Did You Hear the One About the Traveling Saleslady?

Cut-rate yokel comedy from Universal, a star-vehicle for Phyllis Diller cast as a player-piano saleswoman in 1910 Kansas. Diller (in a series of inappropriately 'groovy' outfits) and bumbling inventor Bob Denver enter an auto-race to save the family farm, utilizing a souped-up buggy which is fueled by burning wood. One riotous scene (wherein Phyllis attempts to seduce banker Joe Flynn and both are sprayed with sheep dip) cannot compensate for a wearisome script laden with put-downs and anchored by a cheap, ugly presentation. Vic Mizzy's cartoony score is fun at first but, like most of "Traveling Saleslady", ends up seeming desperate and pushy. Diller's running joke (scaring horses by showing off her legs) epitomizes the pedestrian rest. *1/2 from ****

This movie was ahead of its time in 1 way. Whenever Miss Knabenshu (Phyllis Diller) lifted her skirt to show some leg the horses went crazy years before Mel Brooks had that Frau Blucher bit in Young Frankenstein.

I saw this movie on late night television many years ago. It was a laugh riot. Sad to say, I don't remember much else.

A better way to describe this movie was "an invasion of the great comics of the time".

Phyllis Diller was as wild as her wild hair.

Bob Denver, hopelessly typecast by GILLIGAN'S ISLAND, usually played the good hearted but incompetent buffoon to perfection (no wonder they type casted him).

Joe Flynn, then riding on the fame he won by playing Capt. Wallace Binghampton on MCHALE'S NAVY, was type cast to playing the whiny and arrogant snob.

Charles Lane had been long type cast to playing mean, despicable and heartless characters and his characters never smiled unless they had somehow managed to victimize some one first, like taking the last of the person's meager possessions, for example. His most famous role was that of Homer Bedloe, a despicable character who made numerous appearances of PETTICOAT JUNCTION.

Bob Hastings portrayed the spineless and gutless yes-man to side splitting utter perfection, like his famous Lt. Carpenter from MCHALE'S NAVY. One of his earliest roles was on the radio show, ARCHIE, playing who else but Archie Andrews, himself! With such a long list of such brilliant comics, together on film, with a good script, a bad script or no script at all, it would be impossible not to have a classic comedic masterpiece.

DVD? VHS? Anything please?

Contrary to many snobbish movie critics, Did You Hear The One About The Traveling Saleslady is a laugh riot. Phyllis Diller is in peak form in this movie. I remember it fondly as a child and I wish that it would get released on DVD. The milking machine scene alone is worth the price of admission. If you have the opportunity to see this movie, do it. Just relax and let yourself be entertained. This was one of the many movies I saw at weekend matinées as a child. It ranks right up there with Hello Down There, Fluffy, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Oliver and Boy Did I Get A Wrong Number to name only a few. Many I have forgotten in my adult years but some have stayed with me as is the case with Traveling Saleslady.Some movies are not meant to be artsy and intellectual with a message. Some are meant for pure entertainment. Phyllis Diller delivers the goods.

This is Phyllis Diller at her absolute peak of agility and wit - with sight gags you could well die for.

Phyllis' fashions alone almost steal the show - they're completely over the top, just like her character.

Fifteen years or so later Phyllis was frail enough to need to be gently assisted to the stage at Brisbane's Crest Hotel - where she convinced any doubters in the audience that she is indeed one of the all-time greatest stand-up comedy artists. 'Traveling Saleslady immortalises her devastatingly unique style.