Starring Ole Olsen, Chic Johnson, Cass Daley, Martha O'Driscoll, Patric Knowles, Percy
Kilbride
Directed by Edward F. Cline

Print: black/white
Runtime: 80 min.
Genre: comedy
Print Quality: B

Olsen and Johnson's followup to their zany, iconoclastic Hellzapoppin' was the more
conventional Crazy House. The premise: Having nearly laid waste to Universal while filming
Hellzapoppin', O &sJ are thrown out of the studio when they arrive with plans for a new
picture. Only momentarily daunted, our heroes decide to produce the film themselves,
renting a studio and hiring carhop Margie (Martha O'Driscoll) as their leading lady. The
success of this plan hinges upon an 'angel', self-proclaimed millionaire Col. Merriweather
(Percy Kilbride), who promises to advance the money for the new film. Things get sticky
when the Colonel turns out to be a balmy eccentric with nary a cent to his name. After a wild
courtroom trial presided over by ever-scowling Edgar Kennedy, it is decided that Olsen and
Johnson will be permitted to screen their new film before a gathering of Hollywood studio
executives, with distribution rights going to the highest bidder. The finale devolves into
frantic slapstick when the last reel of the film turns up missing (a plot device later utilized in
Mel Brooks' Silent Movie). Though Crazy House gets off to a suitably wacky start-when word
arrives at Universal that Olsen and Johnson are coming, barricades are set up and armed
guards posted, while every studio contractee from Leo Carrillo to 'Sherlock Holmes' (Basil
Rathbone) and 'Dr. Watson' (Nigel Bruce) brace themselves for the comedians' invasion-the
film quickly settles into a standard musical-comedy groove, complete with such guest stars
as Allan Jones, Count Basie, the Delta Rhythm Boys and the Glenn Miller Singers. Still, there
are plenty of hilarious moments along the way, most of them handled by raucous
comedienne Cass Daley, playing a dual role. And there's seldom been a more satisfying
movie finale than the last gag of Crazy House, which literally disposes of tiresome romantic
leads Martha O'Driscoll and Patric Knowles.