It's in the Bag! is a 1945 comedy film featuring Fred Allen in his only starring film role. The film was released by United Artists at a time when Allen was at the peak of his fame as one of the most popular radio comedians. The film has been preserved by UCLA Film & Television Archive.
Characters and story
A flea circus ringmaster (Allen), Fred Floogle, has strange encounters as he searches for his inheritance, hidden in the seat of one of five chairs.
The film is loosely based on the comic novel The Twelve Chairs (1928) of Ilf and Petrov, later filmed by Mel Brooks as The Twelve Chairs (1970). The team of screenwriters included Jay Dratler, Alma Reville (wife of Alfred Hitchcock) and Morrie Ryskind.
Binnie Barnes plays Mrs. Floogle.
Cameo roles are filled by other radio actors who had already, or were beginning to, become known in movies, including Don Ameche, Rudy Vallee, William Bendix, Jerry Colonna, Robert Benchley, John Carradine, Sidney Toler.
For classic radio fans, the highlight of the film will be Floogle's encounter with Jack Benny, who at the time was involved with Allen in their famous 'feud', which ran for over a decade.
There is an alternative version of the film where Allen's voice periodically breaks in on the action with wisecracks a la the opening credits. This version obscures some of the on-screen dialogue, including the punchline. This version has aired on AMC.
Cast
Fred Allen - Fred F. Trumble Floogle
Jack Benny - Jack Benny
Don Ameche - Don Ameche
William Bendix - William Bendix
Victor Moore - Victor Moore
Rudy Vallee - Rudy Vallee
Binnie Barnes - Eve Floogle
Robert Benchley - Parker
Jerry Colonna - Dr. Greengrass - Psychiatrist
John Carradine - Jefferson T. Pike
Gloria Pope - Marion Floogle
William Terry - Perry Parker
Minerva Pious - Mrs. Pansy Nussbaum
Richard Tyler - Homer Floogle (as Dickie Tyler) Sidney Toler - Detective Sully George Cleveland - Busby - Hotel Manager John Miljan - Mr. Arnold Ben Welden - Monty - Bookie
Uncredited character actors alphabetically:
Johnny Arthur - Finley
Jack Baxley - Minister
Brooks Benedict - Headwaiter
Don Brodie - Reporter
Steve Brodie - Usher
John Brown - Joe, Nightclub Doorman
George Chandler - 1st Elevator Operator
James Conaty - Nightclub Patron
Don Costello - Mickey
Kernan Cripps - Police Turnkey
Mike Donovan - Movie Theatre Patron
Jay Eaton - Jeweler
Bess Flowers - Woman in Elevator, and in Floogle's Penthouse
Byron Foulger - Mr. Teckler
Edward Gargan - Chair Delivery Man
Jack Gargan - Movie Usher
Dick Gordon - Movie Theatre Patron
Frank Hagney - Nightclub Tough in Fight
Harry Harvey - Man in Nightclub Kitchen
Olin Howland - Dr. Greengrass's Doctor
Lloyd Ingraham - Frederick F. Trumble
Eddie Kane - Tailor
Kenner G. Kemp - Movie House Patron in Balcony
Mike Lally - Movie House Patron, and Cabbie
Rex Lease - Yacht Salesman
Mary Livingstone - Mary Livingstone (voice only) Wilbur Mack - Nightclub Patron Chief Many Treaties - Indian Chief Thomas Martin - Penthouse Guest Harold Miller - Nightclub Patron, and Wedding Guest Bert Moorhouse - Jeweler / Wedding Guest Horace Murphy - Officer Forbes Murray - Elevator Rider Roger Neury - Waiter William H. O'Brien - Nightclub Waiter Sarah Padden - Woman in Elevator Emory Parnell - Mr. Buddoo Jack Perrin - Policeman Marshall Reed - Hood in Car Dewey Robinson - Frogface Matty Roubert - Elevator Boy in Theatre Harry Semels - Chef Dan Seymour - Fatso Larry Steers - Nightclub Patron / Wedding Guest Harry Strang - Diner Charles Sullivan - Nightclub Tough in Fight Phil Tead - Ninth National Bank Representative Walter Tetley - 2nd Elevator Operator Emmett Vogan - Man in Elevator Harry von Zell - Phil Max Wagner - Nightclub Tough in Fight Dave Willock - Stratosphere Balcony Usher Marek Windheim - Waiter
Reception
At the time of its release in 1945, Bosley Crowther of The New York Times wrote that, aside from Mr. Allen's comments on the credits at the beginning of the film, which were superlative spoofing and recommended to everyone, it was a "dizzy, bewildering picture...this rat's nest of nonsense defied the sober description of a comparatively rational mind".