The Nitwits

The first time I seen this film, I literally laughed myself sick! This film is many, many different types of movies rolled into one. You can call is a mystery for the who done it, science fiction for the speak truth machine, crime drama for the gangster activity, musical for the songs, thriller for the spooky scenes in the dark, love story for the scenes between Bert Wheeler & Betty Grable and of course, a comedy. The only catagory it wouldn't fall in is a western. This film has all the elements of the true classic comedy. It has the classic slap-stick which is extinct now-a-days. The scenes w/ Arthur Treacher as the poor victim always encountering the boys on the steps is this rare extinct form of comedy . I love it when they throw his tennis balls and land right in the cop's mouths. The scenes toward the end are also great. It's especially funny when these poor colored chaps try to have their crap game and end up having the bejesus scared out of them. They end up being chased by everyone else. This film is non-stop fun and unlike modern films, it is completely free of foul language & sex. Only a little bit of mild violence which I wouldn't be afraid to show even to small children. This is a film that will make time fly. It is total fun from start to finish. I would recommend this film to everyone except those of who who have a bad heart; they may laugh themselves dead!

The humor in the films of Wheeler and Woolsey seemed to go steadily downhill from their early promise in "Rio Rita" to at least this one, made 6 years later. These two very funny guys try mightily to overcome some tepid material in "The Nitwits" and get a boost from the murder mystery back story, which at least challenges you to spot the murderer.

The familiar faces on hand are Betty Grable as Bert's girl friend, Erik Rhodes, best remembered with a foreign accent in some Astaire/Rogers musicals, and Willie Best who plays (what else?) the janitor. Also Arthur Treacher, who has some funny scenes as a hapless tennis instructor enroute to an appointment in the building where most of the story takes place.

There are two good songs in the picture which elevate the proceedings and my rating, "Music In My Heart" and "You Opened My Eyes", which is the better of the two. Wheeler and Grable dance together in that one in a pretty athletic and acrobatic number. It makes you wonder how much better this could have been with better screenwriters.

When the Black Widow murderer strikes at the boss of a music production business, THE NITWITS who run the cigar stand down in the lobby find themselves under investigation for homicide. Can the Boys find the real villain before he kills again?

A rather routine Wheeler & Woolsey comedy (Bert Wheeler is the one with the curly hair; Robert Woolsey has the cigar & spectacles) but the Boys are always fun to watch. Betty Grable is on hand this time as Wheeler’s love interest. Blustery Hale Hamilton is one of the Black Widow’s victims. Erik Rhodes has a small role as a suspect. Willie Best is on hand to add to the madcap finale. Film mavens will recognize Arthur Treacher as the man with the tennis equipment.

Wheeler & Grable sing “You Opened My Eyes” - Woolsey warbles “The Black Widow’s Gonna Get You If You Don’t Watch Out”. There is some racial stereotyping, not unusual in Hollywood films of this period.

It's got to be said that Wheeler and Woolsey are an acquired taste! Popular during the 30s, their brand of humour hasn't dated very well. I can see the camaraderie between the team but they aren't necessarily likeable. "The Nitwits" film is a typical example of this. The story is occasionally enlivened by a few good gags, effective cinematography and a fast-moving climax where everything is used - including the kitchen sink, literally! Murder is afoot and our hapless heroes are unwittingly caught up in it - naturally. But the slow pace, lack of background music and the film being restricted to a few sets are considerable handicaps. A running time of 81 minutes is too long for me. 60 to 65 minutes is plenty.

The Nitwits puts Wheeler and Woolsey into a murder mystery and as you can imagine, they manage to cause havoc as usual. Betty Grable is on hand as Bert's love interest but she doesn't do much beyond one number they sing together early on. Most of the film is took up with daft murder and chase stuff, one or two set pieces working really well but the film isn't as snappy and fun as some of their earlier work.

The director, George Stevens, went on to direct the likes of A Place in the Sun and Woman of the Year, but this early effort shows what he was up to in the first 15 years of his long career.