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Expert: - 1/1/2008


Question
I have been looking for a name for this film ever since i saw it many years ago. It is a black and white comedy, the actor has two "puppets" which he talks through. It has songs in though i wouldn't probably call it a musical. All i can remember about the plot is that the puppets hold the key to a robbery/murder. It also has a wonderful scene in a bar with the main  actor(sorry can't remember name? Danny Kaye? singing in a Irish voice. I hope this information is enough.

Answer
Anna, this sounds remarkably like the Danny Kaye film "Knock on Wood," made in 1954.  It has all the plot elements you note--a ventriloquist with two dummies, caught up with spies and murder, with important clues in one of the dummies.  It also has songs.  However, the film was in color, not black and white (perhaps you saw it on a black and white TV?).  

Unfortunately, it is not available on DVD, which is too bad, since it is one of Kaye's funnier films.

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Barbara L. Baker

Expertise

I am a professor of communication at a midwest university, who has expertise on subjects related to film. I can answer general questions on U.S. film comedy (especially satires of the 1960s and 1970s) and comic theory. I also could answer questions related to specific comic genres, such as comedian comedies, screwball comedies, "stupid" comedies, and so forth. The more specific you can make your question, the better (e.g. main plot details, main characters, possible character names, possible actors, how you viewed the show, etc.). I also need to have a release date (or range of dates, or at least the year you viewed the film). Please do not just provide a set of links to someplace else (e.g. imdb discussion threads). I am less able to answer questions about comedies from other countries, made-for-TV movies, and recent comic films and actors (although I would do my best to find out). I cannot answer questions about specific TV shows or series, "Our Gang" episodes, anime/magna or about film collectables. I generally cannot provide movie recommendations, since what I find funny others may not. Nor will I answer obvious homework (although I will point you to resources to help answer the question, if asked). I also can't help you find movie stars, or where to buy movie memorabilia, or tell you how to break into the business.

Experience

Course work in comedy films along with teaching about comedy films for several years; I've also conducted research into comedy films.

Education/Credentials
Ph.D. in Communication, emphasis in film and rhetoric

Awards and Honors
A dissertation award from a national organization plus various paper awards

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My students

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