Make 'Em Laugh (The Funny Business of America)
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Released December 01, 1959
Featuring Joe Besser (Solo)
Featuring Joe Besser (Solo)
20th Century-Fox
123 min. (Feature Film)
123 min. (Feature Film)
Joe Besser filmed several scenes as 'Gallagher,' owner of the bar & grill frequented by Santini. But much of that footage was cut before the film's release, taking all of Joe's scenes with it.
Jo Morris' mother pleads with disillusioned attorney Victor Santini (Tony Franciosa) to take her daughter's murder case. Jo (Rita Hayworth) is accused of murdering her police detective husband, with the help of her lover Larry Ellis (Gig Young). In flashbacks, the story of Jo's unhappy marriage to an abusive, alcoholic husband is told. She meets tax accountant Ellis, a divorcee from a loveless marrigage, who recently lost his young son in an accident. The two begin an affair that quickly blooms into love. Jo's husband finds the two together, pulls his service revolver, but in a scuffle with Larry, he is accidentally killed.
The story moves forward in time, to the trial. The nature of the circumstantial evidence seems overwhelming, separately and together for the two lovers. But each refuses to blame the other, preferring to go to trial together, and be found guilty together if necessary. In addition to being a legal drama, the story is also a critique of the legal process.
Filmed in CinemaScope.
Avg. Rating: 
[5.00/10]
[5.00/10]
Rita Hayworth
Josephine Brown Morris
Gig Young
Larry Ellis
Anthony Franciosa
Victor Santini
Alfred Ryder
Lt. Mike Morris
Mildred Dunnock
Mrs. Ellis
Katherine Squire
Hattie Brown
Carol Anne Seflinger
Avis Morris
Sheridan Comerate
Frank Morris
Joe McGuinn
Lt. Morris
Leo Penn
Morris Goetz
Richard LePore
Calvin Lewis
Biff Elliott
Eddie Ritter
Hugh Griffith
Judge Edgar Neilsen
Raymond Greenleaf
Judge Carey
Sanford Meisner
Prosecutor Phil Stanley
Robert Burton
D. A. Nordeau
Tom Greenway
Det. Capt. Kelly
Theodore Newton
Dr. Kemper
Myrna Fahey
Alice
William Challee
Lemke
Jay Adler
Lauber
Miranda Jones
Miss Monroe
James O'Rear
Hauser
Harry Carter
Court bailiff
Dan Riss
Court clerk
George Turley
Court stenographer
Leonard George
Jury foreman
Franklyn Farnum
Juror
Stuart Holmes
Juror
Virginia Carroll
Police matron
Jack Chefe
Man in courtroom
Joe Ploski
Man in courtroom
Art Salter
Bartender
Bru Danger
Cook
Jerry Sheldon
Man in bar
Joe Besser
Gallagher, scenes deleted
Clifford Odets
Director
Jerry Wald
Producer
Clifford Odets
Screenplay
James Wong Howe
Director of Photography
Hugh S. Fowler
Film Editor
Howard Richmond
Art Director
Lyle R. Wheeler
Art Director
Walter M. Scott
Set Decoration
G. W. Berntsen
Set Decoration
Harry M. Leonard
Sound
Alfred Bruzlin
Sound
Edward B. Powell
Orchestration
Elmer Bernstein
Music
Ben Nye
Makeup
Myrl Stoltz
Hair Stylist
Jack Gertsman
Assistant Director
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