Harry Langdon (1934-1945)
Silent screen comedian Harry Langdon came to Columbia after having appeared in a number of shorts for Hal Roach, Educational, and Paramount. In the summer of 1934, Arthur Ripley, a veteran Mack Sennett staff writer, introduced Harry to Jules White. White signed Harry to a series of shorts in which he was later paired with, at various times, Monty Collins, Una Merkel, Elsie Ames (who shares above-the-title billing in a few shorts) and finally El Brendel, who was appearing in his own series of two-reelers. Langdon's death in 1945 would also end Brendel's association with studio's shorts department.
PLEASE NOTE: Available titles will be preceded by **
If no ** precedes the title, we are currently seeking a print for our archives.
PLEASE NOTE: Available titles will be preceded by **
If no ** precedes the title, we are currently seeking a print for our archives.
COUNSEL ON DE FENCE (10/25/1934)
Status: Available. Print exists in our archives.
Production Number
Director-Arthur Ripley
Producer-Jules White
Story and Screenplay-Harry McCoy
Photography-Benjamin Kline
Editor-AJ Clark
Music-Louis Silvers
Cast
Renee Whitney
Earle Foxe
Marjorie "Babe" Kane
Jack Norton
William Irving
Charles Dorety
Lew Davis
Robert "Bobby" Burns
Harrison Greene
Ben Hall
Tom Maguire
Harry Tenbrook
Robert Frazer
Harry, a bungling lawyer, chooses and unorthodox method of defending a woman on trial for poisoning her husband.
The original working title was THE BARRISTER.
The storyline spoofs the 1932 feature THE MOUTHPIECE
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SHIVERS (12/24/1934)
Status-Unavailable. No known print exists.
Director-Arthur Ripley
Producer-Jules White
Story and Screenplay-Arthur Ripley
Photography- ?
Editor- ?
Music-Louis Silvers
Cast
Florence Lake
Dick Elliot
Chester Gan
Louis Vincent
To get some creative inspiration, mystery writer Harry moves into a haunted house.
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LOVE, HONOR, AND OBEY (THE LAW!) (4/29/1935)
Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.
Director-Leigh Jason (uncredited)
Executive Producer-Stanley Rauh (uncredited)
Cast
Monty Collins (uncredited)
Fred "Snowflake" Toones (uncredited)
Harry is on his way to the altar, and must make it their without getting a ticket. Monty does everything he can to stop him because he is in love with the same woman Harry is about to marry.
This is not an "official" Columbia short. Harry made this industrial two-reeler for the B.F. Goodrich Company. It was produced by Audio Productions Inc at the General Service Studios in Hollywood (where Harry's Educational comedies were made). The opening credits list that Harry appears "By Special Arrangement With Columbia Pictures". This title is included here for that reason only.
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HIS BRIDAL SWEET (3/15/1935)
Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.
Director-Alf Goulding
Producer-Jules White
Story and Screenplay-John Grey
Photography-Benjamin Kline
Editor-William A. Lyon
Cast
Geneva Mitchell
Billy Gilbert
Bud Jamison
Lew Kelly
Eddie Baker
Due to a quarantine, Harry and his bride are forced to stay in a new model home equipped with crazy gimmicks.
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THE LEATHER NECKER (5/9/1935)
Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.
Director-Arthur Ripley
Producer-Jules White
Story-Arthur Ripley
Screenplay-Al Giebler and John Grey (uncredited)
Photography-John Stumar
Editor-James Sweeney
Music-Louis Silvers
Cast
Mona Rico
Wade Boteler
Bud Jamison
Harry and his ex-sergeant recall their rivalry over the same girl.
A remake of Langdon's silent ALL NIGHT LONG.
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HIS MARRIAGE MIX-UP (10/31/1935)
Status-Unavailable. Print exists in private collection.
Director-Preston Black
Producer-Jules White
Story-Vernon Dent
Screenplay- ?
Photography- ?
Editor- ?
Cast
Dorothy Granger
Vernon Dent
Robert "Bobby" Burns
Harry's bride-to-be is a dead ringer for an escaped axe murderess.
Remade with Vera Vague as A MISS IN A MESS (1949).
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I DON'T REMEMBER (12/26/1935)
Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.
Director-Preston Black
Producer-Jules White
Story and Screenplay-Preston Black
Photography-Benjamin Kline
Editor-Charles Hochberg
Cast
Geneva Mitchell
Mary Carr
Vernon Dent
Robert "Bobby" Burns
Lynton Brent
Harry Semels
Al Thompson
Charles "Heine" Conklin
Bobby Barber
Gertrude Astor
A. R. Haysel
Blackie Whiteford
Harry Tenbrook
Jack Kenney
Elaine Waters
Jack "Tiny" Lipson
George Gray
Lew Davis
Absentminded Harry is talking into buying an Irish Sweepstakes ticket.
Remade with Sterling Holloway as MORON THAN OFF (1946).
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A DOGGONE MIXUP (2/4/1938)
Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.
Director-Charles Lamont
Producer-Jules White
Story and Screenplay-Elwood Ullman, Charles Melson and Al Giebler
Cast
Ann Doran
Vernon Dent
Bud Jamison
James C. Morton
Eddie Fetherstone
Bess Flowers
Sarah Edwards
Blanche Payson
Victor Travers
Lew Davis
Harry, a compulsive bargain-hunter, purchases a St. Bernard dog.
The original working title was NO SALES RESISTANCE.
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SUE MY LAWYER (9/16/1938)
Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.
Director-Jules White
Producer-Jules White
Story-Harry Langdon
Screenplay-Ewart Adamson
Photography-George Meehan
Editor-Charles Nelson
Cast
Ann Doran
Monty Collins
Bud Jamison
Vernon Dent
Cy Schindell
Don Brody
Charles Dorety
Jack "Tiny" Lipson
Robert "Bobby" Burns
Al Thompson
Jack Long
Harry, a struggling attorney, tries to gain recognition by defending a murderer.
The original story title was THE AMBULANCE CHASER.
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COLD TURKEY (10/18/1940)
Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.
Director-Del Lord
Cast
Ann Doran
Monty Collins
Bud Jamison
Vernon Dent
Eddie Laughton
Harry wins a live turkey in a raffle.
A remake of the 1933 Joseph Cawthorn Paramount short of the same name. The Langdon version has story and screenplay credit by Harry Edwards and Elwood Ullman. Story credit for the Cawthorn version goes to Mauri Grashin and Lloyd French, with adaptation by Scott E. Cleethorp. Both films were directed by Del Lord.
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WHAT MAKES LIZZY DIZZY? (3/26/1942)
Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.
Director-Jules White
Cast
Elsie Ames
Dorothy Appleby
Monty Collins
Lorin Raker
Bud Jamison
Kathryn Sabichi
Kay Vallon
Laundresses Elise and Dorothy, along with their detective boyfriends Harry and Monty, enter a bowling tournament.
Elsie Ames shares above the-title-billing with Harry Langdon.
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TIREMAN, SPARE MY TIRES (6/14/1942)
Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.
Director-Jules White
Cast
Louise Currie
Emmett Lynn
Eddie Laughton
Bud Jamison
Harry, a traveling salesman, befriends Louise, a runaway heiress.
The original working title was HONEYMOON BLACKOUT.
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CARRY HARRY (9/3/1942)
Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.
Director-Harry Edwards
Cast
Elsie Ames
Barbara Pepper
Stanley Blystone
Marjorie Deanne
Dave OBrien.
Harry uses the fire escape to enter a friends apartment but inadvertently climbs through the wrong window.
Elsie Ames shares above-the-title billing with Harry Langdon.
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PIANO MOONER (12/11/1942)
Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.
Director-Harry Edwards
Cast
Fifi Dorsay
Gwen Kenyon
Better Blythe
Chester Conklin
Stanley Blystone
Harry, badly in need of funds, becomes a piano tuner.
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A BLITZ ON THE FRITZ (1/22/1943)
Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.
Director-Jules White
Cast
Louise Currie
Douglas Leavitt
Vernon Dent
Bud Jamison
Jack "Tiny" Lipson
Blanche Payson
Charles Berry
Al Hill
Al Thompson
Beatrice Blinn
Joe Palma
Stanley Blystone
Bud Fine
Kit Guard
Patriotic Harry starts a scrap drive and encounters a gang of Nazi spies.
The original working title was SWAT THAT SPY.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BLONDE AND GROOM (4/16/1943)
Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.
Director-Harry Edwards
Cast
Gwen Kenyon
Barbara Pepper
Eddy Chandler
Stanley Blyston
When Harry's buddy brings his fiancée over for a visit, Mrs. Langdon gets the mistaken impression that hubby is being unfaithful.
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HERE COMES MR. ZERK (7/23/1943)
Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.
Director-Jules White
Cast
Shirley Patterson
John T. Murray
Fred Kelsey
Bob McKenzie
Dudley Dickerson
Hank Mann
Vernon Dent
Charles "Heine" Conklin
Eva McKenzie
Blanche Payson
A newspaper article carries the wrong caption under bridegroom Harry's photo, identifying him as an escaped lunatic.
The original working title was SUE YOU LATER.
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TO HEIR IS HUMAN (1/14/1944)
Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.
Director-Harold Godsoe
Cast
Una Merkel
Christine McIntyre
Lew Kelly
Eddie Gribbon
John Tyrell
Vernon Dent
Una, an aspiring private detective, locates Harry, a missing heir, and accompanies him to a forbidding mansion where he is to collect the inheritance.
TRIVIA: Una Merkel shares above-the-title billing with Harry Langdon, and one of the few Columbia comedy shorts to employ background music.
Status: Available. Print exists in our archives.
Production Number
Director-Arthur Ripley
Producer-Jules White
Story and Screenplay-Harry McCoy
Photography-Benjamin Kline
Editor-AJ Clark
Music-Louis Silvers
Cast
Renee Whitney
Earle Foxe
Marjorie "Babe" Kane
Jack Norton
William Irving
Charles Dorety
Lew Davis
Robert "Bobby" Burns
Harrison Greene
Ben Hall
Tom Maguire
Harry Tenbrook
Robert Frazer
Harry, a bungling lawyer, chooses and unorthodox method of defending a woman on trial for poisoning her husband.
The original working title was THE BARRISTER.
The storyline spoofs the 1932 feature THE MOUTHPIECE
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SHIVERS (12/24/1934)
Status-Unavailable. No known print exists.
Director-Arthur Ripley
Producer-Jules White
Story and Screenplay-Arthur Ripley
Photography- ?
Editor- ?
Music-Louis Silvers
Cast
Florence Lake
Dick Elliot
Chester Gan
Louis Vincent
To get some creative inspiration, mystery writer Harry moves into a haunted house.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LOVE, HONOR, AND OBEY (THE LAW!) (4/29/1935)
Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.
Director-Leigh Jason (uncredited)
Executive Producer-Stanley Rauh (uncredited)
Cast
Monty Collins (uncredited)
Fred "Snowflake" Toones (uncredited)
Harry is on his way to the altar, and must make it their without getting a ticket. Monty does everything he can to stop him because he is in love with the same woman Harry is about to marry.
This is not an "official" Columbia short. Harry made this industrial two-reeler for the B.F. Goodrich Company. It was produced by Audio Productions Inc at the General Service Studios in Hollywood (where Harry's Educational comedies were made). The opening credits list that Harry appears "By Special Arrangement With Columbia Pictures". This title is included here for that reason only.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HIS BRIDAL SWEET (3/15/1935)
Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.
Director-Alf Goulding
Producer-Jules White
Story and Screenplay-John Grey
Photography-Benjamin Kline
Editor-William A. Lyon
Cast
Geneva Mitchell
Billy Gilbert
Bud Jamison
Lew Kelly
Eddie Baker
Due to a quarantine, Harry and his bride are forced to stay in a new model home equipped with crazy gimmicks.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE LEATHER NECKER (5/9/1935)
Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.
Director-Arthur Ripley
Producer-Jules White
Story-Arthur Ripley
Screenplay-Al Giebler and John Grey (uncredited)
Photography-John Stumar
Editor-James Sweeney
Music-Louis Silvers
Cast
Mona Rico
Wade Boteler
Bud Jamison
Harry and his ex-sergeant recall their rivalry over the same girl.
A remake of Langdon's silent ALL NIGHT LONG.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HIS MARRIAGE MIX-UP (10/31/1935)
Status-Unavailable. Print exists in private collection.
Director-Preston Black
Producer-Jules White
Story-Vernon Dent
Screenplay- ?
Photography- ?
Editor- ?
Cast
Dorothy Granger
Vernon Dent
Robert "Bobby" Burns
Harry's bride-to-be is a dead ringer for an escaped axe murderess.
Remade with Vera Vague as A MISS IN A MESS (1949).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I DON'T REMEMBER (12/26/1935)
Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.
Director-Preston Black
Producer-Jules White
Story and Screenplay-Preston Black
Photography-Benjamin Kline
Editor-Charles Hochberg
Cast
Geneva Mitchell
Mary Carr
Vernon Dent
Robert "Bobby" Burns
Lynton Brent
Harry Semels
Al Thompson
Charles "Heine" Conklin
Bobby Barber
Gertrude Astor
A. R. Haysel
Blackie Whiteford
Harry Tenbrook
Jack Kenney
Elaine Waters
Jack "Tiny" Lipson
George Gray
Lew Davis
Absentminded Harry is talking into buying an Irish Sweepstakes ticket.
Remade with Sterling Holloway as MORON THAN OFF (1946).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A DOGGONE MIXUP (2/4/1938)
Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.
Director-Charles Lamont
Producer-Jules White
Story and Screenplay-Elwood Ullman, Charles Melson and Al Giebler
Cast
Ann Doran
Vernon Dent
Bud Jamison
James C. Morton
Eddie Fetherstone
Bess Flowers
Sarah Edwards
Blanche Payson
Victor Travers
Lew Davis
Harry, a compulsive bargain-hunter, purchases a St. Bernard dog.
The original working title was NO SALES RESISTANCE.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUE MY LAWYER (9/16/1938)
Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.
Director-Jules White
Producer-Jules White
Story-Harry Langdon
Screenplay-Ewart Adamson
Photography-George Meehan
Editor-Charles Nelson
Cast
Ann Doran
Monty Collins
Bud Jamison
Vernon Dent
Cy Schindell
Don Brody
Charles Dorety
Jack "Tiny" Lipson
Robert "Bobby" Burns
Al Thompson
Jack Long
Harry, a struggling attorney, tries to gain recognition by defending a murderer.
The original story title was THE AMBULANCE CHASER.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COLD TURKEY (10/18/1940)
Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.
Director-Del Lord
Cast
Ann Doran
Monty Collins
Bud Jamison
Vernon Dent
Eddie Laughton
Harry wins a live turkey in a raffle.
A remake of the 1933 Joseph Cawthorn Paramount short of the same name. The Langdon version has story and screenplay credit by Harry Edwards and Elwood Ullman. Story credit for the Cawthorn version goes to Mauri Grashin and Lloyd French, with adaptation by Scott E. Cleethorp. Both films were directed by Del Lord.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT MAKES LIZZY DIZZY? (3/26/1942)
Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.
Director-Jules White
Cast
Elsie Ames
Dorothy Appleby
Monty Collins
Lorin Raker
Bud Jamison
Kathryn Sabichi
Kay Vallon
Laundresses Elise and Dorothy, along with their detective boyfriends Harry and Monty, enter a bowling tournament.
Elsie Ames shares above the-title-billing with Harry Langdon.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TIREMAN, SPARE MY TIRES (6/14/1942)
Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.
Director-Jules White
Cast
Louise Currie
Emmett Lynn
Eddie Laughton
Bud Jamison
Harry, a traveling salesman, befriends Louise, a runaway heiress.
The original working title was HONEYMOON BLACKOUT.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CARRY HARRY (9/3/1942)
Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.
Director-Harry Edwards
Cast
Elsie Ames
Barbara Pepper
Stanley Blystone
Marjorie Deanne
Dave OBrien.
Harry uses the fire escape to enter a friends apartment but inadvertently climbs through the wrong window.
Elsie Ames shares above-the-title billing with Harry Langdon.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PIANO MOONER (12/11/1942)
Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.
Director-Harry Edwards
Cast
Fifi Dorsay
Gwen Kenyon
Better Blythe
Chester Conklin
Stanley Blystone
Harry, badly in need of funds, becomes a piano tuner.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A BLITZ ON THE FRITZ (1/22/1943)
Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.
Director-Jules White
Cast
Louise Currie
Douglas Leavitt
Vernon Dent
Bud Jamison
Jack "Tiny" Lipson
Blanche Payson
Charles Berry
Al Hill
Al Thompson
Beatrice Blinn
Joe Palma
Stanley Blystone
Bud Fine
Kit Guard
Patriotic Harry starts a scrap drive and encounters a gang of Nazi spies.
The original working title was SWAT THAT SPY.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BLONDE AND GROOM (4/16/1943)
Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.
Director-Harry Edwards
Cast
Gwen Kenyon
Barbara Pepper
Eddy Chandler
Stanley Blyston
When Harry's buddy brings his fiancée over for a visit, Mrs. Langdon gets the mistaken impression that hubby is being unfaithful.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HERE COMES MR. ZERK (7/23/1943)
Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.
Director-Jules White
Cast
Shirley Patterson
John T. Murray
Fred Kelsey
Bob McKenzie
Dudley Dickerson
Hank Mann
Vernon Dent
Charles "Heine" Conklin
Eva McKenzie
Blanche Payson
A newspaper article carries the wrong caption under bridegroom Harry's photo, identifying him as an escaped lunatic.
The original working title was SUE YOU LATER.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TO HEIR IS HUMAN (1/14/1944)
Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.
Director-Harold Godsoe
Cast
Una Merkel
Christine McIntyre
Lew Kelly
Eddie Gribbon
John Tyrell
Vernon Dent
Una, an aspiring private detective, locates Harry, a missing heir, and accompanies him to a forbidding mansion where he is to collect the inheritance.
TRIVIA: Una Merkel shares above-the-title billing with Harry Langdon, and one of the few Columbia comedy shorts to employ background music.
DEFECTIVE DETECTIVES (4/3/1944)
Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.
DIRECTOR-Harry Edwards
Cast
El Brendel
Christine McIntyre
Vernon Dent
Harry "Snub" Pollard
Charles "Heinie" Conklin
John Tyrell
Eddie Laughton
Snub Pollard
Dick Boiler
Private detectives Harry and El are hired to keep on the trail of a mobster who has been threatening injury to a banker and his wife.
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MOPEY DOPE (6/16/1944)
Status-Unavailable. Print exists in private collection.
Director-Del Lord
Cast
Christine McIntyre
Arthur Q. Bryan
Al Thompson
Johnny Kascier
Absentminded Harry has difficulty remembering his wedding anniversary.
A remake of Charley Chases THE MIND NEEDER (1938).
A 2011 screening of this print debunked previous belief that this was a Langdon and Brendel short. El Brendel does not appear in this two-reeler.
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SNOOPER SERVICE (2/2/1945)
Status-Unavailable. Print exists in private collection.
Director-Harry Edwards
Cast
El Brendel
Rebel Randall
Dick Curtis
Vernon Dent
Fred Kelsey
Buddy Yarus
Harry and El, private sleuths, are hired to follow a beautiful showgirl.
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PISTOL PACKIN' NITWITS (4/4/1945)
Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.
Production Number 4035
Director-Harry Edwards
Cast
El Brendel
Christine McIntyre
Brad King
Dick Curtis
Tex Cooper
Victor Cox
Charles "Heine" Conklin
Harry and El protect a pretty saloon keeper from a gang of Western thugs.
The original working title was TENDERFEET.
Reworked with the Three Stooges as OUT WEST (1947).
Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.
DIRECTOR-Harry Edwards
Cast
El Brendel
Christine McIntyre
Vernon Dent
Harry "Snub" Pollard
Charles "Heinie" Conklin
John Tyrell
Eddie Laughton
Snub Pollard
Dick Boiler
Private detectives Harry and El are hired to keep on the trail of a mobster who has been threatening injury to a banker and his wife.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MOPEY DOPE (6/16/1944)
Status-Unavailable. Print exists in private collection.
Director-Del Lord
Cast
Christine McIntyre
Arthur Q. Bryan
Al Thompson
Johnny Kascier
Absentminded Harry has difficulty remembering his wedding anniversary.
A remake of Charley Chases THE MIND NEEDER (1938).
A 2011 screening of this print debunked previous belief that this was a Langdon and Brendel short. El Brendel does not appear in this two-reeler.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SNOOPER SERVICE (2/2/1945)
Status-Unavailable. Print exists in private collection.
Director-Harry Edwards
Cast
El Brendel
Rebel Randall
Dick Curtis
Vernon Dent
Fred Kelsey
Buddy Yarus
Harry and El, private sleuths, are hired to follow a beautiful showgirl.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PISTOL PACKIN' NITWITS (4/4/1945)
Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.
Production Number 4035
Director-Harry Edwards
Cast
El Brendel
Christine McIntyre
Brad King
Dick Curtis
Tex Cooper
Victor Cox
Charles "Heine" Conklin
Harry and El protect a pretty saloon keeper from a gang of Western thugs.
The original working title was TENDERFEET.
Reworked with the Three Stooges as OUT WEST (1947).
