Jitterbugs
Jitterbugs
NR | 05 June 1943 (USA)
Jitterbugs Trailers

The two-man Laurel and Hardy Zoot Suit Band find themselves fronting a scam for "gasolene pills" in wartime oil-short America. They are however soon on the side of the angels helping recover $10,000 for an attractive young lady whose family have themselves been swindled.

Reviews
SoftInloveRox Horrible, fascist and poorly acted
Konterr Brilliant and touching
Breakinger A Brilliant Conflict
SteinMo What a freaking movie. So many twists and turns. Absolutely intense from start to finish.
Edgar Allan Pooh . . . JITTERBUGS appeared on the big screen, with Stan Laurel trying to supplant Betty Grable as a pin-up gal for the Allied troops during WWII in 1943. Stan's effort falls totally flat, as he seemingly cannot even raise his voice to simulate the "fair sex" (a feat easily accomplished later by Dustin Hoffman and Robin Williams in the aforementioned flicks). Mr. Laurel and his frequent sidekick Oliver Hardy mostly are adrift here in a plot which makes less sense than their usual, and doesn't perk up until the last five minutes when the showboat Gen. Fremont drifts away from its New Orleans pier during rush hour on the Mississippi. JITTERBUGS' opening desert scene and its follow-up two-man band episode are okay, but the rest of this story quickly bogs down during the lengthy "New Orleans" sequence. Film rookie Vivian Blaine warbles rather well, but her shoulders are not broad enough to carry the entire flick.
Alex da Silva Stan & Ollie are travelling musicians who run out of gas in the middle of nowhere and are helped out by a travelling salesman, Chester (Bob Bailey). He gives them one of his gas pills to put in their car and they decide to go into business combining their music act with selling these pills. When they try their luck in the next town, Chester meets Susan (Vivian Blaine) and she joins the gang. The plot then changes direction as we learn that Susan's aunt has had $10,000 dollars stolen by crooks. Chester, Susan, Stan & Ollie are determined to get the money back and the film follows their efforts to do this as Stan & Ollie pose as different characters at a hotel, while Susan takes a job as a singer at a club.There are some funny scenes and Vivian Blaine sings 3 songs. Its all completely unbelievable nonsense but at the end of the film you feel that you have been entertained.
Michael_Elliott Jitterbugs (1943) ** 1/2 (out of 4) Laurel and Hardy meets a nice con man and the three set out to con back $10,000 which was stolen from a local girl. This is a decent comedy from the duo that has some nice laugh but not enough to match their classic titles from the 1930s. One of the best moments include a scene where Laurel gets caught up in the con and is drinking with a married woman. Other highlights include Laurel in drag and another scene involving the gas pills. Not all of the gags work and some of the musical numbers are rather lame but overall this wasn't too bad.
andynortonuk i watch this when i was on holiday in tennerife when this film was on. I kind of enjoyed it.It's not the best or worst comedy i have seen, but has got some good chuckles all the way through. There were some bits i din't understand. But then i am not a laurel and hardy fan! But it was good old traditional slpastick mayhem form the duo in this madcap comedy.