''It's in the Bag!'' is a 1945 comedy film featuring Fred Allen in his only starring film role. The film was released by United Artists at a time when Allen was at the peak of his fame as one of the most popular radio comedians. The film has been preserved by UCLA Film & Television Archive.

Characters and story

A flea circus ringmaster (Allen), Fred Floogle, has strange encounters as he searches for his inheritance, hidden in the seat of one of five chairs. The film is loosely based on the comic novel '' The Twelve Chairs'' (1928) of Ilf and Petrov, later filmed by Mel Brooks as '' The Twelve Chairs'' (1970). The team of screenwriters included Jay Dratler, Alma Reville (wife of

Alfred Hitchcock Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English filmmaker. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. In a career spanning six decades, he directed over 50 featur ...

) and Morrie Ryskind. Binnie Barnes plays Mrs. Floogle. Cameo roles are filled by other radio actors who had already, or were beginning to, become known in movies, including

Don Ameche Don Ameche (; born Dominic Felix Amici; May 31, 1908 – December 6, 1993) was an American actor, comedian and vaudevillian. After playing in college shows, stock, and vaudeville, he became a major radio star in the early 1930s, which l ...

, Rudy Vallee,

William Bendix William Bendix (January 14, 1906 – December 14, 1964) was an American film, radio, and television actor, who typically played rough, blue-collar characters. He is best remembered for his role in ''Wake Island'', which earned him an Academy ...

, Jerry Colonna, Robert Benchley, John Carradine, Sidney Toler. For classic radio fans, the highlight of the film will be Floogle's encounter with Jack Benny, who at the time was involved with Allen in their famous 'feud', which ran for over a decade. There is an alternative version of the film where Allen's voice periodically breaks in on the action with wisecracks a la the opening credits. This version obscures some of the on-screen dialogue, including the punchline. This version has aired on AMC.

Cast

* Fred Allen - Fred F. Trumble Floogle * Jack Benny - Jack Benny *

- Don Ameche *

- William Bendix * Victor Moore - Victor Moore * Rudy Vallee - Rudy Vallee * Binnie Barnes - Eve Floogle * Robert Benchley - Parker * Jerry Colonna - Dr. Greengrass - Psychiatrist * John Carradine - Jefferson T. Pike *

Gloria Pope Gloria may refer to: Arts and entertainment Music Christian liturgy and music * Gloria in excelsis Deo, the Greater Doxology, a hymn of praise * Gloria Patri, the Lesser Doxology, a short hymn of praise ** Gloria (Handel) ** Gloria (Jenkins) ...

- Marion Floogle * William Terry - Perry Parker *

Minerva Pious Minerva Pious (March 5, 1903 – March 16, 1979) was an American radio, television and film actress. She was best known as the malaprop-prone Pansy Nussbaum in Fred Allen's famous "Allen's Alley" current-events skits. In his book, ''Treadmill t ...

- Mrs. Pansy Nussbaum * Richard Tyler - Homer Floogle (as Dickie Tyler) * Sidney Toler - Detective Sully * George Cleveland - Busby - Hotel Manager * John Miljan - Mr. Arnold * Ben Welden - Monty - Bookie Uncredited character actors alphabetically: * Johnny Arthur - Finley * Jack Baxley - Minister *

Brooks Benedict Brooks Benedict (born Harold J. Mann, February 6, 1896 – January 1, 1968) was an American actor of the silent and sound film eras, when he played supporting and utility roles in over 300 films, mostly uncredited. Life He was born to Alice Jul ...

- Headwaiter *

Don Brodie Don L. Brodie (May 29, 1904 – January 8, 2001) was an American film and television actor. Early years The son of Mrs. Lottie Brodie, he attended Hughes High School in Cincinnati and the University of Cincinnati. Before becoming a profess ...

- Reporter * Steve Brodie - Usher *

John Brown John Brown most often refers to: *John Brown (abolitionist) (1800–1859), American who led an anti-slavery raid in Harpers Ferry, Virginia in 1859 John Brown or Johnny Brown may also refer to: Academia * John Brown (educator) (1763–1842), Ir ...

- Joe, Nightclub Doorman *

George Chandler George Chandler (June 30, 1898 – June 10, 1985) was an American actor who starred in over 140 feature films, usually in smaller supporting roles, and he is perhaps best known for playing the character of Uncle Petrie Martin on the televi ...

- 1st Elevator Operator * James Conaty - Nightclub Patron * Don Costello - Mickey * Kernan Cripps - Police Turnkey * Mike Donovan - Movie Theatre Patron * Jay Eaton - Jeweler * Bess Flowers - Woman in Elevator, and in Floogle's Penthouse * Byron Foulger - Mr. Teckler * Edward Gargan - Chair Delivery Man * Jack Gargan - Movie Usher * Dick Gordon - Movie Theatre Patron * Frank Hagney - Nightclub Tough in Fight * Harry Harvey - Man in Nightclub Kitchen * Olin Howland - Dr. Greengrass's Doctor * Lloyd Ingraham - Frederick F. Trumble *

Eddie Kane Eddie Kane (August 12, 1889 – April 30, 1969) was an American actor who appeared in over 250 productions from 1928 to 1959. Biography Kane was born in St. Louis, Missouri. His early career was in vaudeville as a member of the two-man te ...

- Tailor *

Kenner G. Kemp Kenner Products, known simply as Kenner, was an American toy company founded in 1946. Throughout its history, the Kenner brand produced several highly recognizable toys and merchandise lines including action figures like the original series of ' ...

- Movie House Patron in Balcony *

Mike Lally Michael F. Lally was a college football player who played for Louisiana State University (LSU). College football Lally was a halfback for the LSU Tigers of the Louisiana State University, a member of the 1908 LSU Tigers football team which went ...

- Movie House Patron, and Cabbie * Rex Lease - Yacht Salesman * Mary Livingstone - Mary Livingstone (voice only) * Wilbur Mack - Nightclub Patron * Chief Many Treaties - Indian Chief * Thomas Martin - Penthouse Guest * Harold Miller - Nightclub Patron, and Wedding Guest *

Bert Moorhouse Bert Moorhouse (sometimes incorrectly billed as Bert Moorehouse) (November 20, 1894 – January 26, 1954) was an American character actor whose career began at the very tail end of the silent era, and lasted through the mid-1950s. Biography Bo ...

- Jeweler / Wedding Guest *

Horace Murphy Horace Murphy (June 3, 1880 – January 20, 1975) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 120 films between 1931 and 1953. Early years Born in Osceola, Arkansas, Murphy was playing cornet by age 11, and six years later led the ...

- Officer *

Forbes Murray ''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine owned by Integrated Whale Media Investments and the Forbes family. Published eight times a year, it features articles on finance, industry, investing, and marketing topics. ''Forbes'' also repo ...

- Elevator Rider * Roger Neury - Waiter *

William H. O'Brien William H. O'Brien was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly. Biography O'Brien was born on June 17, 1871, in Franklin, Kewaunee County, Wisconsin. He would become a teacher and would own and operate a farm in Franklin. Political career O'Br ...

- Nightclub Waiter *

Sarah Padden Sarah Ann Padden (16 October 1881 – 4 December 1967) was an English-born American theatre and film character actress. She performed on stage in the early 20th century. Her best-known single-act performance was in ''The Clod'', a stage pro ...

- Woman in Elevator * Emory Parnell - Mr. Buddoo * Jack Perrin - Policeman * Marshall Reed - Hood in Car * Dewey Robinson - Frogface *

Matty Roubert Matty may refer to: * Matty (name), a list of people and fictional characters with the nickname, given name or surname * Matty, Hungary, a village in Baranya County * Matty Island, a Canadian arctic island * Former name of Wuvulu Island * Matty ...

- Elevator Boy in Theatre * Harry Semels - Chef * Dan Seymour - Fatso * Larry Steers - Nightclub Patron / Wedding Guest * Harry Strang - Diner * Charles Sullivan - Nightclub Tough in Fight * Phil Tead - Ninth National Bank Representative *

Walter Tetley Walter Tetley (born Walter Campbell Tetzlaff; June 2, 1915 – September 4, 1975)DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). ''Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960''. McFarland & Company, Inc. . P. 260. was an ...

- 2nd Elevator Operator * Emmett Vogan - Man in Elevator * Harry von Zell - Phil * Max Wagner - Nightclub Tough in Fight * Dave Willock - Stratosphere Balcony Usher * Marek Windheim - Waiter

Reception

At the time of its release in 1945, Bosley Crowther of ''The New York Times'' wrote that, aside from Mr. Allen's comments on the credits at the beginning of the film, which were superlative spoofing and recommended to everyone, it was a "dizzy, bewildering picture...this rat's nest of nonsense defied the sober description of a comparatively rational mind". A more recent, favorable (3 stars out of 4) review by Leonard Maltin states "Story similar to ''The Twelve Chairs'' with flea-circus promoter Allen entitled to inheritance; plot soon goes out the window in favor of unrelated but amusing episodes, including hilarious encounter between Allen and Benny."

References

External links

* * * * {{The Twelve Chairs 1945 films 1945 comedy films American comedy films Films directed by Richard Wallace Films based on Russian novels Ilf and Petrov American black-and-white films 1940s English-language films 1940s American films