This movie was ahead of its time in 1 way. Whenever Miss Knabenshu (Phyllis Diller) lifted her skirt to show some leg the horses went crazy years before Mel Brooks had that Frau Blucher bit in Young Frankenstein.
9 Reviews
* A hilarious Grade B comedy!
dweilermg-19 January 2018
Meet "The Music Woman".
mark.waltz24 January 2021
Warning: Spoilers
The irrepressible Phyllis Diller is Agatha Knabenshu, a piano saleswoman with a huge appetite for men and "Did you hear the one..." style jokes the scares the men away and legs that scare horses. Like "The Music Man", this opens with Diller getting off of the train, making passes at the other traveling salesman rather than doing her best to get away from them. She'll make a good partner with unlucky inventor Bob Denver who destroys more things than he invests, and turn this River City like town in a way they won't forget.
A great cast of fabulous character comics surround Diller and Denver including Paul Reed and Jeanette Nolan as Denver's parents and Joe Flynn, Herb Vigran, Bob Hastings, Charles Lane and David Hartman as townsfolk, with Eileen Wesson as Denver's love interests. Then there's the horses, winnying every time they get a sight of the colorfully dressed Diller's gams.
Then there's the bouncy music score, saved for farcical 60's films of this nature, really adding to the goofy situations and Diller's wild outfits. The jokes are a mixed bag of corny standards and some that wouldn't get past the censors today. Diller and Denver are nearly as good a teaming as Diller and Hope (that other Bob) and Denver and Hale. It's just too bad that they didn't do more together. The film as far as plot is concerned is forgettable, but for the gags, verbal and visual, is a gem.
A great cast of fabulous character comics surround Diller and Denver including Paul Reed and Jeanette Nolan as Denver's parents and Joe Flynn, Herb Vigran, Bob Hastings, Charles Lane and David Hartman as townsfolk, with Eileen Wesson as Denver's love interests. Then there's the horses, winnying every time they get a sight of the colorfully dressed Diller's gams.
Then there's the bouncy music score, saved for farcical 60's films of this nature, really adding to the goofy situations and Diller's wild outfits. The jokes are a mixed bag of corny standards and some that wouldn't get past the censors today. Diller and Denver are nearly as good a teaming as Diller and Hope (that other Bob) and Denver and Hale. It's just too bad that they didn't do more together. The film as far as plot is concerned is forgettable, but for the gags, verbal and visual, is a gem.
Why is this movie not out on DVD or VHS yet?
lorihaun26 September 2004
I have been waiting for too long now for this crazy wacky movie to be released for the opportunity to buy, but yet it's nowhere to be found. Will it ever be released? Who can we contact to help get it out and released? I haven't seen it for many years now, but I enjoyed watching it every time it was on TV. It is a timeless classic movie with many great actors and actresses who helped shape TV and movies into what it is today. It's also a piece of history in a way as it helped give us a view of early country living and coming into modern technology of the day. I am also a huge Phyllis Diller and Bob Denver fan. I would really love to be able to purchase this movie!
Does anyone have it available on the old reel movies? Does anyone even show it on TV anymore? Please someone guide me to the right people to see about getting this movie out for the public to purchase! Is the movie even still in existence?
Thanks.
Lori Haun
Does anyone have it available on the old reel movies? Does anyone even show it on TV anymore? Please someone guide me to the right people to see about getting this movie out for the public to purchase! Is the movie even still in existence?
Thanks.
Lori Haun
Boy, did Diller dial a wrong number!
moonspinner556 August 2016
Cut-rate yokel comedy from Universal, a star-vehicle for Phyllis Diller cast as a player-piano saleswoman in 1910 Kansas. Diller (in a series of inappropriately 'groovy' outfits) and bumbling inventor Bob Denver enter an auto-race to save the family farm, utilizing a souped-up buggy which is fueled by burning wood. One riotous scene (wherein Phyllis attempts to seduce banker Joe Flynn and both are sprayed with sheep dip) cannot compensate for a wearisome script laden with put-downs and anchored by a cheap, ugly presentation. Vic Mizzy's cartoony score is fun at first but, like most of "Traveling Saleslady", ends up seeming desperate and pushy. Diller's running joke (scaring horses by showing off her legs) epitomizes the pedestrian rest. *1/2 from ****
A riot
carlynutt20 March 2005
Contrary to many snobbish movie critics, Did You Hear The One About The Traveling Saleslady is a laugh riot. Phyllis Diller is in peak form in this movie. I remember it fondly as a child and I wish that it would get released on DVD. The milking machine scene alone is worth the price of admission. If you have the opportunity to see this movie, do it. Just relax and let yourself be entertained. This was one of the many movies I saw at weekend matinées as a child. It ranks right up there with Hello Down There, Fluffy, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Oliver and Boy Did I Get A Wrong Number to name only a few. Many I have forgotten in my adult years but some have stayed with me as is the case with Traveling Saleslady.Some movies are not meant to be artsy and intellectual with a message. Some are meant for pure entertainment. Phyllis Diller delivers the goods.
Phyllis Diller rocks
tday-122 August 2007
Warning: Spoilers
I saw this movie when I was a kid and loved it. Phyllis and Bob Denver were a hoot as was the parade of fun character actors in the piece. I laughed out loud when Bob's scent machine went wrong with skunk oil. It was also hilarious when Bob's father heard Phyllis' wacky laugh and figured he could use it to scare the crows. But I think the biggest laugh for me was when everyone in town was coming to tar and feather poor Phyllis and the scent machine sent off love gas,making everyone instantly start kissing and hugging. The two main guys in town that were heading the mob suddenly start kissing on Phyllis. This movie and boy,Did I Get a Wrong Number are my favorite Phylis Diller films. Universal should put out Saleslady,The Art of Love ,and A Man could get killed.
A laugh riot, and regrettably, a distant memory!
Little-Mikey19 September 2009
I saw this movie on late night television many years ago. It was a laugh riot. Sad to say, I don't remember much else.
A better way to describe this movie was "an invasion of the great comics of the time".
Phyllis Diller was as wild as her wild hair.
Bob Denver, hopelessly typecast by GILLIGAN'S ISLAND, usually played the good hearted but incompetent buffoon to perfection (no wonder they type casted him).
Joe Flynn, then riding on the fame he won by playing Capt. Wallace Binghampton on MCHALE'S NAVY, was type cast to playing the whiny and arrogant snob.
Charles Lane had been long type cast to playing mean, despicable and heartless characters and his characters never smiled unless they had somehow managed to victimize some one first, like taking the last of the person's meager possessions, for example. His most famous role was that of Homer Bedloe, a despicable character who made numerous appearances of PETTICOAT JUNCTION.
Bob Hastings portrayed the spineless and gutless yes-man to side splitting utter perfection, like his famous Lt. Carpenter from MCHALE'S NAVY. One of his earliest roles was on the radio show, ARCHIE, playing who else but Archie Andrews, himself! With such a long list of such brilliant comics, together on film, with a good script, a bad script or no script at all, it would be impossible not to have a classic comedic masterpiece.
DVD? VHS? Anything please?
A better way to describe this movie was "an invasion of the great comics of the time".
Phyllis Diller was as wild as her wild hair.
Bob Denver, hopelessly typecast by GILLIGAN'S ISLAND, usually played the good hearted but incompetent buffoon to perfection (no wonder they type casted him).
Joe Flynn, then riding on the fame he won by playing Capt. Wallace Binghampton on MCHALE'S NAVY, was type cast to playing the whiny and arrogant snob.
Charles Lane had been long type cast to playing mean, despicable and heartless characters and his characters never smiled unless they had somehow managed to victimize some one first, like taking the last of the person's meager possessions, for example. His most famous role was that of Homer Bedloe, a despicable character who made numerous appearances of PETTICOAT JUNCTION.
Bob Hastings portrayed the spineless and gutless yes-man to side splitting utter perfection, like his famous Lt. Carpenter from MCHALE'S NAVY. One of his earliest roles was on the radio show, ARCHIE, playing who else but Archie Andrews, himself! With such a long list of such brilliant comics, together on film, with a good script, a bad script or no script at all, it would be impossible not to have a classic comedic masterpiece.
DVD? VHS? Anything please?
hilarious is too small a word
jvframe15 January 2004
This is Phyllis Diller at her absolute peak of agility and wit - with sight gags you could well die for.
Phyllis' fashions alone almost steal the show - they're completely over the top, just like her character.
Fifteen years or so later Phyllis was frail enough to need to be gently assisted to the stage at Brisbane's Crest Hotel - where she convinced any doubters in the audience that she is indeed one of the all-time greatest stand-up comedy artists. 'Traveling Saleslady immortalises her devastatingly unique style.
Phyllis' fashions alone almost steal the show - they're completely over the top, just like her character.
Fifteen years or so later Phyllis was frail enough to need to be gently assisted to the stage at Brisbane's Crest Hotel - where she convinced any doubters in the audience that she is indeed one of the all-time greatest stand-up comedy artists. 'Traveling Saleslady immortalises her devastatingly unique style.
Great silly movie to just sit back and enjoy!
coakleys410 July 2007
This movie rates way up there in the far upper chuckles of our memory! Who doesn't like our beloved "Gilligan" Bob Denver, as well as our favorite funny woman Phyllis Diller, the wise cracking glory of Bob Hope's "Boy, Did I get a Wrong Number"? Combine the two and put them in the crazy old west, and you have the perfect recipe for a whoopin' good time! Denver is a very imaginative inventor, Diller a sales lady, the two team up for the business arrangement that could ignite the whole town. A definite "Must See" for zany movie buffs. Let's bring this one back from the archives and let a whole new generation enjoy it. ("Gilligan" has never gone out of date, and this is just our silly little Gilligan with a bit of the Professor thrown in!) Thanks guys for making great movies that we can remember with a smile, and a chuckle or two.
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