Behind The Eight Ball (film)
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''Behind the Eight Ball'' is a 1942 American
comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...
directed by Edward F. Cline and written by Stanley Roberts and Mel Ronson. The film stars
Al Ritz Al Ritz (born Albert "Al" Joachim; August 27, 1901 – December 22, 1965), was an American comedian, actor and entertainer. Ritz was the oldest of the Ritz Brothers. Early life Ritz was born Albert Joachim on August 27, 1901, in Newark, N ...
,
Jimmy Ritz Jimmy Ritz (born Samuel Joachim; October 4, 1904 – November 17, 1985), was an American comedian and actor. He was also the second Ritz Brother. Early life Ritz was born Samuel Joachim to parents Max (December 1871 – January 4, 1939) a ...
,
Harry Ritz Harry Ritz (born Harry Joachim; May 22, 1907 – March 29, 1986), was an American comedian and actor. He was the youngest of the Ritz Brothers. Early life Ritz was born Harry Joachim on May 28, 1907, in Newark, New Jersey. He was born the ...
,
Carol Bruce Carol Bruce (born Shirley Levy; November 15, 1919 – October 9, 2007) was an American band singer, Broadway star, and film and television actress. Early years Bruce was born Shirley Levy in a Jewish family, in Manhattan, to Beatrice and Har ...
,
Dick Foran John Nicholas "Dick" Foran (June 18, 1910 – August 10, 1979) was an American actor, known for his performances in Western musicals and for playing supporting roles in dramatic pictures. Early years Foran was born in Flemington, New Jers ...
,
Grace McDonald Grace McDonald Green (June 15, 1918 – October 30, 1999) was an American actress who appeared in films in the early 1940s, mostly B movies. Born in New York City, she and her brother Ray McDonald had their Broadway debut in 1937 in ''Babes in ...
,
Johnny Downs John Morey Downs (October 10, 1913 – June 6, 1994) was an American child actor, singer, and dancer. He began his career as a child actor, most notably playing Johnny in the ''Our Gang'' short series from 1923 to 1926. He remained active ...
and
William Demarest Carl William Demarest (February 27, 1892 – December 27, 1983) was an American character actor, known especially for his roles in screwball comedies by Preston Sturges and for playing Uncle Charley in the sitcom ''My Three Sons'' Demarest, w ...
. The film was released on December 4, 1942, by
Universal Pictures Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Ameri ...
.


Plot

A summer stock theatre is plagued by a series of backstage murders and sabotage. When the latest group to play there arrives and is informed of the situation, the least talented members of the troupe, The Ritz Brothers, are promoted to headliners under the reasoning that they are the most expendable. Detective Demarest is tasked with investigating the murders, but is frequently hindered by The Ritz Brothers. The Ritz Brothers become heroes upon their discovery of a secret room backstage that is being used as an Axis radio room. Upon this victory, The Ritz Brothers finally make headlines as a result of their own efforts.


Cast

*
Al Ritz Al Ritz (born Albert "Al" Joachim; August 27, 1901 – December 22, 1965), was an American comedian, actor and entertainer. Ritz was the oldest of the Ritz Brothers. Early life Ritz was born Albert Joachim on August 27, 1901, in Newark, N ...
as Al Jester *
Jimmy Ritz Jimmy Ritz (born Samuel Joachim; October 4, 1904 – November 17, 1985), was an American comedian and actor. He was also the second Ritz Brother. Early life Ritz was born Samuel Joachim to parents Max (December 1871 – January 4, 1939) a ...
as Jimmy Jester *
Harry Ritz Harry Ritz (born Harry Joachim; May 22, 1907 – March 29, 1986), was an American comedian and actor. He was the youngest of the Ritz Brothers. Early life Ritz was born Harry Joachim on May 28, 1907, in Newark, New Jersey. He was born the ...
as Harry Jester *
Carol Bruce Carol Bruce (born Shirley Levy; November 15, 1919 – October 9, 2007) was an American band singer, Broadway star, and film and television actress. Early years Bruce was born Shirley Levy in a Jewish family, in Manhattan, to Beatrice and Har ...
as Joan Barry *
Dick Foran John Nicholas "Dick" Foran (June 18, 1910 – August 10, 1979) was an American actor, known for his performances in Western musicals and for playing supporting roles in dramatic pictures. Early years Foran was born in Flemington, New Jers ...
as Bill Edwards *
Grace McDonald Grace McDonald Green (June 15, 1918 – October 30, 1999) was an American actress who appeared in films in the early 1940s, mostly B movies. Born in New York City, she and her brother Ray McDonald had their Broadway debut in 1937 in ''Babes in ...
as Babs *
Johnny Downs John Morey Downs (October 10, 1913 – June 6, 1994) was an American child actor, singer, and dancer. He began his career as a child actor, most notably playing Johnny in the ''Our Gang'' short series from 1923 to 1926. He remained active ...
as Danny *
William Demarest Carl William Demarest (February 27, 1892 – December 27, 1983) was an American character actor, known especially for his roles in screwball comedies by Preston Sturges and for playing Uncle Charley in the sitcom ''My Three Sons'' Demarest, w ...
as McKenzie * Richard Davies as Clay Martin *
Russell Hicks Edward Russell Hicks (June 4, 1895 – June 1, 1957) was an American film character actor. Hicks was born in 1895 in Baltimore, Maryland. During World War I, he served in the U.S. Army in France. He later became a lieutenant Colonel in the Cali ...
as Harry B. Kemp *
Vinton Hayworth Vinton Hayworth (June 4, 1906 – May 21, 1970), also known as Jack Arnold and Vincent Haworth,Although some sources cite Vinton Hayworth's real surname as Haworthwhich clearly shows the surname as Hayworth. The genealogy site indicates that his ...
as Bobby Leonard *
Sonny Dunham Elmer "Sonny" Dunham (November 16, 1911 – July 9, 1990) was an American trumpet player and bandleader. A versatile musician, he was one of the few trumpet players who could double on the trombone with equal skill. Biography Born in Brockton, ...
as Orchestra Leader


References


External links

* {{Edward F. Cline 1942 films American comedy films 1942 comedy films Universal Pictures films Films directed by Edward F. Cline American black-and-white films 1940s English-language films 1940s American films