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Hellzapoppin'

 Hellzapoppin'
type
TVTItem
 Hellzapoppin'
label
Hellzapoppin'
 Hellzapoppin'
page
Hellzapoppin
 Hellzapoppin'
comment
Hellzapoppin' is a classic 1941 American musical comedy film based on the popular musical stage revue of the same name (though the stage version had no apostrophe in its title). The very loose plot revolves around the comedy team of Ole Olsen & Chic Johnson, who plan to star in a film. The film director suggests a story which they participate in, only to bothered throughout the whole picture by several absurd gags and jokes that make clear that there is No Fourth Wall.However, as the tagline says: "Any resemblance between Hellzapoppin' and a motion picture is entirely coincidental." This is part of the reason why the film was only modestly successful at the time, despite Olsen & Johnson being at the height of their popularity, plus well-liked performers like Mischa Auer, Martha Raye, Hugh Herbert and Shemp Howard from The Three Stooges being in the cast. However as Time Marches On the film has been Vindicated by History as a surrealistic comedy constantly Breaking the Fourth Wall that was far ahead of its time. Certain jokes are almost predecessors of later types of absurd comedy. It was also very influential on later generations of comedy films (the films of Mel Brooks and Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker being the most obvious successors). The "Lindy hop" dance sequences made it also very popular with musical fans. In other words, it's a true Cult Classic.
 Hellzapoppin'
fetched
2023-11-26T17:29:32Z
 Hellzapoppin'
parsed
2023-11-26T17:29:32Z
 Hellzapoppin'
processingComment
Dropped link to CitizenKane: Not a Feature - ITEM
 Hellzapoppin'
processingComment
Dropped link to Frankenstein1931: Not a Feature - ITEM
 Hellzapoppin'
isPartOf
DBTropes
 Hellzapoppin' / int_1ba8eb64
type
Visual Pun
 Hellzapoppin' / int_1ba8eb64
comment
Visual Pun: A photographer asks Ole Olsen and Chic Johnson if he can take their picture. They agree and pose. the photographer walks past them and takes a picture off the wall and walks off with it.
 Hellzapoppin' / int_1ba8eb64
featureApplicability
1.0
 Hellzapoppin' / int_1ba8eb64
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Hellzapoppin' / int_1ba8eb64
 Hellzapoppin' / int_222dc873
type
Black Comedy
 Hellzapoppin' / int_222dc873
comment
Black Comedy: A lot of people are shot off screen.
 Hellzapoppin' / int_222dc873
featureApplicability
1.0
 Hellzapoppin' / int_222dc873
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Hellzapoppin' / int_222dc873
 Hellzapoppin' / int_2937826d
type
Hurricane of Puns
 Hellzapoppin' / int_2937826d
comment
Hurricane of Puns: A lot of puns are told.
 Hellzapoppin' / int_2937826d
featureApplicability
1.0
 Hellzapoppin' / int_2937826d
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Hellzapoppin' / int_2937826d
 Hellzapoppin' / int_3104d34
type
Suicide as Comedy
 Hellzapoppin' / int_3104d34
comment
Suicide as Comedy: A cameraman promptly shoots himself on being told that they are going to keep working on the film till it is finished.
 Hellzapoppin' / int_3104d34
featureApplicability
1.0
 Hellzapoppin' / int_3104d34
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Hellzapoppin' / int_3104d34
 Hellzapoppin' / int_36ec2454
type
Rule of Pool
 Hellzapoppin' / int_36ec2454
comment
Rule of Pool: After being slammed in the face with a door, the stunned Betty turns around and walks fully clothed into the pool. Later during the "Watch the Birdie" number, she pushes the man whose photo she is taking into the pool for not meeting her standards.
 Hellzapoppin' / int_36ec2454
featureApplicability
1.0
 Hellzapoppin' / int_36ec2454
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Hellzapoppin' / int_36ec2454
 Hellzapoppin' / int_37d94ed9
type
Agony of the Feet
 Hellzapoppin' / int_37d94ed9
comment
Agony of the Feet: While sabotaging the ballet section of the revue, Olsen and Johnson scatter a box fullof carpet tacks on the stage, which Pepi promptly steps on.
 Hellzapoppin' / int_37d94ed9
featureApplicability
1.0
 Hellzapoppin' / int_37d94ed9
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Hellzapoppin' / int_37d94ed9
 Hellzapoppin' / int_3b4f620a
type
No Fourth Wall
 Hellzapoppin' / int_3b4f620a
comment
No Fourth Wall: Absolutely obliterates the fourth wall: the characters comment on other plots, they talk to the audience, they talk to the projectionist (and in fact, when the shot goes out of frame, they confront the projectionist, who it turned out was getting a little action in his booth), they deconstruct myths, they talk to still photographs (which come alive), they pause the phrase, mock the movie they're watching and the movie they're in (including muting the soundtrack and making jokes over it MST3K-style), criticize the writing, talk about their roles, use double-exposures deliberately, control the direction, and have a running joke with overlaid wording that "Stinky Miller" needs to go to the lobby because his mother is looking for him, and the characters stop in the middle of a musical number to yell at Stinky, who eventually (in silhouette), gets up and leaves. Whew.
 Hellzapoppin' / int_3b4f620a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Hellzapoppin' / int_3b4f620a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Hellzapoppin' / int_3b4f620a
 Hellzapoppin' / int_3e458451
type
Water Wake-up
 Hellzapoppin' / int_3e458451
comment
Water Wake Up: After knocking out the magician who turned them invisible, Olsen and Johnson wake him up by tossing a bucket of water in his face.
 Hellzapoppin' / int_3e458451
featureApplicability
1.0
 Hellzapoppin' / int_3e458451
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Hellzapoppin' / int_3e458451
 Hellzapoppin' / int_434d893c
type
Funny Foreigner
 Hellzapoppin' / int_434d893c
comment
Funny Foreigner: Mischa Auer's character.
 Hellzapoppin' / int_434d893c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Hellzapoppin' / int_434d893c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Hellzapoppin' / int_434d893c
 Hellzapoppin' / int_489b4e34
type
In-Universe Camera
 Hellzapoppin' / int_489b4e34
comment
In-Universe Camera: The protagonists address the cameraman throughout the picture. They shout at him to turn on the sound, to fix the broken reel, to rewind the previous footage or to follow them rather than focus on an attractive girl in a swimsuit.
 Hellzapoppin' / int_489b4e34
featureApplicability
1.0
 Hellzapoppin' / int_489b4e34
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Hellzapoppin' / int_489b4e34
 Hellzapoppin' / int_50ed1af4
type
Our Demons Are Different
 Hellzapoppin' / int_50ed1af4
comment
Our Demons Are Different: Apparently people arrive in Hell in limousines.
 Hellzapoppin' / int_50ed1af4
featureApplicability
1.0
 Hellzapoppin' / int_50ed1af4
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Hellzapoppin' / int_50ed1af4
 Hellzapoppin' / int_5b96f69b
type
Hyperspace Wardrobe
 Hellzapoppin' / int_5b96f69b
comment
Hyperspace Wardrobe: In an early scene, Olsen and Johnson walk through a series of rooms, and through each door are in different outlandish costumes.
 Hellzapoppin' / int_5b96f69b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Hellzapoppin' / int_5b96f69b
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Hellzapoppin' / int_5b96f69b
 Hellzapoppin' / int_66f59ad
type
Balloonacy
 Hellzapoppin' / int_66f59ad
comment
Balloonacy: A diminutive footman is handed a bunch of balloons and starts floating off before being brought back to earth by a well-aimed shotgun blast from Chic Johnson.
 Hellzapoppin' / int_66f59ad
featureApplicability
1.0
 Hellzapoppin' / int_66f59ad
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Hellzapoppin' / int_66f59ad
 Hellzapoppin' / int_6b8c8d72
type
Our Slogan Is Terrible
 Hellzapoppin' / int_6b8c8d72
comment
Our Slogan Is Terrible: Miracle Pictures. Slogan: "If it's a good picture, it's a Miracle!"
 Hellzapoppin' / int_6b8c8d72
featureApplicability
1.0
 Hellzapoppin' / int_6b8c8d72
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Hellzapoppin' / int_6b8c8d72
 Hellzapoppin' / int_710ae822
type
Butter Face
 Hellzapoppin' / int_710ae822
comment
Butter Face: Happens several times, mostly to Martha Raye's character.
 Hellzapoppin' / int_710ae822
featureApplicability
1.0
 Hellzapoppin' / int_710ae822
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Hellzapoppin' / int_710ae822
 Hellzapoppin' / int_71268450
type
Adaptation Title Change
 Hellzapoppin' / int_71268450
comment
Adaptation Title Change: Probably the most downplayed instance of this possible; the film adds an apostrophe to the original stage show's title.
 Hellzapoppin' / int_71268450
featureApplicability
1.0
 Hellzapoppin' / int_71268450
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Hellzapoppin' / int_71268450
 Hellzapoppin' / int_7d218606
type
Rapid-Fire Comedy
 Hellzapoppin' / int_7d218606
comment
Rapid-Fire Comedy: The pace of this comedy is very high.
 Hellzapoppin' / int_7d218606
featureApplicability
1.0
 Hellzapoppin' / int_7d218606
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Hellzapoppin' / int_7d218606
 Hellzapoppin' / int_83444b89
type
MST
 Hellzapoppin' / int_83444b89
comment
MST: At a certain point the protagonists watch the film they are about to star in themselves and give funny commentary on the events they seen. An early example of riffing, although not the first.
 Hellzapoppin' / int_83444b89
featureApplicability
1.0
 Hellzapoppin' / int_83444b89
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Hellzapoppin' / int_83444b89
 Hellzapoppin' / int_884e513b
type
Medium Awareness
 Hellzapoppin' / int_884e513b
comment
Medium Awareness: The film takes advantage of the fact that the characters are aware that it's a film. For instance: at one point the film gets stuck in the projector.
 Hellzapoppin' / int_884e513b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Hellzapoppin' / int_884e513b
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Hellzapoppin' / int_884e513b
 Hellzapoppin' / int_9045fd09
type
Live Mink Coat
 Hellzapoppin' / int_9045fd09
comment
Live Mink Coat: During the chaotic performance of Jeff's revue, Mrs. Rand notices her fur stole has fallen to the floor and asks her husband to pick it up for. He reaches down and picks a Pekingese that escaped from the stage and places it around her neck. She wears it for several seconds before noticing.
 Hellzapoppin' / int_9045fd09
featureApplicability
1.0
 Hellzapoppin' / int_9045fd09
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Hellzapoppin' / int_9045fd09
 Hellzapoppin' / int_91697559
type
Half the Man He Used to Be
 Hellzapoppin' / int_91697559
comment
Half the Man He Used to Be: Olsen and Johnson each lose the upper and/or lower part of their body through a magical trick. To make sure that nobody notices Johnson poses the upper half of his body above Olsen's lower half of his body. The plan doesn't work well...
 Hellzapoppin' / int_91697559
featureApplicability
1.0
 Hellzapoppin' / int_91697559
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Hellzapoppin' / int_91697559
 Hellzapoppin' / int_9d184483
type
Changing Clothes Is a Free Action
 Hellzapoppin' / int_9d184483
comment
Changing Clothes Is a Free Action: In an early scene, Olsen and Johnson walk through a series of rooms, and through each door are in different outlandish costumes.
 Hellzapoppin' / int_9d184483
featureApplicability
1.0
 Hellzapoppin' / int_9d184483
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Hellzapoppin' / int_9d184483
 Hellzapoppin' / int_a07afea2
type
Random Events Plot
 Hellzapoppin' / int_a07afea2
comment
Random Events Plot: Every possible comedic idea is used.
 Hellzapoppin' / int_a07afea2
featureApplicability
1.0
 Hellzapoppin' / int_a07afea2
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Hellzapoppin' / int_a07afea2
 Hellzapoppin' / int_a4883667
type
Had the Silly Thing in Reverse
 Hellzapoppin' / int_a4883667
comment
Had the Silly Thing in Reverse: While trying to move the prop truck off the lawn, Chic Johnson backs it into the statue they had just unlaoded, demolishing it.
 Hellzapoppin' / int_a4883667
featureApplicability
1.0
 Hellzapoppin' / int_a4883667
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Hellzapoppin' / int_a4883667
 Hellzapoppin' / int_a7ca682e
type
Kitchen Sink Included
 Hellzapoppin' / int_a7ca682e
comment
Kitchen Sink Included: When Jeff is reviewing the props for the revue, he comments that they have everything but the kitchen sink. Johnson then walks in carrying a sink.
 Hellzapoppin' / int_a7ca682e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Hellzapoppin' / int_a7ca682e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Hellzapoppin' / int_a7ca682e
 Hellzapoppin' / int_bcc6bab6
type
Surprise Slide Staircase
 Hellzapoppin' / int_bcc6bab6
comment
Surprise Slide Staircase: Louie, the projectionist of the Universal Theatre, starts showing a musical pageant of chorus girls promenading down a staircase. The staircase collapses and turns into a slide, conveying the dancers straight to hell, where they are tortured by demons.
 Hellzapoppin' / int_bcc6bab6
featureApplicability
1.0
 Hellzapoppin' / int_bcc6bab6
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Hellzapoppin' / int_bcc6bab6
 Hellzapoppin' / int_be67d52b
type
Invisible Holes
 Hellzapoppin' / int_be67d52b
comment
Invisible Holes: At the end of the movie, the screenwriter Selby finishes narrating his script, and Olsen and Johnson take their leave of the studio. The director, frustrated, shoots the screenwriter — who is uninjured and pays scant attention, but leaks like a sieve when he drinks a glass of water.
 Hellzapoppin' / int_be67d52b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Hellzapoppin' / int_be67d52b
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Hellzapoppin' / int_be67d52b
 Hellzapoppin' / int_c75df49a
type
Shout-Out
 Hellzapoppin' / int_c75df49a
comment
Shout-Out: At one point, Johnson walks past a sled with the word "Rosebud" on it and says "I thought they burned that." Near the end Frankenstein's Monster throws Martha Raye's character back on stage.
 Hellzapoppin' / int_c75df49a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Hellzapoppin' / int_c75df49a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Hellzapoppin' / int_c75df49a
 Hellzapoppin' / int_ceb854cb
type
The Door Slams You
 Hellzapoppin' / int_ceb854cb
comment
The Door Slams You: Pepi tries to escape Betty by dashing into a change room and slams the door in her face as she pursues. The stunned Betty immediately turns around and walks into the swimming pool.
 Hellzapoppin' / int_ceb854cb
featureApplicability
1.0
 Hellzapoppin' / int_ceb854cb
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Hellzapoppin' / int_ceb854cb
 Hellzapoppin' / int_d3e9483a
type
Non-Fatal Explosions
 Hellzapoppin' / int_d3e9483a
comment
Non-Fatal Explosions: Several explosions take place without dire consequences.
 Hellzapoppin' / int_d3e9483a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Hellzapoppin' / int_d3e9483a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Hellzapoppin' / int_d3e9483a
 Hellzapoppin' / int_d7fc9fd0
type
Vitriolic Best Buds
 Hellzapoppin' / int_d7fc9fd0
comment
Vitriolic Best Buds: Olsen and Johnson
 Hellzapoppin' / int_d7fc9fd0
featureApplicability
1.0
 Hellzapoppin' / int_d7fc9fd0
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Hellzapoppin' / int_d7fc9fd0
 Hellzapoppin' / int_e12c23fb
type
Splitting the Arrow
 Hellzapoppin' / int_e12c23fb
comment
Splitting the Arrow: Pepi does this while showing off to the ladies at the archery range.
 Hellzapoppin' / int_e12c23fb
featureApplicability
1.0
 Hellzapoppin' / int_e12c23fb
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Hellzapoppin' / int_e12c23fb
 Hellzapoppin' / int_e56e04d5
type
Rake Take
 Hellzapoppin' / int_e56e04d5
comment
Rake Take: While trying to doge the amorous advances of Betty, Pepi steps on a rake that flips up and hits him in the face.
 Hellzapoppin' / int_e56e04d5
featureApplicability
1.0
 Hellzapoppin' / int_e56e04d5
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Hellzapoppin' / int_e56e04d5
 Hellzapoppin' / int_eb28ab57
type
Bound and Gagged
 Hellzapoppin' / int_eb28ab57
comment
Bound and Gagged: Louie winds up binding and gagging his girlfriend in the projection booth with the unspooled film.
 Hellzapoppin' / int_eb28ab57
featureApplicability
1.0
 Hellzapoppin' / int_eb28ab57
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Hellzapoppin' / int_eb28ab57
 Hellzapoppin' / int_f9f2c33
type
Running Gag
 Hellzapoppin' / int_f9f2c33
comment
Running Gag: The guy running around with his plant.
 Hellzapoppin' / int_f9f2c33
featureApplicability
1.0
 Hellzapoppin' / int_f9f2c33
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Hellzapoppin' / int_f9f2c33
 Hellzapoppin' / int_fd7267dd
type
Master of Disguise
 Hellzapoppin' / int_fd7267dd
comment
Master of Disguise: Hugh Herbert's character, Detective Quimby.
 Hellzapoppin' / int_fd7267dd
featureApplicability
1.0
 Hellzapoppin' / int_fd7267dd
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Hellzapoppin' / int_fd7267dd
 Hellzapoppin' / int_fe0330fb
type
Brick Joke
 Hellzapoppin' / int_fe0330fb
comment
Brick Joke: A man carrying a plant in a pot is seen throughout the picture. Near the end his plant has grown into a tree.
 Hellzapoppin' / int_fe0330fb
featureApplicability
1.0
 Hellzapoppin' / int_fe0330fb
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hellzapoppin'
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Hellzapoppin' / int_fe0330fb
 Hellzapoppin' / int_name
type
ItemName
 Hellzapoppin' / int_name
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 Hellzapoppin' / int_name
featureApplicability
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 Hellzapoppin' / int_name
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Hellzapoppin' / int_name
 Hellzapoppin' / int_name
itemName
Hellzapoppin'

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Adaptation Title Change / int_43a51e42
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Balloonacy / int_43a51e42
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Butter Face / int_43a51e42
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Changing Clothes Is a Free Action / int_43a51e42
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Had the Silly Thing in Reverse / int_43a51e42
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Hyperspace Wardrobe / int_43a51e42
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
In-Universe Camera / int_43a51e42
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Invisible Holes / int_43a51e42
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Kitchen Sink Included / int_43a51e42
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Live Mink Coat / int_43a51e42
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
MST / int_43a51e42
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Our Slogan Is Terrible / int_43a51e42
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Rake Take / int_43a51e42
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Rule of Pool / int_43a51e42
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Splitting the Arrow / int_43a51e42
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Suicide as Comedy / int_43a51e42
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Surprise Slide Staircase / int_43a51e42
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
The Door Slams You / int_43a51e42
 Hellzapoppin'
hasFeature
Water Wake-up / int_43a51e42