Nazty Nuisance

Considering that this film is LESS sophisticated and the humor is even broader than the Three Stooges in I'LL NEVER HEIL AGAIN (where the three play the leaders of the Axis Powers), it's no surprise that I only gave it a score of 3. Like many of the Hal Roach short movies of the early 1940's, this one is pretty poorly written and the humor is far from sophisticated--in fact, it's downright childish. This film is about as close as you'll find to "Bevis and Butthead" in this era--it's THAT silly. But, like Bevis and Butthead, you might in spite of the lameness, actually find yourself laughing at some of their antics. Just don't let anyone see you watch this dopey propaganda film if you want to impress them with your sophistication or intelligence!!!

As for the plot, it's a fantasy involving Hitler, Mussolini and, oddly, a Japanese general named "Suki Yaki"--instead of Hirohito or even Tojo. All three go to a fictional Arabic country to sign a treaty with a self-important despot. At the same time, a dingy full of Americans sailors from a sunken ship arrive and are able to thwart the evil trio's plans. It is fun to watch them beat up Hitler and it's a great historical insight into the times, but don't expect a great film. Dumb, silly and yet somehow watchable--this is NAZTY NUISANCE.

A couple of tidbits--First, the film refers to Hitler as "the paper hanger", though Hitler never worked putting up wallpaper (a common myth of the time). Second, I recognized the young lady who starred in the film (Jean Porter) but at first had trouble placing her. Among other films, she starred in an Andy Hardy film as well as a couple of the William Tracy army films made by Roach Studios.

Nazty Nuisance is the kind of World War II propaganda film that really hasn't worn well with time. In fact this is the kind of film that rarely saw the light of day after the revelation of the Holocaust. Reducing, Hitler, Mussolini, and the Japanese to the level of the Three Stooges after that just wasn't funny.

This film was produced by Hal Roach who was the genius of so much screen comedy that has stood the test of time. Nazty Nuisance just isn't in the category of a good Laurel&Hardy film.

Bobby Watson who played Hitler on call in so many films good and bad gets a summons from a tropical island nation with whom the Nazis want to sign a treaty and then break the treaty when it becomes inconvenient. But the chief Ian Keith won't negotiate with no one, but the head man. Hitler was going to go alone, but his allies Mussolini played by Joe Devlin and Japanese warlord Sukiyaki played by Johnny Arthur hear about the trip and want to come along.

In the meantime a stranded American PT Boat crew led by Emory Parnell and Frank Faylen are on the island and when they see the three dictators there, the crew goes into action. Not kill them mind you and maybe end the war quicker, but put pepper in their soup course while dining with the chief.

Stuff like that which is great in the usual run of Hal Roach films, just doesn't cut it here.

No doubt the Hollywood war propaganda machine was working overtime and exhausted when this little flicker was approved for production. The plot is terrible but the portrayals of Hitler and Mussolini are spot on. I bet GI's on troop ships heading for Europe found it hilarious. In that manner it's a little gem. A lot of production values in sets and costumes. Clever use of Alka-Seltzer. Enjoy it for what it is.

Hitler, Mussolini and Suki Yaki go to a small island to negotiate with a stage magician. Little do they know they are dealing with shipwrecked sailors.

It's mean-spirited wartime burlesque, pure and simple, made while Roach's studio was mostly busy with war work. How Glen Tryon came to shoot this piece at the Lot of Fun is a bit of a mystery, but he did have a history with Roach, having been a starring player for several of Roach's mid-twenties features and shorts. Then he had gone on to other companies. Tryon's acting career ended in 1932. He moved behind the camera, writing and directing. His movie work ended in the late 1940s.

Before you start ranting about the racism evident in this movie, try taking a look at current Chinese movies about World War Two, made three quarters of a century after that conflict ended. They are even more racist about Japan.

This is the sequel to The Devil With Hitler concerns Hitler, Mussolini and Suki Yaki going on a secret mission to sign a treaty with an Arab sheik. Once in the desert the trio run into not only the sheik but also a sailor with a talent for magic.

I don't know which is a better movie, this or the first film. The first film has long set pieces and not much in the way of "plot", this one has more of a plot and less set pieces. Both are funny, which is all that matters. Its more craziness as the three leaders attempt a game of oneupmanship with each other and only prove they are on up on no one. This is the lighter of the two films with the eeriness of Hitler's pronouncements about the horrors of the Third Reich gone, replaced by a magic act and an ape. Its a great deal of fun.

Worth seeing, especially if you can double feature it with the first film. (Apparently after the initial release the two "streamliners" were cut together into a regular feature)