Virginia Obrien sure steals the opening scenes as she cracks jokes between lines of her own singing performance, staying completely deadpan all the while. We get a glimpse of Frank Morgan, who is trying to audition at a radio station, but doesn't get in. Aside from some good actual singing performances, there's just so much going on here, we need a score card to keep track of it all; There's the comedy bit with lead Frank Merriweather (Frank Morgan) and his butler over what they will call the butler, but it falls flat. Then there is the ex-wives routine with all the wives and grown up children, which is just confusing. Morgan's stammering, blustering, wisecracking, muttering character is just an hour and a half of vaudeville jokes, which is quite fun to watch, but doesn't really help the plot along. He actually does the "that was no lady, that was my wife!" bit during a bit with his family; See 15 year old Larry Nunn, and 15 year old Leni Lynn do a couple song and dance numbers with Morgan as he tries to get his children into show business. At the same time, Merriweather gets fired for scaring the public with a radio show that mimics one that had just happened in real life a few years prior. He spends the rest of the movie trying to get his job back at the radio station. Keep an eye out for Leo Gorcey (one of the Bowery Boys) and Donald Meeks (from the W.C. fields movies) Morgan does a zillion imitations, but about half of them are the actual actors voices... it would have been funnier to have Morgan just try to imitate them, instead of using the actual actors voices. When Morgan starts spouting Claudette Colbert from "It happened one night", it's pretty obvious that it couldn't be Morgan doing ALL the voices. Billie Burke (Glenda, the good witch) is one of the ex-wives, in her usual flitting about way. A neat trick of doubling-up on the songs here -- at the beginning of the film, and again near the end, Virginia O'Brien does stepped-up jazz versions of songs that had just been sung by someone else. Also a couple of excellent singing performances by Charles Holland, who always appears in his bellhop uniform. Have not been able to find out anything about his professional career, but what a set of lungs! It appears this film was made into a weekly TV show by NBC in the 1960s. Fun to watch Morgan, and the others do their showbiz bits, but as others have pointed out, plot line is pretty weak.
10 Reviews
Delightful musical
MountainMan4 November 2003
I have always like Frank Morgan and he was fun to watch in this entertaining movie. Excellent voice-overs done during his impersonations, lip-synch was perfect. Good direction, and the rest of the cast was a lot of fun. An easy 7.
The Great Morgan strikes back.
mark.waltz5 September 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Having been trying to get up to bat for ages, comic genius wannabee deals with three ex-wives, overpowering radio show sponsors and voices of popular movie stars in his head as he tries desperately to get on the air. A gifted mimic, Morgan has the ability to imitate people around him, and his imitations of MGM contract players Robert Taylor, Mickey Rooney and Hedy Lamarr (to mention a few) which makes you wonder if these stars spent a day providing their voices for this film unbilled.
Morgan starts off his gimmick spoofing "The War of the Worlds" which of course leads to panic and two welders being confused with martians. Virginia O'Brien has her first major part on screen, singing two standards in her deadpan manner to great hilarity. Charles Holland has a fine voice as the bellhop who gets two numbers as well, but of a more serious nature. A minor plot has radio show producer Dan Dailey dealing with a jealous fiancée who is vindictive towards singer Virginia Grey trying to get her first break.
A great ensemble of comic supporting players dominates the main plot concerning Morgan, with Donald Meek as the sponsor, Nydia Westman as his widowed sister-in-law who takes a fancy to Morgan, and Billie Burke, Sara Haden and Connie Gilchrist as his three ex-wives. Reginald Owen, Barnett Parker and Leo Gorcey also appear. This is a nice little B picture from MGM which makes it an A on other studio budgets.
Morgan starts off his gimmick spoofing "The War of the Worlds" which of course leads to panic and two welders being confused with martians. Virginia O'Brien has her first major part on screen, singing two standards in her deadpan manner to great hilarity. Charles Holland has a fine voice as the bellhop who gets two numbers as well, but of a more serious nature. A minor plot has radio show producer Dan Dailey dealing with a jealous fiancée who is vindictive towards singer Virginia Grey trying to get her first break.
A great ensemble of comic supporting players dominates the main plot concerning Morgan, with Donald Meek as the sponsor, Nydia Westman as his widowed sister-in-law who takes a fancy to Morgan, and Billie Burke, Sara Haden and Connie Gilchrist as his three ex-wives. Reginald Owen, Barnett Parker and Leo Gorcey also appear. This is a nice little B picture from MGM which makes it an A on other studio budgets.
a great role for Frank Morgan
adamj-45 November 2003
This is a nice little musical that's just a lot of fun. Frank Morgan is outstanding as usual. The supporting cast, including Billie Burke, Sara Haydin,and Virginia Gray are all fine. Compared to today's movies with all the violence and cynicism, movies like Hullabaloo are wonderful escape mechanisms.
Worth seeing...once
vincentlynch-moonoi9 April 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Frank Morgan was a gem, and a very busy actor in 1940, appearing in 7 films for MGM...and this one was filmed less than a year after his wonderful role of the Wizard in "The Wizard Of Oz". Among his great roles of 1940 were "The Shop Around The Corner", "The Mortal Storm", and "Boom Town", all notable. This trifle -- "Hullabaloo" -- was not one of his notable films, however, although it is a pleasant enough light musical.
In the film, Morgan -- an out of work actor -- puts on a "War Of The Worlds"-type radio program, getting him fired (yet again). But, he has an ace in the hole -- the sponsor's sister-in-law is quite taken with Morgan. What's most delightful about this film is Morgan's opportunity to really ham it up...and he does! Particularly amusing is when three ex-wives (with long lost children) pop up demanding alimony...much to the shock of the sponsor's sister-in-law! Along the way there are a number of pleasant performances -- Virginia O'Brien, Dan Dailey, and Billie Burke among them.
Not a great film, but worth seeing at least once.
In the film, Morgan -- an out of work actor -- puts on a "War Of The Worlds"-type radio program, getting him fired (yet again). But, he has an ace in the hole -- the sponsor's sister-in-law is quite taken with Morgan. What's most delightful about this film is Morgan's opportunity to really ham it up...and he does! Particularly amusing is when three ex-wives (with long lost children) pop up demanding alimony...much to the shock of the sponsor's sister-in-law! Along the way there are a number of pleasant performances -- Virginia O'Brien, Dan Dailey, and Billie Burke among them.
Not a great film, but worth seeing at least once.
A hull of a hammy performance by silver fox Frank Morgan!
estherwalker-347109 April 2022
Veteran film actor Frank Morgan was a generally beloved comical character actor in most of the silent era and the first 2 decades of talkies. Probably, he mostly played supporting roles, as in the 1940 block-buster "Boom Town". But the previous year, of course, he played the title character in the immortal "The Wizard of Oz". Here, again, in 1940, he gets to ham it up, as the star, in this programmer-length musical variety comedy.
As the father of a clan of children, he's trying to restart his entertainment career by switching to radio. In his first performance, he mimics Orson Welles's infamous 1938 radio broadcast, in which he is narrating the invasion of earth by Martians. This scares the nation, thus he is fired. But, he doesn't give up. Next, he organizes a program supposedly featuring various top movie stars, as well as some of his children. He cons well-recognized character actor Donald Meek into believing that these stars will actually show up. Instead, he supposedly mimics a few phrases by each.
Tall, handsome, personable, young Dan Dailey is the second male lead, in a largely romance role. In a year or 2, he would join the armed services, and not restart his film career until 1947, as costar with Betty Grable, in one of her most popular musicals, utilizing his vaudevillian talents in singing, dancing and comedy. He would be featured in more musicals to come, a few with Betty, who regarded him as her favorite leading man during that period. Here, others get to sing.
Zombie-faced and voiced Virginia O'Brien gets her start in films with 2 songs. Somehow, this novelty managed to keep her in films, at MGM, for some years. But, in most cases, including this one, I can't stand her! .........Then, there's mid-teen Leni Lynn, who sings several times, like she's trying to replace former MGM starlet Deanna Durbin's operatic voice, Deanna having since become a star at Universal. Alas, Leni was not destined to repeat Deanna's success..............But, surely, the most impressive young singing talent was African American Charles Holland: 'The Singing Bellhop', made to perform in his 'monkey suit', befitting an African American of the times. I couldn't believe that his very Caruso-like operatic singing wasn't dubbed by some famous Italian opera singer! I didn't see any indication that he was dubbed. Like many talented African American performers, he soon relocated in Europe, which was less racially biased, and became a success..............The distinctive-looking mid-teen Larry Nunn plays one of Morgan's kids. You may remember him from "Strike up the Band" or "Men of Boy's Town". His movie career would last only a couple of years.
Overall, not the greatest entertainment you will ever see or hear, but a reasonably pleasant way to pass the time, if you like Frank Morgan, and I imagine there are some who don't. You will probably have to wait for this to come around on TCM.
As the father of a clan of children, he's trying to restart his entertainment career by switching to radio. In his first performance, he mimics Orson Welles's infamous 1938 radio broadcast, in which he is narrating the invasion of earth by Martians. This scares the nation, thus he is fired. But, he doesn't give up. Next, he organizes a program supposedly featuring various top movie stars, as well as some of his children. He cons well-recognized character actor Donald Meek into believing that these stars will actually show up. Instead, he supposedly mimics a few phrases by each.
Tall, handsome, personable, young Dan Dailey is the second male lead, in a largely romance role. In a year or 2, he would join the armed services, and not restart his film career until 1947, as costar with Betty Grable, in one of her most popular musicals, utilizing his vaudevillian talents in singing, dancing and comedy. He would be featured in more musicals to come, a few with Betty, who regarded him as her favorite leading man during that period. Here, others get to sing.
Zombie-faced and voiced Virginia O'Brien gets her start in films with 2 songs. Somehow, this novelty managed to keep her in films, at MGM, for some years. But, in most cases, including this one, I can't stand her! .........Then, there's mid-teen Leni Lynn, who sings several times, like she's trying to replace former MGM starlet Deanna Durbin's operatic voice, Deanna having since become a star at Universal. Alas, Leni was not destined to repeat Deanna's success..............But, surely, the most impressive young singing talent was African American Charles Holland: 'The Singing Bellhop', made to perform in his 'monkey suit', befitting an African American of the times. I couldn't believe that his very Caruso-like operatic singing wasn't dubbed by some famous Italian opera singer! I didn't see any indication that he was dubbed. Like many talented African American performers, he soon relocated in Europe, which was less racially biased, and became a success..............The distinctive-looking mid-teen Larry Nunn plays one of Morgan's kids. You may remember him from "Strike up the Band" or "Men of Boy's Town". His movie career would last only a couple of years.
Overall, not the greatest entertainment you will ever see or hear, but a reasonably pleasant way to pass the time, if you like Frank Morgan, and I imagine there are some who don't. You will probably have to wait for this to come around on TCM.
Deadbeat dad
bkoganbing5 June 2017
Not to put too fine a point on it, but Frank Morgan who is the top billed player in this B film from MGM is a deadbeat dad. An old vaudevillian, Morgan is trying to get a break in radio because he really needs the money.
In Hullabaloo Frank Morgan has got three ex-wives with a child by each and these women want the back alimony that Morgan hasn't sent them for years. This formidable trio of ex-wives are Connie Gilchrist, Sara Haden, and Billie Burke and their kids respectively are Virginia Grey, Leny Lynn and Larry Nunn.
The kids kind of bond with each other and together they help dear old dad pull together a radio show. It's either that or marry a 4th time to Nydia Westman who is sponsor Donald Meek's sister.
Dan Dailey is here as a radio executive and love interest for Virginia Grey and another Virginia, O'Brien that is gets a couple of songs to sing in her deadpan fashion. The real revelation is Charles Holland an opera singing bellhop. Not too many black artists were doing material like that for films in 1940.
Because it's lovable old Frank Morgan the whole thing works somehow. But I doubt a deadbeat dad would get treated so well in today's cinema.
In Hullabaloo Frank Morgan has got three ex-wives with a child by each and these women want the back alimony that Morgan hasn't sent them for years. This formidable trio of ex-wives are Connie Gilchrist, Sara Haden, and Billie Burke and their kids respectively are Virginia Grey, Leny Lynn and Larry Nunn.
The kids kind of bond with each other and together they help dear old dad pull together a radio show. It's either that or marry a 4th time to Nydia Westman who is sponsor Donald Meek's sister.
Dan Dailey is here as a radio executive and love interest for Virginia Grey and another Virginia, O'Brien that is gets a couple of songs to sing in her deadpan fashion. The real revelation is Charles Holland an opera singing bellhop. Not too many black artists were doing material like that for films in 1940.
Because it's lovable old Frank Morgan the whole thing works somehow. But I doubt a deadbeat dad would get treated so well in today's cinema.
A real mixed bag
planktonrules3 June 2007
This movie is a real mixed bag. While it is moderately entertaining, the story is also pretty ridiculous and formulaic--plus there are a bits and pieces that were just plain bad.
The story is about a lovable conniver played by Frank Morgan--and this is pretty much the role he played in almost every movie he made. However, it's a little bit different this time in that he's a performer on radio and not a typical con man. But, he lies constantly and has a string of ex-wives chasing him--once again, typical Morgan story elements. And, as usual, despite his being disreputable and a horrible father, his kids rally inexplicably to his defense. All this is so formulaic and a retread of so many Morgan movies that I found myself getting bored with the plot.
To make it worse, since this was about producing a radio show, several god-awful acts were included in the movie--as well as one excellent one. The old racist song "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny" (singing about the "good old days" of slavery) was performed twice when the film began--once masterfully by a Black bellhop and once horribly by a zombie-like woman who was awfully scary to behold as she sang! Later, it turned out that one of Morgan's daughters could apparently sing, and she sang a couple numbers in the highest pitch operatic style. Technically, I guess it was pretty good, but I hated it and it hurt my ears. I could almost swear I could hear the neighbor's dogs barking as she sang! Now as for Morgan's radio show goes, the initial gimmick was pretty funny, though as it was repeated throughout the movie it just seemed awfully silly. Apparently Morgan's character had a genius for mimicry, as he could perform ALL the voices in a radio drama alone--men, women and children. To do this, the film makers actually dubbed these voices as Morgan's lips moved. Later, it turned out he could reproduce ANY Hollywood star's voice, and he pretended to be Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert, Spencer Tracy, Hedy Lamarr, Mickey Rooney and Wallace Beery. So all these actors get to make a cameo in the film--or at least their voices did.
So overall, the movie was very predictable, formulaic, silly but still somehow watchable. This is NOT a film I'd recommend you rush to see, but there are certainly worse films out there.
Oh, and by the way, there is a strange mistake in the film due to poor editing. At one point late in the film, Billie Burke says to Morgan "you're a vulture" and then Morgan responds. Then, one of Morgan's other ex-wives begins talking and yet no words come out of her mouth due to an editing mistake. I am really surprised no one caught this, as it was strange to see a woman speak an entire line and yet you can't hear a thing!
The story is about a lovable conniver played by Frank Morgan--and this is pretty much the role he played in almost every movie he made. However, it's a little bit different this time in that he's a performer on radio and not a typical con man. But, he lies constantly and has a string of ex-wives chasing him--once again, typical Morgan story elements. And, as usual, despite his being disreputable and a horrible father, his kids rally inexplicably to his defense. All this is so formulaic and a retread of so many Morgan movies that I found myself getting bored with the plot.
To make it worse, since this was about producing a radio show, several god-awful acts were included in the movie--as well as one excellent one. The old racist song "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny" (singing about the "good old days" of slavery) was performed twice when the film began--once masterfully by a Black bellhop and once horribly by a zombie-like woman who was awfully scary to behold as she sang! Later, it turned out that one of Morgan's daughters could apparently sing, and she sang a couple numbers in the highest pitch operatic style. Technically, I guess it was pretty good, but I hated it and it hurt my ears. I could almost swear I could hear the neighbor's dogs barking as she sang! Now as for Morgan's radio show goes, the initial gimmick was pretty funny, though as it was repeated throughout the movie it just seemed awfully silly. Apparently Morgan's character had a genius for mimicry, as he could perform ALL the voices in a radio drama alone--men, women and children. To do this, the film makers actually dubbed these voices as Morgan's lips moved. Later, it turned out he could reproduce ANY Hollywood star's voice, and he pretended to be Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert, Spencer Tracy, Hedy Lamarr, Mickey Rooney and Wallace Beery. So all these actors get to make a cameo in the film--or at least their voices did.
So overall, the movie was very predictable, formulaic, silly but still somehow watchable. This is NOT a film I'd recommend you rush to see, but there are certainly worse films out there.
Oh, and by the way, there is a strange mistake in the film due to poor editing. At one point late in the film, Billie Burke says to Morgan "you're a vulture" and then Morgan responds. Then, one of Morgan's other ex-wives begins talking and yet no words come out of her mouth due to an editing mistake. I am really surprised no one caught this, as it was strange to see a woman speak an entire line and yet you can't hear a thing!
Goofy Musical Comedy!
microx9600212 April 2022
This is a "just sit back and enjoy" comedy musical, really doesn't need any critique. Frank Morgan is always fun to watch, and he is typical here, he and Donald Meek carry the film. Some nice songs and dance scenes and a brief appearance of Leo Gorcey (The Bowery Boys) as a bellhop. A movie made for entertainment plain and simple!
Much Ado About Nothing
boblipton4 November 2003
Frantic unfunny comedy about how Frank Morgan panicked the nation on radio -- a gloss on Orson Welles' broadcast of WAR OF THE WORLDS -- and the lives, loves and generally unfunny situations surrounding his newfound success. Frank Morgan doubles sixteen times a second and an impossibly young Dan Dailey plays the juvenile lead. Give it a miss.
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