Another Nice Mess

There’s no-one higher than the President
In this American Establishment.

Laurel and Hardy (Herb Voland, Rich Little) are elected to the highest offices in the land as Spiro Agnew and Richard M. Nixon (who views this film with distaste and contempt, “the worst job of Abbott and Costello I have ever seen”).

Some place, the White House. Laurel’s “photograph” is Hardy’s “phonograph”, won’t play without a crank, Agnew sticks his finger in and winds his thumb, they dance to the number given above.

“This is definitely a piece o’ crap,” says the President.

Guests of State, “the President of Amnesia and his Royal Hyena.”

When RMN asks, “mirror, mirror, in my hand, who’s the leader of this land,” LBJ answers.

The director as Agent Nussbaum of the Secret Service, a potted plant.

Spiro’s red-white-and-blue shell game, “Find the BB”, he always wins even if Richie doesn’t. “I don’t have to mingle, I only et an hour ago,” says the Vice-President.

Tit for Tat? “Shit for that!”

There is a plan afoot. “What Fatherland, that’s bullshit! I’m a Communist now,” carrying a card for Red China. “But don’t worry, honey, I’ll be back in business for myself some day.”

The real Laurel and Hardy are seen in snippets throughout, a parallel commentary.

The great political objective, “let’s build a domed stadium in Green Bay,” Congress cheers.

There is also Klein’s mr. Freedom.

“Now that is good solid political satire, the idiot who wrote this really knew what he was doing.”

Hitler cookies made with Polish Gold (cp. Lover Come Back, dir. Delbert Mann), “I mean, how high is high?”

Uncle Adolf, Richie’s will.

The Secret Service saves the day, Sam Hitler’s bomb’s sent back by return mail.

Alonzo cinematography, Smothers & Haze producers, notable cast.

Boxoffice found this incomprehensible.