Make 'Em Laugh (The Funny Business of America)
This website is made possible, in part, by displaying a few online advertisements to our visitors.
Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker for this site.
Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker for this site.
Released March 13, 1952
Featuring Joe Besser (Solo)
Featuring Joe Besser (Solo)
Columbia
15.9 min. (Short Subject)
15.9 min. (Short Subject)
Visiting Starvania's army camps to find his fiancee Olga, Joe and his friend Hawth find themselves at the gate to Camp Victory when war breaks out with Thirstgaria. The draft takes on new meaning when a giant wind blows the boys into Victory's induction center. Their bumbling during drill and artillery training, with help from an errant skunk, is constant aggravation for Sgt. Bonebreaker. Complicating matters is Sarge's jealousy over WAC Cpl. Olga.
Reworked with stock footage as ARMY DAZE (1956), also starring Besser and Hawthorne.
Produced as a showcase for Joe's drill training routine, a popular skit he performed in Broadway revues with partner Jimmy Little in the 1930s. Jules White had earlier adapted Besser's drill routine for Moe, Larry & Curly in BOOBS IN ARMS (1940).
A local radio comic named Jim Hawthorne was signed by Jules White, and teamed with Joe Besser in a handful of short comedies, effectively taking on the role of Joe's straightman.
Avg. Rating: 
[5.40/10]
[5.40/10]
Joe Besser
Pvt. Joe Besser
Jim Hawthorne
Pvt. Hawthorne
Henry Kulky
Sgt. Bonebreaker
Angela Stevens
Olga
Heinie Conklin
Private
Slim Gaut
Private
Kit Guard
Private
Johnny Kascier
Private
Johnny Kascier
Soldier at water pail
J. Garwood
Hawthorne's stand-in
Johnny Kascier
Besser's stand-in
Jules White
Director
Jules White
Producer
Felix Adler
Story and Screenplay
Fayte M. Browne
Director of Photography
Edwin Bryant
Film Editor
Charles Clague
Art Director
P. Donnelly
Assistant Director
FAIR USE NOTICE: This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We make such material available in an effort to advance awareness and understanding of the issues involved. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information please visit: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission directly from the copyright owner.
