The kay kyser one, not the bob hope one. Although the hope version is also pretty awesome. Kyser only made thirteen films, and this was right in the middle, during WW II. Co-stars ellen drew, jane wyman. Just as kay gets married to terry (drew), he gets inducted to the military. Undercover, even to his wife. Hijinx ensue, with the usual band member comedy bits, like his sidekick ish kabibble. You'll spot chester clute, who pops up in so many black and white films. And the talented william demarest, in his prime, years before mad, mad world or my three sons! It's a wartime story, with some comedy thrown in, since the u.s. Had just been yanked into the war. Directed by tay garnett, who had been in the service, and had started with sennett and roach. Produced by harold lloyd. It's fun. Silly. And entertaining.
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ksf-214 August 2022
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SnoopyStyle23 July 2022Band leader Kay Kyser is late to his wedding. After rushing to his wedding, he's quickly off to the Army. His enlistment seems to be a mistake but his superiors have another job for him. He's recruited into the secret service but he can't tell anyone. He gets a sexy contact which becomes a problem with his new wife.
Kay Kyser has his brand of very mild sense of humor. This is one of his many mildly amusing films. He's trying to contribute to the war effort in his own ways. As propaganda, the military makes a silly mistake to start the premise and the secret service requires the help of this mild-mannered amateur for some reason. I don't think they are well-served but there is nothing fatal. I would also think that this would be more compelling if it's not set in America. The wife is fun... at first. At some point, she has to figure out the situation much sooner and she's screaming her head off for no reason. I don't see why she's trying to Kay with the vase unless she assumes it to be a trick vase. This is a strange mix of light comedy and dark noir espionage film during a time of real world war. -
utgard1427 October 2022I haven't always been the biggest fan of Kay Kyser's films. However I must admit I've never seen one that I thought was genuinely bad. My biggest complaints are usually directed at the corny humor that feels more suited for radio where he made his name. That's not much of an issue here. This film might be overshadowed by the more well-known "My Favorite Spy" starring Bob Hope and Hedy Lamarr but I actually think this one is funnier. Kyser does fine here but the real scene stealers are Jane Wyman, Ellen Drew, and a great supporting cast of reliable hands like William Demarest and Una O'Connor. If you've tried a Kay Kyser movie before and weren't impressed, give this one a look. It's pretty good.
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On his way to be married, bandleader Kay Kyser learns from a newspaper article that he has been recalled to Army service. After a hasty wedding he reports to camp only to find that a mistake has been made; what the Army really wants him to do is find out about an espionage ring that is operating out of the Orchid Room, the nightclub where Kyser's big band plays. The unlikely spy's mysterious contact is future Academy Award winner Jane Wyman, and together they help keep the homefront safe for Democracy while Kay tries to keep his neglected bride from bolting.
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mossgrymk24 August 2022Lovers of 40s big band music must suffer through boatloads of unfunny "comedy" to get to the few crumbs of boogie woogie while those who do not like 40s big band music (like me) must simply suffer.
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Uriah4322 March 2024This film essentially begins with a band director by the name of "Kay Kyser" (played by himself) rushing to a church for his own wedding. Along the way he is informed that he has just been called up into the Army and that he is supposed to report for duty that very evening. Needless to say, his bride "Teresa Kyser" (Ellen Drew) is not too happy with this news but, since there is nothing anyone can do, promises to wait for his return as patiently as she can. Little does she know, however, that his return will be much sooner than expected because, not long after reporting for duty, he is informed that there was a mistake and that another person by that same name was supposed to appear instead of him. Naturally, he is somewhat relieved at first, but it's then that his superior officers tell him that they want to use him as a decoy to trap some German spies who are operating not too far the dance hall where he performs. Obviously, being the loyal patriot that he is, he agrees without any reservations. What he doesn't realize, however, is that his clandestine activities are soon to interfere with his duties as a new husband. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this was a rather ordinary comedy which suffered, to an extent, from the relatively mild humor in a number of scenes. But having said that, I must admit a certain interest in this particular time in American history and, for that reason, the film kept my attention from start-to-finish. Likewise, although I am not too familiar with many Kay Kyser movies, it's quite possible that there are those who enjoy his films and might find this one to be somewhat entertaining as well. In any case, while I don't consider this to be a good comedy necessarily, I suppose it was worth the time spent, and I have rated it accordingly. Average.
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yessdanc7 June 2004Who could imagine anything more ridiculous than bespectacled 40s big band leader KAY KYSER ever being a spy?? Well, that's the key in this amusing wartime farce, and its strength. Everybody knows Kyser as a benign, southern gentleman from the ultra popular KOLLEGE OF MUSICAL KNOWLEDGE radio show, so drafting him and using him as a spy is the perfect governmental solution! When Nazis are discovered using musical arrangements to broadcast coded messages, Kyser is on the case! Particularly memorable are his two lovely costars, Ellen Drew (she of the PERFECT body and cheekbones)and Jane Wyman as his cohort in spy-dom. Kyser tries to act tough ("Bartender! Stab us with a couple of drinks!")but can't quite rise to the occasion. Perhaps he'll prevail in the end! Great(though not enough) songs! Harry Babbitt sings the perfect 'homesick soldier' song, JUST PLAIN LONESOME, and bouncy Sully Mason the catchy GOT THE MOON IN MY POCKET. People seem surprised to hear Harold Lloyd produced this film. Whaddya they want- Kyser hanging from a clock?? Ish Kabibble (Merwyn Bogue) is first rate in his usual capacity as inane sidekick, but could have been used more. Robert Armstrong (King Kong)is the perfect expressionless American Nazi/tough guy. Out of Kyser's 7 features, this one for RKO, I'd rate this 4 out of 5 stars. More on 'The IL' Professor of Swing at kaykyser.net Fun flick!!
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If you like the goofball comedies of the 1940s, mixing wordplay, parodies of genres, and musical numbers; this film is as good as any made by Bob Hope. Band leader and radio personality Kay Kyser discovers, on his wedding day, that he has been drafted. When his new bride finds out, just after they are pronounced "man and wife," that her new husband will have to leave for the army that evening, she replies to a question how she feels now that she's married, "This is the worst thing that has ever happened to me!"
Kay tries to instruct recruits but does not do too good of a job. Thus, the army wants him to return to his nightclub as a counterspy -- they suspect there's an enemy agent working there. Naturally, (1) he can't tell his bride about his assignment, (2) his contact is a beautiful women, and (3) Kay and the women are arrested late at night, causing a front page sensation the next day.
Kay has to keep telling lies to his bride in order to cover his seeming philandering. Eventually, she thinks everything is just a gag, including her husband's announcement that he's found the spy ring. Even as the bad guys shoot at Kay in his night club, she thinks this is all just fun. Of course, Kay ends up the hero and the two of them FINALLY get to be alone together.
This film isn't for people who want fart jokes or expect to burst out laughing every ten seconds. Like most 1940s comedies, there are musical interludes and (horrors!) it's in BW. But if you like Bob Hope films, you'll find that Kay Kyser was every bit as funny. -
lzf021 July 2003Whoever said that band leader Kay Kyser was a comedian? This Harold Lloyd produced opus proves that there is nothing funny about him. He looks a little like Harold Lloyd, but that's about it. This RKO comedy is well planned and has a funny premise. Lloyd provided for many belly laugh opportunities. The problem is that Kyser cannot deliver a punch line and is totally inept at physical comedy. William Demarest has a funny bit as a policeman doing battle with Kyser, but most of the humor is crushed by Kyser. Tay Garnett was not the best choice for director; he lets a number of slapstick possibilities escape. He makes the same mistakes in his later "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court". The film would have worked if Lloyd has taken the lead himself, with a director like George Stevens handling the camera. What a pity!