World Premiere (1941)

Director:

Ted Tetzlaff

Writers:

Earl Felton (screenplay)
Earl Felton (story)

Release Date:

21 August 1941 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Cast

John Barrymore	...	Duncan DeGrasse
Frances Farmer	...	Kitty Carr
Eugene Pallette	...	Gregory Martin
Virginia Dale	...	Lee Morrisson
Ricardo Cortez	...	Mark Saunders
Sig Ruman	...	Franz von Bushmaster (as Sig Rumann)
Don Castle	...	Joe Bemis
William Wright	...	Luther Shinkley
Fritz Feld	...	Field Marshal Muller
Luis Alberni	...	Signor Scaletti
Cliff Nazarro	...	Peters
Andrew Tombes	...	Nixon

Runtime:

71 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

One of over 700 Paramount Productions, filmed between 1929 and 1949, which were sold to MCA/Universal in 1958 for television distribution, and have been owned and controlled by Universal ever since.

Feeble Comedy

Although I only saw this once in the early 80's I remember it as an unfunny, insubstantial satire on Hollywood with a deteriorating Barrymore as Rupert De Grasse, film director for Miracle Films, and a poor immitation of his classic turn as Oscar Jaffe in "Twentieth Centruy", even down to a his "I close the iron door" line.

Though it was made in the midst of his self ridicule period, Barrymore doesn't make such a spectacle of himself in this, in fact he makes very little impact at all since despite his top billing he's in the movie very little. Most of this shapeless movie concentrates on the shenanigans of Nazi Fritz Feld and De Grasses annoying double talking side kick who reminded me of one of Dick Dastardly's cohorts. The story for what it's worth deals with the desperate producer/director's attempt to drum up publicity for his newest movie, one of a long line of disastors.

This movie is such a waste of time, even for Barrymore addicts, who'll feel short changed and bored by all the subplots. Admittedly the last scene with various critics trying to make sense of the chopped up film De Grasse finally premieres is quite droll. Otherwise avoid.