Make 'Em Laugh (The Funny Business of America)
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Released January 17, 1941
Featuring Shemp Howard (Solo)
Featuring Shemp Howard (Solo)
Universal
62 min. (Feature Film)
62 min. (Feature Film)
Conman Mike Clancey (Leon Errol) and daughter Rosie, masquerading as "Papa Alvarez" and "Rosita," board a cruise ship to Havana to find marks for Mike's phony gold stock. Another conman, Chauncey Beheegan (William Frawley), has skipped out on his three partners with their latest bankroll, and comes aboard in the guise of a rich Kentucky horse breeder, looking for a get-rich scheme amongst the passengers. Steve Morrison, Skat, and their country band (Jimmy Wakely and His Band) can't find a gig in New York but hope their act can soak up the Latin culture in Cuba, the latest musical craze in the States, so they hire on as ship's stewards and kitchen help. Rounding out the passenger list is Madame La Zonga (Lupe Velez), a seductress down on her luck, and looking for a rich investor to help her open a new Havana nightclub.
While Mike and Chauncey wind up conning each other, Rosie and Steve fall in love. When the ship docks in Havana, Chauncey's three partners (Shemp Howard, Frank Mitchell and "Big Boy" Williams) are found waiting for payback. One way or another, Madame La Zonga will figure out a way to use them all to come up the money she needs.
Shemp reprises his mute THE LEATHER PUSHERS characterization, this time named "Gabby," one of Beheegan's partners.
The Jimmy Wakely Trio: Jimmy Wakely, Johnny Bond, Dick Reinhart
Avg. Rating: 
[7.00/10]
[7.00/10]
Leon Errol
Mike Clancey / Papa Alvarez
William Frawley
Chauncey Beheegan
Lupe Velez
Madame La Zonga
Helen Parrish
Rosie Clancey / Rosita Alvarez
Charles Lang
Steve Morrison
Jimmy Wakely
Pony
Eddie Quillan
Skat
Johnny Bond
Tex
Danny Beck
Danny
Shemp Howard
Gabby
Frank Mitchell
Maxwell
Lorin Raker
Mr. Brady
Paul Ellis
Dance teacher
Bobby Barber
Dance student
Babe London
Dance student
Sheldon Jett
Dance student
James McNamara
Postman
Ken Christy
Personnel manager
Lee Phelps
Anderson
Minerva Urecal
Irate woman
Rosa Turich
La Zonga's maid
Ethelreda Leopold
Ship passenger
Larry Steers
Ship passenger
Jack Clifford
McGuire
Wade Boteler
Captain
Eddie Acuff
Steward
Shimen Ruskin
Seasick passenger
Rico De Montez
Bellboy
George Humbert
Carriage driver
Enrique Acosta
Excited Cuban
Demetris Emanuel
Cuban policeman
Gino Corrado
Restaurant patron
Francisco Moreno
Jailer
Francisco Maran
Police Sergeant
Jose Luis Tortosa
Banker
John Rawlins
Director
Joseph Gershenson
Assoc. Producer
Larry Rhine
Story and Screenplay
Ben Chapman
Story and Screenplay
Stanley Rubin
Screenplay
Marion Orth
Screenplay
John Boyle
Director of Photography
Edward Curtiss
Film Editor
Jack Otterson
Art Director
Harold MacArthur
Associate Art Director
Russell A. Gausman
Set Decoration
Bernard B. Brown
Sound Supervisor
Robert Pritchard
Sound Technician
Charles Previn
Musical Director
Jimmy Wakely
Music and Lyrics
Milton S. Rosen
Music
Jimmy Monaco
Music
Charles Newman
Lyrics
Everett Carter
Lyrics
Vera West
Gowns
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