The Nitwits (1935)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

George Stevens

Writers:

Al Boasberg (writer)
Fred Guiol (writer)

Release Date:

7 June 1935 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

A would-be songwriter and a would-be inventor run a cigar stand and get mixed up in the murder of a song publisher.

Plot Keywords:

Songwriter | Publisher | Cigar Stand | Murder | Inventor

Cast

Bert Wheeler	...	Johnnie
Robert Woolsey	...	Newton
Fred Keating	...	William Darrell
Betty Grable	...	Mary Roberts
Evelyn Brent	...	Mrs. Alice Lake
Erik Rhodes	...	George Clark
Hale Hamilton	...	Winfield Lake
Charles C. Wilson	...	Capt. Jennings (as Charles Wilson)
Arthur Aylesworth	...	Lurch
Willie Best	...	Sleepy
Lew Kelly	...	J. Gabriel Hazel

Runtime:

81 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #839)

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Quotes:

[first lines]
Male Singer: [singing] I'm not the same at all, / And I can blame it all; / I thought that love was a lark. / There's something strange in me, / The sudden change in me; / I walk around in the dark. / Suddenly I found a star. / You've opened my eyes. / You made me see the light, / The beauty of the night. / You've opened my eyes. / You taught me to see / The sunny side of things. / The heart within me sings. / You brought this to me.

Movie Connections:

References High Gear (1931)

Soundtrack:

Music in My Heart

One of the funniest films of all time.

The first time I seen this film, I literally laughed myself sick! This film is many, many different types of movies rolled into one. You can call is a mystery for the who done it, science fiction for the speak truth machine, crime drama for the gangster activity, musical for the songs, thriller for the spooky scenes in the dark, love story for the scenes between Bert Wheeler & Betty Grable and of course, a comedy. The only catagory it wouldn't fall in is a western. This film has all the elements of the true classic comedy. It has the classic slap-stick which is extinct now-a-days. The scenes w/ Arthur Treacher as the poor victim always encountering the boys on the steps is this rare extinct form of comedy . I love it when they throw his tennis balls and land right in the cop's mouths. The scenes toward the end are also great. It's especially funny when these poor colored chaps try to have their crap game and end up having the bejesus scared out of them. They end up being chased by everyone else. This film is non-stop fun and unlike modern films, it is completely free of foul language & sex. Only a little bit of mild violence which I wouldn't be afraid to show even to small children. This is a film that will make time fly. It is total fun from start to finish. I would recommend this film to everyone except those of who who have a bad heart; they may laugh themselves dead!