Diplomaniacs
Brief Synopsis
An Indian tribe sends two nitwits to a conference in Geneva.
Cast & Crew
Read More
William A. Seiter
Director
Bert Wheeler
Willy Nilly
Robert Woolsey
Hercules Glub
Marjorie White
Dolores
Louis Calhern
Winklereid
Phyllis Barry
Fifi
Film Details
Also Known As
In the Red
Genre
Comedy
Release Date
May
12,
1933
Premiere Information
New York opening: week of 28 Apr 1933
Production Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 16m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
7 reels
Synopsis
Dimwitted barber Willy Nilly confuses the instructions of his partner, Hercules Glub, and instead of finding a spot for their barbershop where they would have no competition, he locates the business on an Oklahoma Indian reservation, where they are guaranteed no customers. After shaving Luke the Hermit, the only local resident with facial hair, Willy and Hercules are whisked away by a group of oil-rich Adoop Indians, whose Oxford-educated chief offers them a million dollars to represent the tribe at the Geneva peace talks. If they succeed in promoting peace, the Chief tells them, they will receive another million dollars; if they fail, however, they will be killed. Forcefully persuaded, Willy and Hercules sail for Geneva with the Chief's secret papers. Also on board the steamship are Winklereid, an evil "conspirator," who plots with the equally evil Chow-Chow and the cellophane-wrapped, virgin-vamp Dolores, to steal the diplomats' money and the Chief's papers. While Dolores plies her vampish wares on Willy, Hercules gets drunk with Winklereid and the ship's tippling captain, who drunkenly steers the boat in endless circles. After a record-breaking eight-month voyage, Willy and Hercules arrive in Paris, where Hercules becomes the target of Fifi, another vamp. At last in Geneva, Hercules and Willy are spied upon by Winklereid and his cohorts, Schmerzenpuppen, Puppenschmerzen, Schmerzenschmerzen and Puppenpuppen. Protected by the omniscient Adoops, Willy and Hercules, who have prepared an impromptu peace treaty, survive the conspirators' assassination attempts and arrive safely at the conference. During their unique "harmony-among-nations" speech, Winklereid tosses a bomb into the room, which explodes and blackens the faces of all present. After the war-loving delegation sings a song of peace, Winklereid, determined to ensure a continuing market for his employer's explosive bullets, steals Willy's treaty and forges the names of the delegates on it. Willy and Hercules, believing that they have succeeded, return to America, only to discover that war has been declared and that they have been drafted.
Director
William A. Seiter
Director
Cast
Bert Wheeler
Willy Nilly
Robert Woolsey
Hercules Glub
Marjorie White
Dolores
Louis Calhern
Winklereid
Phyllis Barry
Fifi
Hugh Herbert
Chow-Chow
Edgar Kennedy
Presiding delegate
Richard Carle
The Captain
William Irving
Schmerzenpuppen
Neely Edwards
Puppenschmerzen
Billy Bletcher
Schmerzenschmerzen
Teddy Hart
Puppenpuppen
Charles Coleman
The butler
Edward Cooper
Chief Adoop
Dewey Robinson
Luke the Hermit
Crew
Harry Akst
Composer
Charley Burke
Assistant Camera
Larry Ceballos
Dance numbers staged by
Merian C. Cooper
Executive Producer
Edward Cronjager
Photography
Robert De Grasse
2nd Camera
George Diskant
Assistant Camera
Edward Eliscu
Composer
William Hamilton
Film Editor
Al Herman
Settings
Sam Jaffe
Associate Producer
Ed Killy
Assistant Director
Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Original Story
Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Screenwriter
Henry Myers
Screenwriter
Van Nest Polglase
Settings
Max Steiner
Music Director
John E. Tribby
Recording
Harry Wild
2nd Camera
Film Details
Also Known As
In the Red
Genre
Comedy
Release Date
May
12,
1933
Premiere Information
New York opening: week of 28 Apr 1933
Production Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 16m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
7 reels
Articles
Diplomaniacs
An Indian tribe sends two nitwits to a conference in Geneva.
Diplomaniacs
An Indian tribe sends two nitwits to a conference in Geneva.
Quotes
What do you think of the Einstein theory?- Willy Nilly
The Einstein theory? They'll never be able to enforce it.- Hercules Glub
I wish I were in China by my wife. Who I hate.- Chow-Chow
Sing to me!- Dolores
How about "One Hour with You"?- Willy Nilly
Sure! But first - sing to me!- Dolores
You speak-um English?- Hercules Glub
Not terribly fluently. I was at Oxford for four years, and while I'm fairly conversant with the classics, my ear has not yet become attuned to your Americanisms.- Indian Chief
Trivia
Notes
The working title of this film was In the Red.
