It's in the Bag

Director: Richard Wallace Richard Wallace

Overview

This film stars Fred Allen as flea-circus impresario Fred Floogle. Learning that he's inherited $12 million from his uncle, Fred also discovers that the money has been stuffed in one of thirteen chairs that he's sold at auction.

Product Details

Release Date:	07/15/2015
UPC:	0644827416820
Original Release:	1945
Source:	Reel Vault
Region Code:	1
Language:	English
Time:	1:27:00
Sales rank:	33,275

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Fred Allen	Fred F. Trumble Floogle
Jack Benny	Himself
William Bendix	Bill Bendix
Binnie Barnes	Eve Floogle
Robert Benchley	Parker
Jerry Colonna	Dr. Greengrass, Psychiatrist
John Carradine	Pike
Gloria Pope	Marion
William Terry	Perry
Minerva Pious	Mrs. Nussbaum
Dick Tyler	Homer
Sidney Toler	Det. Sully
George Cleveland	Hotel Manager
John Miljan	Arnold
Ben Welden	Monte
Emory Parnell	Mr. Buddoo
Don Ameche	Guest Star
Victor Moore	Guest Star
Rudy Vallee	Guest Star
Walter Tetley	Elevator Operator

Technical Credits

Fred Allen

Alma Reville

Jay Dratler

Lewis R. Foster

Richard Wallace	Director
Fred Allen	Screenwriter
Alma Reville	Screenwriter
Jay Dratler	Screenwriter
Lewis R. Foster	Screenwriter
Jack H. Skirball	Producer

Editorial Reviews

Devotees of the Russian novel that is its basis (The Twelve Chairs) may shake their heads, but those in the mood for a terribly silly romp should get a fair amount of entertainment from It's in the Bag. Dispensing with everything except the premise of the novel, Bag exists solely to give radio star Fred Allen a rare opportunity to guide a motion picture vehicle all on his own star power. Modern audiences inevitably won't get as much out of it as those in 1945 did, for Allen's persona is virtually unknown to most of today's viewers. Having a grounding in Allen-ania definitely helps to enjoy the piece, but even the uninitiated should find enough to make them chuckle and keep them watching. The laughs should start with the credits, which find Allen breaking the fourth wall to drily comment upon the names as they come and go. It would seem almost surreal, if Allen didn't somehow make it seem down-to-earth instead. There's a delightful Jack Benny section that plays upon the supposed rivalry between Benny and Allen, and Mrs. Nussbaum from Allen's radio show provides some welcome laughs as well. There also are a few spots that don't pan out, and it must be said that the screenplay is really nothing more than gags strung together. But Allen and company make it work; not a classic, but a very fun trip to another era.