''Down Memory Lane'' is a 1949 Hollywood

compilation film A compilation film, or compilation movie is a film composed of scenes and shots taken from two or more prior films and edited together so as to make a new film, whether on the same or a different subject. The most common example would be a docum ...

of silent and sound comedies from the library of pioneer producer

Mack Sennett Mack Sennett (born Michael Sinnott; January 17, 1880 – November 5, 1960) was a Canadian-American film actor, director, and producer, and studio head, known as the 'King of Comedy'. Born in Danville, Quebec, in 1880, he started in films in the ...

. Phil Karlson directed the film, with

Steve Allen Stephen Valentine Patrick William Allen (December 26, 1921 – October 30, 2000) was an American television personality, radio personality, musician, composer, actor, comedian, and writer. In 1954, he achieved national fame as the co-cre ...

writing the screenplay and appearing on screen as himself.

Production

Phil Karlson had just made a film for Eagle-Lion, ''The Big Cat'', when asked to direct ''Down Memory Lane''. He said someone from Eagle-Lion had the idea to make a film using all of

's old material including Bing Crosby and

W.C. Fields WC or wc may refer to: * Water closet or flush toilet Arts and entertainment * ''W.C.'' (film), an Irish feature film * WC (band), a Polish punk rock band * WC (rapper), a rapper from Los Angeles, California * Westside Connection, former ...

.Todd McCarthy and Richard Thompson. “Phil Karlson: Interview, November 19, 1973” Kings of the Bs; Working Within the Hollywood System, eds. Todd McCarthy and Charles Flynn (New York: E.P. Dutton, 1975), pp. 327-345. Rpt. Cine Resort, Oct. 7 2014
/ref> Karlson, who enjoyed the late-night disc jockey

, approached him to work on the project. Steve Allen remembered the film in his first memoir: “ 'Down Memory Lane''afforded me the unusual opportunity of working with

and

Franklin Pangborn Franklin Pangborn (January 23, 1889 – July 20, 1958) was an American comedic character actor famous for playing small but memorable roles with comic flair. He appeared in many Preston Sturges movies as well as the W. C. Fields films '' Interna ...

, two real experts in the field of comedy. t was aninteresting assignment because I was given the opportunity to write the screenplay. This was not as weighty a matter as it sounds, however, since most of the picture consisted of ancient Mack Sennett film footage and the scenario ran to only sixteen pages. I also must admit that, although there were a few hilarious moments scattered here and there, it was rather a mess when patched together.”'' Given the rushed shooting schedule (only two days), the "mess" Allen described was really deliberate. Allen fashioned the premise of a TV personality (Allen himself) reviving old Sennett comedies on his live program, only to have everything go wrong: the films arriving late and being shown in random order, with silent footage interrupted by sound footage; hastily improvised musical accompaniment; guest speaker Mack Sennett not showing up on time; and Allen's irate boss (played by Frank Nelson) objecting to the chaotic proceedings. Allen's loose framework fit the patchwork pattern of the old clips. Critical reviews were respectful of the old film clips and welcomed newcomer Allen to the screen. In

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

, Australia, the film was double billed with '' Tokyo File 212''."Newcatle Theatre Reviews"
''

The Newcastle Sun ''The Newcastle Sun'' was a newspaper published in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. It had previously been published as ''The Northern Times''. History ''The Northern Times'' was first published in 1916. In 1918 the ''Times'' was purchase ...

''. November 30, 1951. p. 10. Retrieved May 17, 2015 – via

Trove Trove is an Australian online library database owned by the National Library of Australia in which it holds partnerships with source providers National and State Libraries Australia, an aggregator and service which includes full text documen ...

Cast

(new footage) * Bing Crosby (archive footage) *

(archive footage) *

(new/archive footage) * Frank Nelson (new footage) *

Ben Turpin Bernard "Ben" Turpin (September 19, 1869 – July 1, 1940) was an American comedian and actor, best remembered for his work in silent films. His trademarks were his cross-eyed appearance and adeptness at vigorous physical comedy. Turpin wo ...

(archive footage) * Irving Bacon (archive footage) *

Donald Novis Donald George Novis (3 March 1906 – 23 July 1966) was an English-born American actor and tenor. Early life Novis was born on 3 March 1906 in Hastings, Sussex to Frederick George Novis and Charlotte Morris.California County Marriages, 1850-19 ...

(archive footage) *

(new/archive footage) * James Finlayson (archive footage) *

Marjorie Kane Marjorie Kane (April 28, 1909 – January 8, 1992) was an American film and stage actress born in Chicago. She appeared in more than 60 films between 1929 and 1951, occasionally under the name Babe Kane. Career Kane appeared on stage for 11 ...

(archive footage) * Mabel Normand (archive footage) *

Dorothy Granger Dorothy Karolyn Granger (November 21, 1911 – January 4, 1995) was an American actress best known for her roles in short subject comedies in Hollywood. Career Granger, with her parents, two brothers, Richard and James, and their grandmot ...

(archive footage) * Yvonne Peattie (new footage) *

Bud Jamison William Edward "Bud" Jamison (February 15, 1894 – September 30, 1944)Okuda, Ted, and Edward Watz. 1999. The Columbia Comedy Shorts: Two-reel Hollywood Film Comedies 1933–1958'. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland. . was an American film actor. ...

(archive footage) *

Charles Murray Charles Murray may refer to: Politicians *Charles Murray, 1st Earl of Dunmore (1661–1710), British peer *Charles Murray (author and diplomat) (1806–1895), British author and diplomat *Charles Murray, 7th Earl of Dunmore (1841–1907), Scotti ...

(archive footage) *

Billy Bletcher William Bletcher (September 24, 1894 – January 5, 1979) was an American actor. He was known for voice roles for various classic animated characters, most notably Pete in Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse short films and the Big Bad Wolf in Disne ...

(archive footage) *

Mack Swain Mack Swain (born Moroni Swain; February 16, 1876 – August 25, 1935) was an early American film actor, who appeared in many of Mack Sennett’s comedies at Keystone Studios, including the Keystone Cops series. He also appeared in major fea ...

(archive footage) *

Gloria Swanson Gloria May Josephine Swanson (March 27, 1899April 4, 1983) was an American actress and producer. She first achieved fame acting in dozens of silent films in the 1920s and was nominated three times for the Academy Award for Best Actress, most f ...

(archive footage) *

Elise Cavanna Elise Alyse Cavanna (January 30, 1902 – May 12, 1963) was an American film actress, stage comedian, dancer, and fine artist. She went by the following names: Elise Seeds, Alyse Seeds, Elise Armitage, Elise Cavanna, and Elise Welton. Stage an ...

(archive footage) * Florine McKinney (archive footage) *

Marvin Loback Marvin Loback (November 21, 1896 – August 18, 1938) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 110 films between 1916 and 1935. He was born in Tacoma, Washington and died in Los Angeles, California. Selected filmography * '' Fo ...

(archive footage) *

Toby Wing Toby Wing (born Martha Virginia Wing, July 14, 1915 – March 22, 2001), "Toby" being an old family nickname, was an American actress and showgirl, once called "the most beautiful chorus girl in Hollywood". Early years Wing was born in Am ...

(archive footage) *

Phyllis Haver Phyllis Maude Haver (January 6, 1899 – November 19, 1960) was an American actress of the silent film era. Early life Haver was born in Douglass, Kansas to James Hiram Haver (1872–1936) and Minnie Shanks Malone (1879–1949). When s ...

(archive footage) * Harry Bowen (archive footage) * Charles Gemora (archive footage) * Renny McEvoy (archive footage) * Thelma Hill (archive footage) * Jo Ann Joyce (new footage) * Rowland McCracken (new footage)

External links

References

{{Phil Karlson 1949 films Compilation films American black-and-white films 1949 comedy films American comedy films Films directed by Phil Karlson 1940s American films