Crazy House (1943 film)

Crazy House
Crazy House
	Theatrical poster
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	October 8, 1943 (U.S.); May 22, 1944 (Sweden); July 31, 1950 (Denmark);
Running time	80 min.
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$1 million (US rentals)

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, Cass Daley, Shemp Howard, Edgar Kennedy, Franklin Pangborn, Billy Gilbert, Richard Lane, Andrew Tombes, Chester Clute, and Hans Conried) and guest stars under contract to Universal at the time (Allan Jones, Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, Robert Paige, Leo Carrillo, Johnny Mack Brown, and Andy Devine).

Plot

Two Broadway stars return to Universal Studios to make another movie. The mere mention of Olsen and Johnson's names evacuates the studio and terrorizes the management and personnel. Undaunted, the comedians hire an assistant director and unknown talent, and set out to make their own movie. Financed by an eccentric "angel", the completed feature is set to premiere when angry creditors confiscate most of the film. Olsen and Johnson keep the preview going anyway and their venture is a success; but only because the team gives the president of their former studio a hotfoot to trick him into standing up and "bidding" for the film.

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 Lane as 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.