The Inspector General
Seen it?1949 | 101 min | Comedy, Romance
Saturday Specialearly ratingWhy it’s a Saturday Special
Critics loved it (91% on Rotten Tomatoes), despite a box office flop. A strong pick for the weekend.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for romantics and anyone who wants a laugh. If you loved Avanti!, start here.
- The mood
- Light and funny, romantic.
- The pace
- Breezy, at 1 hr 41 min.
- What might put you off
- Made in 1949: an older pace and style.
An illiterate stooge in a traveling medicine show wanders into a strange town and is picked up on a vagrancy charge. The town's corrupt officials mistake him for the inspector general whom they think is traveling in disguise. Fearing he will discover they've been pocketing tax money, they make several bungled attempts to kill him.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
91% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
- AwardsSolid
Won 1 Golden Globe: Best Original Score.
- Box office & staying powerWeak
$4 million worldwide
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 18K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Henry Koster
- Danny KayeGeorgi
- Walter SlezakYakov
- Barbara BatesLeza
- Elsa LanchesterMaria
- Gene LockhartThe Mayor
- Alan HaleKovatch
- Walter CatlettColonel Castine
- Rhys WilliamsInspector General
- Benny BakerTelecki (uncredited)
- Leonard BremenLieutenant (uncredited)