Behind the Eight Ball (1942) User Reviews (6)

Ritz Brothers Unshackled

[LynxMatthews · 6/10 · 21 October 2003]

Hey, finally the Ritz boys put to good use. Actual characters rather than just a backdrop for a boring love story. The Three Jolly Jesters are brought in after two killings two nights in a row at a theater in the Berkshires. They are the only ones pathetic enough to take the job replacing the dead acts. As plots go, this one is entirely idiotic. William Demarest is his usual loud and angry self, and the degree to which he puts the Ritz Boys and others in the show in harm's way in order to solve his crime is a bit offensive. Yes, it's a wacky comedy, but this plot point could have been less moronic. Plot aside, the Ritz boys get a good deal of screen time, clowning as well as singing/hoofing. They do a number saluting Charles Atlas and one mocking Ted Lewis. They get good lines and bits, including one meta-gag where they actually refer to the Ritz Brothers. Good, loud big band music all around.

Al and Jimmy, who are normally just window dressing to Harry, actually stand out a bit with their own lines. Still can't tell the two apart, but oh well. Bottom line for fans: This movie, while brief and nonsensical gives you more Ritz Brothers for your money than any film I've yet seen. I'd put it next to Kentucky Moonshine as one of their best.

If you believe the Ritz Brothers can't even entertain an imbecile, sit down and they'll prove you wrong!

[gridoon2024 · 6/10 · 17 April 2011]

"Behind The Eight Ball" (a title about as nonsensical as...."Horse Feathers" or "Duck Soup") is a musical-comedy-mystery, with the emphasis on the first two parts. The music is tuneful, if forgettable (but the Ritz Brothers do briefly get to show that they are terrific dancers). The comedy is hit-and-miss, with some surreal gems (one of them bites on a piece of iron and then spits out teeth all over the place!) mixed in with some too-obvious gags. The mystery is thin, but you do have to give the picture credit for playing fair and giving you a most decisive clue right in the opening sequence - but if you don't watch very carefully, you'll miss it like I did on my first viewing. Overall, this film is a pleasant short diversion. **1/2 out of 4.

Hey! The Ritz Brothers Can Be Funny!

[boblipton · 6/10 · 4 November 2023]

The first 'guest act' in the summer stock revue was killed by gunshot, and the police couldn't figure out who did it. The second time, the new guest act dies in the same way. In the immortal words of a producer who doesn't want to return the box office receipts, the show must go on! Besides, local police chief William Demarest thinks if they do it again, they'll figure out who is murdering vaudeville. He heads down to Manhattan to find performers, but only idiots will work with a murderer gunning for them, so he gets the Ritz Brothers.

Normally I don't enjoy Al, Jimmy and Harry, because they're all mugging in stereo. Here, under the direction of Eddie Cline, they not only get some good gags, but good songs and dances, and there's some shaky differentiation between them. This being a Universal musical, they also have Grace MacDonald singing a song or two, some nice dancing, and good performers backing them up, like Carol Bruce, Dick Foran, and Johnny Downs. Some of the jokes have not aged well, but you can see how they could actually be funny on stage.

The Ritz Brothers are allowed to mostly dominate Behind the Eight Ball

[tavm · 7/10 · 12 July 2019]

Previously when they were at 20th Century-Fox, the Ritz Brothers were in support of such stars as Alice Faye, Don Ameche, and Sonja Henie. When they switched to Universal, they were usually the only stars in their pictures as they are here. So they get to perform many of their funny songs and dances as well as some funny one-liners. Despite them being the stars, however, there are other singers and dancers as well as a big band combo here. There's also a murder mystery here but that gets solved pretty quickly considering this is only an hour in length. So on that note, I say give Behind the Eight Ball a look.

okay time killer and litmus test for you love of the Ritz Brothers

[dbborroughs · 4/10 · 5 June 2010]

Some sort of war time comedy musical set at summer stock theater where the visiting performer has been killed two nights running. The police and theater group try to find a new act to fill the slot in the hope of getting the killer. They hire the Jolly Jesters,the Ritz Brothers and a kind of insanity ensues.

I'm not a Ritz Brothers fan. I can admire them and the shtick but I don't find them funny. Its clear why they got a contract, they are good at what they do, but its also clear why they never reached the stardom of the Marxes or the Stooges or anyone else, they are rather annoying (hence why more often then not they seemed to be in support rather than in the lead). This is a low rent film that is set mostly at the show and consists of acts, with the murderer clear from the first appearance-I mean they go out of the way to show you the guy and the weapon. Its an okay time killer but nothing I'd see again.

Broadway in a barn is a real undertaking.

[mark.waltz · 4/10 · 22 September 2016]

Corny humor by the Ritz brothers instantly dates this musical comedy where the trio is tapped to stand in for the specialty acts in a country musical filled with talented show biz hopefuls anxious for a break. The trouble is that the two previous acts were killed while performing, and until they accept the assignment, the brothers are unaware of the murders.

Decent musical acts surround the corniness of the trio, lead by pretty grace McDonald. For a barn show, this is pretty lavish for the sets, although it is bottom of the bill film budget wise. Tolerable during their Fox years, the Ritz brothers were old hat by 1942, certainly no threat to Abbott and Costello, let alone Olsen and Johnson, Universal's other leading comics. But for an hour, who's complaining? The energetic youngsters give their all, and William Demarest does provide laughs as the cranky detective.