Fast paced, at times silly, but often funny, "It's in the Bag!" stars Fred Allen, a comedian who appeared on radio and in the early days of television. As Fred F. Trumble Floogle, Allen runs a flea circus, until his wealthy great uncle is murdered, and he inherits $12 million. Unfortunately, after he and his family have wildly spent his newly acquired riches, Fred learns that his uncle has squandered the fortune, and Fred has been left five chairs as his only legacy. However, he also discovers that his uncle has hidden $300,000 inside one of the chairs. Needless to say, the chairs have already been sold, and Fred must find the buyer of each in his pursuit of the hidden money. With a passing nod to The Twelve Chairs, a 1928 Russian novel, the film is a series of skits that feature Allen and a variety of comedians, actors, and personalities of the mid-1940's.
With Rudy Vallee, Don Ameche, William Bendix, Robert Benchley, Jerry Colonna, John Carradine, Victor Moore, Binnie Barnes, and Sidney Toler among others, the madcap proceedings are a Who's Who of familiar faces for audiences of a certain age, but total unknowns to younger audiences. Arguably, the best sequence involves Jack Benny as himself. Benny plays to his miserly reputation, and, with Fred posing as president of the Jack Benny Fan Club in a small New Jersey town, he muses on the club's tiny membership, charges Fred for the tie he is wearing, and rents him one of the missing chairs.
A veteran of comedy shorts for Mack Sennett and Hal Roach, director Richard Wallace keeps the action moving with sight gags, fast flying quips, and performers addressing the audience. An extended sequence in a packed movie theater that involves a frustrated Allen, Binnie Barnes as Mrs. Floogle, and several ushers and managers is particularly funny, especially when Fred asks for a refund because there are no seats. Although the large cast of bygone stars will be lost on most viewers, the humor remains largely intact. Some jokes and routines hit the mark, while others miss, but the pace is fast enough to overlook those bits that fall flat, because the next one is already on the way.
With Rudy Vallee, Don Ameche, William Bendix, Robert Benchley, Jerry Colonna, John Carradine, Victor Moore, Binnie Barnes, and Sidney Toler among others, the madcap proceedings are a Who's Who of familiar faces for audiences of a certain age, but total unknowns to younger audiences. Arguably, the best sequence involves Jack Benny as himself. Benny plays to his miserly reputation, and, with Fred posing as president of the Jack Benny Fan Club in a small New Jersey town, he muses on the club's tiny membership, charges Fred for the tie he is wearing, and rents him one of the missing chairs.
A veteran of comedy shorts for Mack Sennett and Hal Roach, director Richard Wallace keeps the action moving with sight gags, fast flying quips, and performers addressing the audience. An extended sequence in a packed movie theater that involves a frustrated Allen, Binnie Barnes as Mrs. Floogle, and several ushers and managers is particularly funny, especially when Fred asks for a refund because there are no seats. Although the large cast of bygone stars will be lost on most viewers, the humor remains largely intact. Some jokes and routines hit the mark, while others miss, but the pace is fast enough to overlook those bits that fall flat, because the next one is already on the way.