It's in the Bag! (United Artists) (1945)

Mystery Hit Suggested Allen Comedy Theme Origin of Fred Allen’s comedy sensation, “It’s In The Bag,” his first film in four years, stems from one of those amazing cinematic coincidences of more than two seasons ago. Allen, the humorist, had wit¬ nessed a running of that masterly- melodrama, “Shadow Of A Doubt,” directed by Alfred Hitchcock and produced by Jack H. Skirball. He was intrigued, and he called for i; an interview with the producer, ft Skirball obliged gladly, and in the ensuing conference Allen said he would like to make another pic¬ ture, some time, if he could be as¬ sured if would have the same high quality of entertainment — in a comedy way—that “Shadow Of A offered in its melodramatic leased by United Artists, “Ifs In The Bag” boasts a real galaxy of stars, in addition to Allen, includ¬ ing Don Ameche, Binnie Barnes, Robert Benchley, William Bendix, Jack Benny, John Carradine, Jerry Colonna, Victor Moore, William Terry, Sidney Toler and Rudy Val- lee. k Doubt” < 1 way. S “Fred Terry Climbs Ladder To Hollywood Fame William Terry who has been steadily climbing the ladder of Hollywood fame goes up a couple of extra rungs in a boost received for his exceptional acting job in Fred Allen’s starrer, “It’s In The Bag,” coming to the . Thea¬ tre on . through United Artists release. u Terry pre-viously established a ^ reputation for his perform- ^ ® .j “Stage Door Canteen,” and “3’s A Family.” The young actor lends his top- notch support to such stars as Jack Benny, Don Ameche, Binnie Barnes, William Bendix, Robert Benchley, Jerry Colonna, Victor Moore, Sidney Toler and Rudy Vallee in the Jack H. Skirball pro¬ duction. Fred asked my advice,” said S'Jdrball, “and I told him he {joouldn’t go wrong if he reserved for himself full approval of his own producer, and director. He asked me if I would produce a pic- with him under those conditions. I said yes, and we made a deal.” That was the beginning of “It’s In The Bag,” coming to the through United Artists release, now hailed by critics as Allen’s greatest entertainment, and one of the finest and funniest comedies to come out of Hollywood. Actual production began two years later, after many months of planning and writing to obtain a precision-plot, and under direction of Richard Wallace. Elaborately produced, and re- All-Star Array Great In 'It's In The Bag" A roster of stars which reads like the “Who’s Who” of screen and radio was assembled by Producer Jack H. Skirball to surround Fred Allen in the latter’s new comedy extrava¬ ganza, “It’s In The Bag,” coming to the.Theatre on .through United Artists release. This all-star array, alphabet!- _ callv arranged, includes Don Am'^che, Binnie Barnes, Robert Benchley, William Bendix, Jack Benny, John Carradine, Jerry Co- lonra, Victor Moore, William Ter¬ ry, Sidney Toler and Rudy Vallee. In his last picture, four years ago, Allen was co-starred with his traditional adversary. Jack Benny. In “It’s In The Bag,” they resume their feud during one amazing and amusing sequence in which Benny plays himself, and Allen poses as president of a Jack Benny Fan Club. Benny plays the tight-wad in these scenes, and takes a ruth¬ less ribbing. Most of the story conflict, how¬ ever, centers on Allen and Bench- ley, who portray respectively the impresario of a flea circus, and a professional insect exterminator. Benchley’s son, enacted by Terry, and Allen’s daughter, played by Gloria Pope, a newcomer, pro-vide the romantic interest, further complicating the rivalry between the fathers. “It’s In The Bag” was especially tailored for the radio star by a large staff of scenarists, headed by Screen and Playwright Morrie Ryskind, with Allen himself sitting in on the script conferences. It’s a characteristic Allen vehicle, and those who enjoy the comedian on the air will get an added bang out of him in the picture. The illustrious performers who share billing with Allen in “It’s In The Bag” are superbly cast, with emphasis on the laughs, and plenty of plot interest to carry suspense. Miss Barnes romps through the film as Allen’s wife; Bendix heads a band of gangsters with whom Fred gets involved over an inheritance; Carradine is a colorful shyster who adds to the comic menace; Colonna plays a psychiatrist retained by Binnie to help straighten out the Allen fam¬ ily’s troubles, and Toler, departing from his conventional Charlie Chan characterizations, enacts the role of a police inspector who shad¬ ows Fred throughout one difficulty after another. In one spectacular- sequence of the picture, Ameche, Moore, Vallee and Allen are spot¬ lighted as a quartette of singing waiters in a night-club. Producer Skirball, who rounded up this stellar aggregation for his inaugural United Artists produc¬ tion, is a foremost independent moviemaker, last remembered for his association with Director Al¬ fred Hitchcock in the making of “Shadow Of A Doubt.” A sugges¬ tion of the famed Hitchcock sus¬ pense formula was captured in “It’s In The Bag,” something un¬ precedented in movie comedies. The great mystery—comedy was directed by Richard Wallace who is best remembered for his work on such hits as “A Night To Re¬ member,” “Bombadier,” “Fallen Sparrow,” and “My Kingdom For a Cook.” The screenplay was written by Jay Dratler and Alma Reville from a screen treatment by Lewis R. Foster and Fred Allen. Comic Fred Allen and family consisting of Carol Pope, Binnie Barnes and Dickie Tyler register proper amazement on discovering they have inherited millions in the Jack Skirball comedy riot, “It’s In The Bag,” now at the . Theatre through United Artists release. Allen is the star of the comedy which includes such funny men as Jack Benny, Don Ameche, William Bendix, Victor Moore and Rudy Vallee. 6B—2 Col. Scene (.30) . . . His Weight In Bendix! Fred Allen, in one of many amusing sequences in his current film comedy hit, “It’s In The Bag,” actually carries William Bendix on his back for a full city block, although Allen weighs only 165 pounds to Bendix’ 245. The hilarious episode results when Allen becomes involved with a band of gangsters headed by William Bendix. The funfest, a Jack Skirball production, will be seen at the.Theatre on.through United Art¬ ists release. Newcomers Seen In Allen Fun Fest - Hollywood’s constant search for new talent occasionally veers away from routine and a newcomer lands at the top without the traditional preliminary “build-up,” minor roles and such. A recent exception which contradicted all the rules, was the casting of youthful Gloria Pope for a conspicuous part in Fred Allen’s “It’s In The Bag.” Gloria was handed the role of Fred’s blossoming daughter in the new comedy sensation coming on . to the . Theatre through United Artists release. “It’s In The Bag” is Gloria’s first picture. Producer Jack H. Skirball, director Richard Wallace and Allen himself selected her from a collection of Hollywood’s most glamorous and talented candidates. Her assignment was and still is one of Hollywood’s chief topics of discussion. Advance reports on the picture indicate that Miss Pope probably surpassed the expecta¬ tions of her discoverers. Seen with the newcomer in the Allen comedy are such topflight stars as Jack Benny, Don Ameche, William Bendix, Victor Moore and Rudy Vallee. Binnie Barnes, Rob- •ert Benchley, Jerry Colonna and others are in the comical produc¬ tion. Radio, Stage Stars Guest Comedy Hit Psychiatrist Jerry Colonna uses his own peculiar methods to get infor¬ mation from Dickie Tyler while father Fred Allen and mother Binnie Barnes sit anxiously by. This funny foursome are part of the great comedy cast assembled by Jack Skirball for the hit funfilm “It’s In The Bag,” now playing at the.Theatre through United Artists release. 7B —2 Col. Scene (.30) Baggy Eyes 'Must" For Comedy “Do you have bags under your eyes ?” This query, posed by Hollywood’s Central Casting Bureau to several hundred prospective actors created a veritable furore recently in movieland. The casting agents were round--^- ing up a queue of nondescript characters to appear with Fred Allen in the Jack H. Skirball com¬ edy sensation, “It’s In The Bag,” coming to the . Thea¬ tre on.through United Artists release, and it was neces¬ sary that the players have sacks under their eyes to match Allen’s famous “satchels.” Many of those queried reacted indignantly, and others were merely amused. One actor said he didn’t have any bags at the mo¬ ment, but would have “a pair of dandies” come shooting time on the set Upwards of 100 assorted actors, with “baggy glimmers” were even¬ tually rounded up for the required sequence, which is one of many hilarious episodes of “It’s In The Bag,” the season’s outstanding comedy, and one of the funniest films to come out of Hollywood. In this United Artists picture, Allen is surrounded by an all-star cast which includes Don Ameche, Binnie Barnes, Robert Benchley, William Bendix, Jack Benny, John Carradine, Jerry Colonna, Victor Moore, William Terry, Sidney To¬ ler and Rudy Vallee. One of the high points of the film is the resumption of the hilar¬ ious Jack Benny—Fred Allen feud. In this case Fred pretends to be the president of the Jack Benny Fan Club and Benny plays himself. The fur really flies when the two top comics come to verbal blows. “It’s Tn The Bag” was directed by Richard Wallace from a screen¬ play by Jay Dratler and Alma Reville. Fred Allen’s latest screen com- edv, “It’s In The Bag,” a United Agists release, opens ^ appears with him in the film, at rhe . Thf^atrp. An- tt oi^:^ Star Satisfies Life Ambition Fred Allen, regarded by un¬ counted millions of radio listeners as the greatest comedian of them all, realizes several of his many ambitions in “It’s In The Bag,” his new funfilm which comes . to the . Theatre through United Artists release. Fred always wanted to operate a flea circus. He is a flea circus proprietor in “It’s In The Bag.” He always wanted to inherit a for¬ tune. He snags $12,000,000 in the picture, only to discover it has dwindled down to a set of five chairs. He has always wanted a swank pent-house apartment. You should see the one he gets on the screen in “It’s In The Bag.” Another one of Fred’s desires was to vocalize in a singing waiter quartette. He achieves this too, in the new comedy. His buddies in the foursome are Don Ameche, Victor Moore and Rudy Vallee. Fred also catches up with a few of his ideas concerning Jack Benny at .‘■he . Theatre. Ap¬ pearing as guest stars with the celebrated radio comic are Jack Benny, Don Ameche, William Ben¬ dix, Victor Moore and Rudy Val¬ lee, all of whom are said to have conspicuous roles in the new pro¬ duction. The picture, announced as a laugh-packed thriller, also fea¬ tures such notables as Binnie Barnes, Robert Benchley, Jerry Co¬ lonna and John Carradine. “Mrs. Nussbaum,” a favorite comedienne with radio fans, has a typical role while two youthful newcomers, Gloria Pope and William Terry, add romantic interest to the film’s comical excitement. The famous Jack Benny—Fred Allen laugh feud is resumed in “It’s In The Bag,” for the hilarity and edification of hosts of movie¬ goers who have followed its laugh filled progress on the radio. Allen impersonates the president of the Jack Benny Fan Club and Benny plays himself. “It’s In The Bag,” produced by Jack H. Skirball, was directed by Richard Wallace. Allen himself, with Lewis R. Foster, wrote the unusual screen treatment which is said to contain all the sidesplit¬ ting zest of the Allen radio pro¬ grams. Other notables in the Jack H. Skir¬ ball production are William Ben¬ dix, Binnie Barnes, Robert Bench- ley and Jerry Colonna. Richard Wallace directed the unusual film. It is a United Artists release. Bendix Intreduces New Type of Gangster Bole William Bendix introduces a new type of gangster role in his guest-star appearance with Fred Allen in the latter’s new comedy hit, “It’s In The Bag,” coming to the . Theatre on . through United Art¬ ists release. As leader of the no¬ torious “Bendix gang,” Bill is “public enemy No. 1,” but he is gun-shy and prefers poetry and flowers to rough stuff. It is one of the star’s outstanding perform¬ ances. Bendix is only one of an all-star cast which includes besides Fred Allen, of course, Don Ameche, Bin¬ nie Barnes, Robert Benchley, Jack Benny, John Carradine, Jerry Colonna, Victor Moore, William Terry, Sidney Toler, Gloria Pope and Dickie Tyler. Richard Wallace directed the production. A Comic Quartette That Provides An Hilarious Note! This be-handlebarred foursome is one of the reasons Jack Skirball’s fast and furious comcidy, “It’s In The together like Adam and Eve; Don Ameche, limiting his inventive genius to new gags and coy Victor Moore Bag,” now playing at the .Theatre through United Artists release is being unanimously applauded who needs no further introduction. The gay nineties twist is strictly for gags. “It’s In The Bag” also as the funniest film to hit the screen in many a season. Reading from left to right these refugees from the includes Jack Benny, (continuing the roaring Benny-Alien feud), Robert Benchley, Binnie Barnes, William ■waiter’s union are Fred Allen, star of the comedy fest; Rudy Vallee who proves crooning and comedy go Bendix, and Jerry Colonna aiding and abetting the proceedings. Available in 4 Col. Mat—ID (.60) Page Seventeen