The movies never got crazier than in 1941’s “Hellzapoppin.” This is the original film fruitcake, as in ‘nuttier than.’ In a matter of 80 minutes this movie crams in more gags than any other picture made by the likes of Mel Brooks or David and Jerry Zucker. It is a compendium of gags -- stealing with unblushing delight from Vaudeville, Music Hall, Circus, Keystone Kops, Max Fleischer, and Commedia dell’arte.
Nobody remembers the stars of this film, Olsen and Johnson -- and, indeed, they are lackluster and eminently forgettable. Their true genius lies in the incredible variety of spoofs, jokes, one-liners and sight gags they disinter for our delectation. Martha Raye and Hugh Herbert are on hand to pump the silliness level up to a few thousand millibars.
Never mind the plot -- there isn’t any. Just watch it to keep track of the number of gags. Last time I watched it I recorded 212 true blue gags. In this movie, comedy is not king -- it’s Godzilla, flattening all in its remorseless path of belly laughs. You may need a straightjacket yourself if you view it more than once a year.
The film is in the Public Domain, and a good copy exists on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2TOriWWSLE
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