I Dood It

I Dood It (UK title By Hook or by Crook) is a 1943 American musical comedy film starring Red Skelton and Eleanor Powell, directed by Vincente Minnelli, and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

[2] The screenplay is by Fred Saidy and Sig Herzig and the film features Richard Ainley, Patricia Dane, Lena Horne, and Hazel Scott.

[2] At a nightclub, Jimmy Dorsey and his orchestra performs a musical number, attended by Broadway star Constance "Connie" Shaw and her fiancé Larry West.

After Dorsey's orchestra finishes, Shaw tells her radio audience she is performing a Western rope dance at a nearby theatre.

Later, Joe attends another performance of Dixie Lou, a Civil War play starring Connie and Larry.

Backstage, Roy Hartwood, an actor performing in the play, is a secret Axis agent tasked to destroy the theatre, which is next door to a war ammunitions warehouse.

During their honeymoon, Connie writes a farewell letter and places a sleeping pill inside Joe's champagne glass.

The next morning, Kenneth visits the newlywed couple at their suite with Larry and Suretta, who has discovered Joe's real occupation.

Back at the theatre, Kenneth shows investors his next musical revue, with performances by Hazel Scott and Lena Horne.

Joe performs Roy's part but makes several mishaps, infuriating Kenneth and the theatre staff.

Powell's most notable performance in the film comes near the beginning when she executes a complex dance routine involving lariats and cowboys.

The film opens with the Jimmy Dorsey orchestra performing Count Basie's "One O'Clock Jump".