Hellzapoppin' (1941)

Chic Johnson: How much do you charge for haunting houses?
Harry Selby: How many rooms?

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Mischa Auer plays "a real Russian nobleman who is pretending to be a fake Russian nobleman." This is a satire on Michael Romanoff, owner of the popular Hollywood restaurant, Romanoff's. He claimed to be a Russian prince and nephew of Tsar Nicholas II, but it was widely known in Hollywood that his royalty claims were false. (In fact, his real name was Harry F. Gerguson, and prior to opening his restaurant, he had been a pants presser in Brooklyn.) This is why Mischa Auer tells his fellow Russian expatriate, "Better I should be known as a fake Russian prince. If everyone knew I was a real Russian prince, the novelty would wear off, and nobody would want me."
The film's Best Song nomination for "Pig Foot Pete" is a mystery. The song does not appear in Hellzapoppin', but did appear in Keep 'Em Flying, an Abbott & Costello film that was made the same year by the same production company and studio.
The woman who walks through the movie set shouting "Oscar!" is Catherine Johnson, Chic Johnson's wife.
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