Make Mine Laughs
Make Mine Laughs is a 1949 film directed by Richard Fleischer. The film was a compilation of comic scenes and musical numbers from older and newer RKO Studios films.
| Make Mine Laughs | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Richard Fleischer |
| Starring | Joan Davis |
| Cinematography | Jack MacKenzie Robert De Grasse Frank Redman |
| Distributed by | RKO Radio |
Release date |
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Running time | 63 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Make Mine Laughs was the second of three RKO Radio "pastiche" films, composed largely of musical and comedy highlights from previous RKO productions. Comedian Gil Lamb hosts the proceedings, finding time to make satirical comments about the opening credits and to perform his "swallowing the harmonica" specialty.
The film clips include two short subjects, Leon Errol's Beware of Redheads and one of RKO's Flicker Flashbacks entries, both presented in their entirety. Also featured are Frances Langford singing "Moonlight Over the Islands" (from The Bamboo Blonde), Anne Shirley and Dennis Day duetting on "If You Happen to Find a Heart" (from Music in Manhattan), and specialties performed by the likes of orchestra leaders Frankie Carle and Freddie "Schnickelfritz" Fisher, ventriloquist Robert Lamouret, and dance teams Manuel & Marita Viera and Rosario & Antonio.
Make Mine Laughs was withdrawn from distribution after Ray Bolger and Jack Haley brought suit against RKO for unauthorized use of clips from Bolger's boxing pantomime in Four Jacks and a Jill (1944) and Haley's "Who Killed Vaudeville?" number from George White's Scandals (1945).
After problems with the copyright of some of the material used in the movie, RKO removed the movie from general release and shelved it.
References
- "Make Mine Laughs: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved May 13, 2014.