cinematic &#8220;adaptation&#8221;.  The original show has been described as &#8220;a demented vaudeville brawl without the Marx brothers&#8221; (ClassicImages.com), and the same can be said about its movie equivalent; indeed, the film&#8217;s opening sequence, taking place in Hell itself, is truly over-the-top, plunging viewers immediately into the mayhem that Olsen and Johnson were infamous for. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/hellzapoppin-hell3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/hellzapoppin-hell3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"476\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11974\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, the narrative itself &#8212; a silly musical about a love triangle, with a subplot involving man-crazy Martha Raye chasing Mischa Auer&#8217;s penniless baron &#8212; is tiresome at best, as is the final extended &#8220;sabotaged ballet&#8221; sequence. However, it&#8217;s what Olsen and Johnson do <em>around<\/em> their narrative that really entertains, as they construct an ongoing meta-commentary about the making of their own film, and break the &#8220;fourth wall&#8221; of cinema again and again &#8212; these moments are consistently inspired (see stills below for just a few examples). In addition, film fanatics are sure to be delighted by numerous cinematic in-jokes, including a nod to <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=42173\"><em>Citizen Kane<\/em><\/a>, a brief Busby Berkeley homage, and a priceless &#8220;cameo&#8221; by Elisha Cook, Jr. These moments alone make <em>Hellzapoppin&#8217;<\/em> must-see viewing at least once. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> Watch for a hint of MST3K inspiration (was it?) as Olsen and Johnson sit with their backs to the camera, commenting as they watch themselves on-screen.  <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Creative cinematic &#8220;trickery&#8221;<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/hellzapoppin-trickery4.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/hellzapoppin-trickery4.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"476\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11978\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/hellzapoppin-trickery2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/hellzapoppin-trickery2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"476\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11979\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/hellzapoppin-trickery1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/hellzapoppin-trickery1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"476\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-12010\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Several fun cinematic &#8220;homages&#8221;<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/hellzapoppin-rosebud.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/hellzapoppin-rosebud.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"476\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11975\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/hellzapoppin-busby.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/hellzapoppin-busby.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"476\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11976\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>The surreal opening sequence in Hell<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/hellzapoppin-hell2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/hellzapoppin-hell2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"476\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11973\" \/><\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li>Droll dialogue:<br \/>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Director<\/strong>: Now look, Selby, you seem like a bright young man &#8211; how old are you?<br \/>\n<strong>Selby<\/strong>: Twenty-three.<br \/>\n<strong>Director<\/strong>: Twenty-three. Well that&#8217;s a peak age. Uncle Sam needs young men like you. I assume you&#8217;re ambitious?<br \/>\n<strong>Selby<\/strong>: Oh, yes!<br \/>\n<strong>Director<\/strong>: That&#8217;s fine. What would you like to be?<br \/>\n<strong>Selby<\/strong>: 29.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, as Ole and Johnson&#8217;s finest cinematic achievement, and a cult favorite. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cult Movie<\/li>\n<li>Historically Relevant<\/li>\n<\/ul\n\n<strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0033704\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/fantasticmoviemusings.com\/2015\/06\/28\/hellzapoppin-1941\/\">SciFilm Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1941\/12\/26\/archives\/hellzapoppin-makes-its-film-appearance-at-the-rivoli-youre-in-the.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.timeout.com\/film\/reviews\/71927\/hellzapoppin.html\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a picture about a picture about Hellzapoppin.&#8221; Synopsis: Ole Olsen and Chic Johnson make a movie based on their Broadway play about a love triangle between a poor but proud musician (Robert Paige), his wealthy love interest (Jane Frazee), and her fiance (Lewis Howard). Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Comedy Elisha Cook Jr. Films Fantasy Love Triangle Musicals Play Adaptation Review: The comedic team of Ole Olsen and Chic Johnson aren&#8217;t nearly as well known as Abbott and Costello&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=11967\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11967","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11967","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11967"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11967\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":64539,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11967\/revisions\/64539"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11967"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11967"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11967"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}