Make 'Em Laugh (The Funny Business of America)
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Released December 25, 1942
Featuring Shemp Howard (Solo)
Featuring Shemp Howard (Solo)
Universal
86 min. (Feature Film)
86 min. (Feature Film)
King Haroun-Al-Raschid (Jon Hall) decides to spare the life of his brother Kamar (Leif Erickson) after an attempted coup. Kamar's men rescue him, and Haroun is assumed killed in the struggle. But a young Baghdad circus performer (Sabu) hides Haroun with the help of the ringmaster Ahmad (Billy Gilbert), his fellow performers Sinbad (Shemp Howard) and Aladdin (John Qualen), and the beautiful dancer Sherazade (Maria Montez).
A former slave girl, Sherazade is desired by Kamar, and now that Kamar is back on the throne he dispatches his aides to search the desert for his future mistress. Yearning for the power of the throne, Sherazade wishes to sit on the throne next to Kamar, but she finds herself falling in love with Haroun, whom she believes to be nothing more than a peasant. But Kamar's vizier Nadan also has his eye on the throne, and begins a conspiracy to find Sherazade first, sell her and her friends into slavery, and assasinate Kamar.
Shemp, Billy Gilbert, John Qualen and Richard Lane provide comedy relief. Running gags include Sinbad (Shemp) constantly telling tales of his legendary sailing exploits, and Aladdin (Qualen) anxiously rubbing every lamp he sees in hopes to find his long-lost genie. To escape Kamar's troops, Ahmad (Gilbert) disguises himself as a woman to romance the Corporal of the guard (Lane).
Shemp Howard's first and only Technicolor film.
Avg. Rating: 
[7.60/10]
[7.60/10]
Maria Montez
Sherazade
Jon Hall
Haroun-Al-Raschid
Leif Erickson
Kamar-Al-Zaman
Edgar Barrier
Nadan
Sabu
Ali Ben Ali
Billy Gilbert
Ahmad
Shemp Howard
Sinbad
John Qualen
Aladdin
Turhan Bey
Captain of the Guard
Richard Lane
Corporal
Thomas Gomez
Hakim
Robert Greig
Storyteller
Paul Clayton
Boy
Elyse Knox
Duenna
Burnu Acquanetta
Ishya
Peggy Satterlee
Virgin
Phyllis Forbes
Virgin
Helen Pender
Virgin
Eloise Hardt
Virgin
Jeni Le Gon
Dresser
Daniel Barone
Tumbler
Ben Ayassa Wadrassi
Tumbler
Edward Marmolejo
Tumbler
Amador Gutierrez
Tumbler
Duke York
Archer
Johnny Berkes
Blind beggar
Ken Christy
Provost Marshal
Mickey Simpson
Hangman
Adia Kuznetzoff
Slaver
Robin Raymond
Marcena, slave girl
Anthony Blair
Bidder
Art Miles
Bidder
Nick Thompson
Bidder
Robert Barron
Bidder
Murdock MacQuarrie
Bidder
Andre Charlot
Bidder
Al Haskell
Bidder
Frank Lackteen
Bidder
Harry Cording
Blacksmith
Charles Coleman
Saleem, harem eunuch
Carlos Alvarado
Officer
Jamiel Hasson
Officer
Crane Whitley
Officer
Emory Parnell
Harem sentry
June Ealey
Harem girl
Linda Brent
Harem girl
Jean Trent
Harem girl
Pat Starling
Harem girl
Alice Neilson
Harem girl
Suzanne Ridgeway
Harem girl
Patsy Mace
Harem girl
Nedra Sanders
Harem girl
Carmen D'Antonio
Harem girl
Rosemary Dempsey
Harem girl
Veronica Pataky
Harem girl
Mary Moore
Harem girl
Rebel Randall
Harem girl
Virginia Engels
Harem girl
Frances Gladwin
Harem girl
Kathleen McCormack
Harem girl
Kermit Maynard
Nadan's Aide-de-Camp
Eva Puig
Old woman
Ernest Whitman
Nubian slave
Lane Chandler
Majordomo
David Sharpe
Sabu's stunt double
Walter Wanger
Producer
John Rawlins
Director
Michael Hogan
Story and Screenplay
True Boardman
Screenplay
Milton R. Krasner
Director of Photography
W. Howard Greene
Associate Photographer
William V. Skall
Associate Photographer
Philip Cahn
Film Editor
Jack Otterson
Production Designer
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Alexander Golitzen
Production Designer
Russell A. Gausman
Set Decoration
Ira S. Webb
Associate Set Decorator
Bernard B. Brown
Sound Director
Willam R. Fox
Sound Technician
Charles Previn
Musical Director
Frank Skinner
Original Music
Fred Frank
Assistant Director
Ford Beebe
2nd Unit Director
Vera West
Women's Costumes
Dorothea Holt
Illustrator
Natalie Kalmus
Technicolor Color Director
Jamiel Hasson
Technical Advisor
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