The Inspector General (1949)

Yawn. Poorly Filmed Snooze Fest.

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

How sad is this?

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

What a great movie ...A good old movie , the way the movies tried to entertain people as were meant to be played in theaters , with the free style actors based on their talent and instict.. The best man for this role would have been Danny Kaye at its best , talent of musical , fun , singing.. The plot is very very interesting and the cast of characters so humorous .. I have watched this movie more than 20 times and every time i m excited even more .. The part of Be arrogant , be elegant , be smart and the gypsy drinking song are so nice .. To sum up , a very good set up movie with a phenomenal unique talented Danny Kaye .. Everyone should watch

As I understand it, Henry Koster's movie version of "The Inspector General" is only a loose adaptation of Nikolai Gogol's play. But even so, it's a really fun movie. Danny Kaye provides a lot of fun as a illiterate drifter who gets mistaken for a government inspector in a town overrun with corruption in Napoleon-era France. There are a couple of scenes in the movie that truly elicit a lot of humor, and the songs -- which Kaye's wife Sylvia wrote -- just go to show what one can do with a language. There are a few slow scenes, but mostly it's a really entertaining piece of work. I'm going to have to see if I can find a production of Gogol's original play (called "Revizor" in Russian, often called "The Government Inspector" in English).Also starring Walter Slezak (the Clock King on the 1960s "Batman" show), Gene Lockhart, Barbara Bates, Elsa Lanchester (the Bride of Frankenstein), Alan Hale Sr. (yes, the Skipper's father) and Rhys Williams.PS: Another one of Nikolai Gogol's notable stories is the horror short story "Viy", which Mario Bava filmed as "Black Sunday" starring Barbara Steele.

"Danny Kaye stars in this musical comedy about a case of mistaken identity and the poor fool caught in the middle of it. Georgi (Kaye) is an illiterate member of a traveling medicine show who is mistaken by a small Russian village as the Inspector General, a royal official with vast powers. While the local government officials plot to bribe or kill him, Georgi ingrains himself into the public's favor all the while trying to find a way out of his situation," according to the DVD sleeve description.Mr. Kaye's films usually fall into one of two categories - they can either be enjoyed by almost everyone in the average film-going public, or they mainly appeal to those already inclined to admire Kaye. The latter films will sometimes show the strains of a story "showcase" vehicle, while the more universally appealing films feature Kaye using his skills to more naturally essay a character. "The Inspector General" is a good example of the latter. Many of the gags fall flat, and the plot is laboriously adapted from the satirical Russian classic. Look for impressive Ida Moore in a great bit as the old "mother" Kaye wards off his potion.***** The Inspector General (12/30/49) Henry Koster ~ Danny Kaye, Walter Slezak, Elsa Lanchester, Gene Lockhart

It is easy to see that this film was intended to be more of a vehicle for Danny Kaye's comedy antics than a fully developed and deep farce, but even so it is entertaining to watch, with some good tunes and a fair amount of funny moments to be had. It is awfully silly at times, with over-the-top jokes and various excesses, but it makes pretty good viewing in general. Well-used sound effects plus apt costumes and sets help enhance the experience too. It takes a while to warm up, and some of the time old elements are thrown in to not much avail, such as a typical love subplot, but if one is to take the film lightheartedly it is quite amusing, even if some of Kaye's skits go a bit overboard.