The only other Olsen and Johnson movie I have seen (HELLZAPOPPIN) was a radically different film from ALL OVER TOWN. HELLZAPOPPIN was a wild free-for-all and I was once again hoping this would be the case. So wild, it made Marx Brothers films such as DUCK SOUP seem very normal! However, up until the final ten minutes, ALL OVER TOWN was an amazingly conventional film--something that made it a bit of a disappointment. I wanted to see the crazy and rapid-fire antics!
The film starts with Olsen and Johnson coaching their pet seal to play the horn as well as trying to hide the beast from their land lady. However, through a strange set of coincidences, everyone thinks that they are millionaires who are financing a Broadway show. However, the boys DON'T know this and are shocked to find out what others are thinking. When the truth is revealed, it's a bit of a flat moment in the film, though it didn't last, as shortly after this there's a murder and the film unexpectedly becomes a whodunnit--with these two idiots in charge of finding out the truth.
Up to this point so far, the film was not particularly interesting or inspired. To make things worse, much of Johnson's screen persona was annoying--laughing and laughing and laughing for absolutely no reason. It was grating and I frankly wanted the film to end. However, near the very end, the film degenerated into a silly free-for-all--and improved as a result! Now this was NOT brilliant film making, but at least it finally made me laugh. But, since it took so long for the film to stop being so gosh-darn conventional, I give it a score of 6--indicating for the average person it's a decent time-passer. By the way, aside from the horrible laugh, this film is highly reminiscent of an Abbott and Costello film in style--even though Bud and Lou had yet to make a film.
By the way, if you do want to see HELLZAPOPPIN, it's practically impossible to find in the US due to some sort of legal technicalities.
The film starts with Olsen and Johnson coaching their pet seal to play the horn as well as trying to hide the beast from their land lady. However, through a strange set of coincidences, everyone thinks that they are millionaires who are financing a Broadway show. However, the boys DON'T know this and are shocked to find out what others are thinking. When the truth is revealed, it's a bit of a flat moment in the film, though it didn't last, as shortly after this there's a murder and the film unexpectedly becomes a whodunnit--with these two idiots in charge of finding out the truth.
Up to this point so far, the film was not particularly interesting or inspired. To make things worse, much of Johnson's screen persona was annoying--laughing and laughing and laughing for absolutely no reason. It was grating and I frankly wanted the film to end. However, near the very end, the film degenerated into a silly free-for-all--and improved as a result! Now this was NOT brilliant film making, but at least it finally made me laugh. But, since it took so long for the film to stop being so gosh-darn conventional, I give it a score of 6--indicating for the average person it's a decent time-passer. By the way, aside from the horrible laugh, this film is highly reminiscent of an Abbott and Costello film in style--even though Bud and Lou had yet to make a film.
By the way, if you do want to see HELLZAPOPPIN, it's practically impossible to find in the US due to some sort of legal technicalities.