High Flyers
Encyclopedia
High Flyers is a musical comedy film
, released by RKO Radio Pictures starring the comedy team Wheeler & Woolsey
. It would be the last film the duo made, as Robert Woolsey
died a year later.
Musical film
The musical film is a film genre in which songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, though in some cases they serve merely as breaks in the storyline, often as elaborate...
, released by RKO Radio Pictures starring the comedy team Wheeler & Woolsey
Wheeler & Woolsey
Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey were a famous American film comedy team of the 1930s....
. It would be the last film the duo made, as Robert Woolsey
Robert Woolsey
Robert Woolsey was an American stage and screen comedian and half of the 1930s comedy team Wheeler & Woolsey....
died a year later.
Plot
Jeremiah "Jerry" Lane and Pierre Potkin are a couple of carnival workers running an airplane ride. The duo leave their job when they are hired by smuggler Dave Hanlon to fly a real plane in order to retrieve a lifesaver. They believe that the lifesaver only consists of harmless photos, but soon find inside the lifesaver stolen jewels and cocaine. Jerry and Pierre eventually land in the backyard of the Arlingtons' estate. Initially, the Arlingtons believe that the duo are police officers, and readily allow them to stay in their home. As it turns out, the Arlingtons are good friends with Hanlon. When Hanlon is informed that Jerry and Pierre are at the Arlingtons', he convinces the family that the two men are actually lunatics from an asylum. Hanlon and some of his cronies (posing as doctors) show up at the mansion in order to bump off Jerry and Pierre, and get the smuggled jewels. However, the jewels have been hidden by the Arlingtons' kleptomaniac dog. A frantic and confusing search around the manor soon occurs, with dozens of cops added into the mix.Production
- Based on the 1926 Broadway play "The Kangaroos" by Victor Mapes.
- Robert WoolseyRobert WoolseyRobert Woolsey was an American stage and screen comedian and half of the 1930s comedy team Wheeler & Woolsey....
was suffering from kidney disease throughout production of this film, as well as the previous film On Again-Off AgainOn Again-Off AgainOn Again-Off Again is a musical comedy film, released by RKO Radio Pictures starring the comedy team Wheeler & Woolsey.-Plot:William Hobbs and Claude Horton are the owners of the drug manufacturing company "Horton and Hobbs' Pink Pills". Although the two couldn't have possibly started the business...
. Though it occurs in the middle of the film, the "I'm a Gaucho" musical number with Woolsey and Lupe VélezLupe VélezLupe Vélez was a Mexican film actress. Vélez began her career in Mexico as a dancer, before moving to the U.S. where she worked in vaudeville. She was seen by Fanny Brice who promoted her, and Vélez soon entered films, making her first appearance in 1924. By the end of the decade she had...
would be the last scene he shot. Ultimately, this would be Wheeler and Woolsey's last film. Bert Wheeler would continue to work regularly on the stage, and later did four more films (two features and two shorts). He would also occasionally appear on television well into the 1960s, most notably as "Smokey Joe" in the short-lived Brave EagleBrave EagleBrave Eagle is a 26-episode half-hour western television series which aired on CBS from September 28, 1955, to March 14, 1956, with rebroadcasts continuing until June 6. Keith Larsen , who was of Norwegian descent, starred as Brave Eagle, a peaceful young Cheyenne chief...
series. - Bert Wheeler does an impersonation of Charlie ChaplinCharlie ChaplinSir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I...
at one point in the film. Wheeler's Chaplin impersonation was actually a part of his stage act before he teamed with Robert Woolsey. Chaplin was actually very fond of Wheeler's impersonation of him. - The censor board refused to allow Wheeler and Woolsey to become intoxicated by cocaine in the film. As a result, the name "cocaine" was changed to something more comical.
Cast
- Bert Wheeler as Jeremiah "Jerry" Lane
- Robert WoolseyRobert WoolseyRobert Woolsey was an American stage and screen comedian and half of the 1930s comedy team Wheeler & Woolsey....
as Pierrie Potkin - Lupe VélezLupe VélezLupe Vélez was a Mexican film actress. Vélez began her career in Mexico as a dancer, before moving to the U.S. where she worked in vaudeville. She was seen by Fanny Brice who promoted her, and Vélez soon entered films, making her first appearance in 1924. By the end of the decade she had...
as Juanita, the Maid - Marjorie LordMarjorie LordMarjorie Lord is an American television and film actress. She played Kathy "Clancy" Williams opposite Danny Thomas on Make Room for Daddy and later Make Room for Granddaddy.-Early life and career:...
as Arlene Arlington - Margaret DumontMargaret DumontMargaret Dumont was an American comedic actress. She is remembered mostly for being the comic foil to Groucho Marx in seven of the Marx Brothers films...
as Martha Arlington - Jack CarsonJack CarsonJohn Elmer "Jack" Carson was a Canadian-born U.S.-based film actor.Jack Carson was one of the most popular character actors during the 'golden age of Hollywood', with a film career spanning the 1930s, '40s and '50s...
as Dave Hanlon - Paul HarveyPaul Harvey (actor)Paul Harvey was an American actor who appeared in at least 177 films.-Selected filmography:*They Shall Have Music *Behind the News *Moonlight Masquerade *Spellbound...
as Horace Arlington - Charles JudelsCharles JudelsCharles Judels was a Dutch-born American film actor. He appeared in 137 films between 1915 and 1949. He also did extensive work as a voice-over actor in animated films, notably as the voice of Stromboli in Walt Disney's Pinocchio, and in the Warner Brothers Looney Tunes short Porky's Garden.He was...
as Mr. Fontaine - Lucien Prival as Mr. Panzer
- Herbert EvansHerbert EvansHerbert Evans may refer to:* Herbert McLean Evans , American anatomist and embryologist* Herbert Evans , British Labour Party Member of Parliament for Gateshead 1931...
as Mr. Hartley - Herbert Clifton as Stone, the Butler
- George IrvingGeorge IrvingGeorge Irving may refer to:*George Irving , American film actor and director*George Irving , British television actor*George S. Irving , American theatre actor-See also:*George Irvine...
as Chief of Police