Hi Diddle Diddle (1943) Director: Andrew L. Stone Writers: Edmund L. Hartmann (screenplay), Frederick J. Jackson (story) Starring: Adolphe Menjou, Martha Scott, Pola Negri, Dennis O’Keefe Runtime: 1 hr 20 min (80 minutes) Country: United States Language: English Genres: Comedy, Musical, Crime, Satire 🧾 Synopsis Navy man Sonny Phyffe marries his sweetheart Janie just before shipping out, but not before he gets tangled in the zany misadventures of his con artist father, a scheming socialite, a debt-ridden opera singer, and a stock market scam involving a phony shipping line. Romance, misunderstandings, and musical numbers swirl in this fast-paced screwball comedy full of surprises. 🎭 Cast Adolphe Menjou as Colonel Hector Phyffe Martha Scott as Janie Prescott Pola Negri as Genya Smetana Dennis O'Keefe as Sonny Phyffe Billie Burke as Mrs. Prescott June Havoc as Leslie Walter Kingsford as Mr. Prescott George E. Stone as Jake 🎞️ Production Notes This film marked Pola Negri’s return to the screen after 10 years in retirement, playing a spoof of her silent-era diva persona. Hi Diddle Diddle is known for its blend of screwball humor with subtle war-time themes and its use of animation—a rare touch for live-action features at the time. The film was produced on a modest budget and was one of several lighthearted comedies released to boost morale during WWII. Despite its short runtime, it features multiple musical interludes, satirical jabs at high society, and fast-paced dialogue typical of 1940s comedies. 🧠 Trivia The film includes a short animated sequence created by Leon Schlesinger Productions (later Warner Bros. Cartoons), making it one of the early hybrid animation-live action films. Billie Burke, famous for playing Glinda the Good Witch in The Wizard of Oz, adds her classic whimsical flair as Janie’s mother. The title is a play on the nursery rhyme "Hey Diddle Diddle," though the plot has little to do with it—emphasizing the whimsical tone. Some film historians view this as an early meta-comedy due to its self-aware humor and genre-mixing structure. The film was well-received in its time, particularly by service members who appreciated its morale-boosting charm. #Hashtags #HiDiddleDiddle #1940sComedy #ClassicHollywood #PolaNegri #AdolpheMenjou #ScrewballComedy #WWIICinema #AnimatedSequence #VintageFilms #OldHollywoodCharm #RetroRomance #MusicalComedy #BlackAndWhiteFilm #FilmTrivia #ClassicMovieMagic