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The Nitwits

  • 1935
  • Approved
  • 1h 21m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
439
YOUR RATING
Betty Grable, Bert Wheeler, and Robert Woolsey in The Nitwits (1935)
SlapstickComedyCrimeMusicMystery

A would-be songwriter and a would-be inventor run a cigar stand and get mixed up in the murder of a song publisher.A would-be songwriter and a would-be inventor run a cigar stand and get mixed up in the murder of a song publisher.A would-be songwriter and a would-be inventor run a cigar stand and get mixed up in the murder of a song publisher.

  • Director
    • George Stevens
  • Writers
    • Fred Guiol
    • Al Boasberg
    • Stuart Palmer
  • Stars
    • Bert Wheeler
    • Robert Woolsey
    • Betty Grable
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    5.9/10
    439
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • George Stevens
    • Writers
      • Fred Guiol
      • Al Boasberg
      • Stuart Palmer
    • Stars
      • Bert Wheeler
      • Robert Woolsey
      • Betty Grable
    • 17User reviews
    • 9Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro

    • Photos7

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    Top cast40

    Edit
    Bert Wheeler
    Bert Wheeler
    • Johnnie
    Robert Woolsey
    Robert Woolsey
    • Newton
    Betty Grable
    Betty Grable
    • Mary Roberts
    Hale Hamilton
    Hale Hamilton
    • Winfield Lake
    Evelyn Brent
    Evelyn Brent
    • Mrs. Alice Lake
    Erik Rhodes
    Erik Rhodes
    • George Clark
    Fred Keating
    Fred Keating
    • William Darrell
    Charles C. Wilson
    Charles C. Wilson
    • Police Captain Jennings
    • (as Charles Wilson)
    Arthur Aylesworth
    Arthur Aylesworth
    • Lurch
    Willie Best
    Willie Best
    • Sleepy
    Lew Kelly
    Lew Kelly
    • J. Gabriel Hazel
    Joan Andrews
    • Singer
    • (uncredited)
    Martin Cichy
    Martin Cichy
    • Cop
    • (uncredited)
    Nathan Curry
    • Minor Role
    • (uncredited)
    Dick Curtis
    Dick Curtis
    • Cop on Stakeout
    • (uncredited)
    Edgar Dearing
    Edgar Dearing
    • Police Officer Barney Riley
    • (uncredited)
    Jack Ellis
    • Hoofer
    • (uncredited)
    Dick Gilbert
    Dick Gilbert
    • Black Widow Henchman
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • George Stevens
    • Writers
      • Fred Guiol
      • Al Boasberg
      • Stuart Palmer
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      One of 21 movies made by popular comedy duo Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey between 1929 and 1937, before Woolsey died in 1938. It is also the last minor feature directed by film luminary George Stevens before he broke through with "Alice Adams (1935)."
    • Goofs
      When Johnnie throws the bowl of water in Newton's face, it knocks the cigar out of his mouth. But, in the next shot, he is holding the cigar in his left hand.
    • Quotes

      [first lines]

      Male Singer: [singing] I'm not the same at all, / And I can blame it all; / I thought that love was a lark. / There's something strange in me, / The sudden change in me; / I walk around in the dark. / Suddenly I found a star. / You've opened my eyes. / You made me see the light, / The beauty of the night. / You've opened my eyes. / You taught me to see / The sunny side of things. / The heart within me sings. / You brought this to me.

    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits are shown on a player-piano music roll, which ends with the screen filling with black music notes.
    • Connections
      References High Gear (1931)
    • Soundtracks
      Music in My Heart
      (1935)
      Lyrics by Dorothy Fields
      Music by Jimmy McHugh
      Sung and Danced by Bert Wheeler (uncredited) and Betty Grable (uncredited)
      Later reprized by Bert Wheeler (uncredited), Robert Woolsey (uncredited),
      Betty Grable (uncredited), and the jail prisoners

    User reviews17

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10

    This Little-Known Comedy Team (Today) Were Kings of Slapstick, Tomfoolery

    Little-known team (today) of Wheeler and Woolsey were the first comedy team of film at this time, having made almost a dozen movies by 1935. Betty Grable makes a lengthy appearance here. The movie is not bad for 1935 tomfoolery, although it could benefit from some intelligent editing.

    The film definitely goes on the "watchable" pile simply for the sake of its early slapstick continuity and the fact that this comedy team was so prolific in the early days.

    Whether or not this type of comedy tickled your funny bone is entirely another matter (I don't think it's funny, for example, but many people will.)
    • tr-83495
    • Apr 27, 2019
    • Permalink

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 7, 1935 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Mellodicks
    • Filming locations
      • RKO Studios - 780 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production company
      • RKO Radio Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 21 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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    Betty Grable, Bert Wheeler, and Robert Woolsey in The Nitwits (1935)
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