United Artists
Directed by Alfred E. Green
My rating: 2 stars out of 4
IMDb
(Turner Classic Movies)
This is literally a filmed play, although there is no audience reaction, so it was probably in an empty theater. As a result, it is very un-cinematic: there is no plot, no editing to speak of, the lines are delivered loudly, etc. Nonetheless, it does have some funny bits. Phil Silvers is fictional television comedian Jerry Biffle, trying to put together a show. His cast consists of old burlesque and vaudeville veterans, and it is their routines that give the film whatever life it has. Johnny Trama, billed as the "Little Man", has a crazy routine where he "sticks" to Silvers, it absolutely had me in stitches. Otherwise, it's mostly one-liners accompanied by rim shots and cymbal crashes, in the best burlesque tradition. Songs by Johnny Mercer have a way of staying with you, particularly the title song.
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