Strictly Dynamite

Nick (Norman Foster) has just moved to the big city, and suddenly he's looking for a new job. He hears Moxie (Durante) and Vera (Lupe Velez) performing on a radio show, and ends up writing jokes for the show. Also stars Marian Nixon as Sylvia. Nick is a simple working stiff, the straight man to the star Durante; Durante spends most of the film mixing up his words and doing physical gags. Fun film, if a little strained in some parts. Awesome supporting cast includes Franklin Pangborn as Bailey, Eugene Pallett as Sourwood, and Sterling Holloway as Fleming. It's the supporting cast that helps keep this thing moving along. Just about everyone sings a song in this one -- of course, Durante sings a couple, Lupe sings, and even the Mills Brothers. All that singing fits right in, and doesn't interfere with the story as it did in so many films. A scene by 13 year old Jack Searle was just annoying, which was probably the goal. Directed by Elliot Nugent, who would also go on to direct a whole bunch of Bob Hope films.