Hellzapoppin'

Hellzapoppin’ (1941)

Runtime: 84 madcap minutes

Directed by: H.C. Potter

Starring: Ole Olsen, Chic Johnson, Martha Raye, Hugh Herbert, Jane Frazee

From: Universal

How do I even begin to describe this movie? It is one that I’ve known of for years; the descriptions were so bizarre that there was always curiosity, yet the lack of legal streaming options prevented me from a review much sooner. Elsewhere, I saw footage of Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers, a Black swing dancing group who performed in the film. A random YouTube channel recently uploaded this in 4K quality, although there were no attempts to AI remove the specks of dust or what have you.

This was based on a Broadway stage production from Ole Olsen and Chic Johnson; from what I understand, the first 15 minutes of this were more like the stage production, which was totally zany and full of improv each night; they even had a performer interact w/ the crowd after each performance. Here, after the opening-which absolutely shattered the 4th wall; I knew that none other than Shemp Howard depicted the film’s projectionist-Olsen & Johnson were inserted into a random romantic musical, the plot of which wasn’t all that important. Instead, the non-sequitors, talking to the camera, wacky gags, and general anarchy continued. 

Not all the humor landed but plenty of it did; it wasn’t just that which make me enjoy a movie I was curious about for ages. Rather, it was the obvious influence it had on future movie parodists-while being a unique creation I’ve never seen replicated before or since. It is possible Hellzapoppin doesn’t compare to any other motion picture in history. Most of the musical numbers are good, although not spectacular… EXCEPT for a truly astonishing 5 minute segment where Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers play a hot jazz number then unleash some absolute bonkers dance moves. There was the highlight of the entire picture.

At the same time, I don’t want to diminish the hysterical role that Martha Raye played; she was the zaniest female part of note. For those wanting something singular unlike any other, one that shatters the 4th wall and pokes fun at the Hays Code while mentioning them by name, Hellzapoppin’ is-at the moment-thankfully easy to track down.